School of SPG 1 – Member benefits

This is the first article in our new ‘School of SPG’ series, to introduce you how to get the most out of the Starwood Preferred Guest hotel loyalty program.

As you may know, we’re big fans of Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) here at Eat Drink Stay Dubai – not just because it’s our favourite hotel loyalty program but also because there are so many excellent hotels, restaurants and bars in Dubai to earn, redeem and appreciate the benefits.

So read to find out why you should join Starwood Preferred Guest even before you stay at the hotel….

SPG Member Levels

There are 3 levels of Starwood Preferred Guest membership:-

• Preferred Guest
• Gold
• Platinum

Membership is free to join, and Starpoints and status are earned by ‘elegible spend’ in Starwood Hotels, restaurants and bars.

For an overview of why you should join a hotel loyalty program, and more detail about Starwood Preferred Guest, have a quick look here and here

Starwood Preferred Guest – Preferred Guest benefits

On joining SPG, you become ’SPG Preferred Guest’ level automatically, even without staying – so it’s beneficial to join up BEFORE your first stay, and here’s why.

If you are a Preferred Guest of SPG and book a reservation at a Starwood hotel through Starwood websites or apps you will:-

• Earn Starpoints on elegible spend during your stay (2 Starpoints for every US Dollar)
• Earn Qualifying Nights towards elite status
• Be entitled to free standard internet for your stay (when your stay is booked via SPG app or website)
• Received complimentary in-room bottled water
• Stand a better chance of a discretionary upgrade

Also, once you are a Preferred Guest of SPG you are also entitled to:-

• 20% discount on Food and Beverage spend at participating Starwood restaurants and bars (even if you are not staying at the hotel)
• Earn Starpoints on eligible spend at participating Starwood restaurants and bars (even if you are not staying at the hotel)

Please note – SPG in-hotel benefits are not offered if the reservation is made with an ineligble rate through a third-party website.

Starwood Preferred Guest – example of benefits

Earning Starpoints for dining – not stays

So, imagine you visited Toro Toro for a brunch, and your bill came to 500 AED (approx. $136).

By showing your SPG card (or SPG membership number), you will get 20% discount and then earn 2 Starpoints for the spend, so 2 x 400 AED/$109 = 218 Starpoints.

According to the SPG website, Award nights (where you can spend your Starpoints in return for stays) can start as low as 2,000 Starpoints, so one meal at Toro Toro puts you more 11% on the way towards a free hotel night stay.

Promotions and offers

By signing up to Starwood Preferred Guest, members are then entitled to exclusive offers, discounts and promotions.

SPG Moments

Starwood Preferred Guest offers it’s members exclusive concerts, events, exhibitions, experiences and shows where they can bid or buy with their Starpoints.

Member Benefits – General Terms and Conditions

For a further explanation of the Member Benefits of the SPG Programs, and General Terms and Conditions please see SPG Member Benefits – General Terms and Conditions

This is part of a series of articles on how to maximise Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) – our favourite hotel loyalty program.

Do you have any queries or questions about SPG? Feel free to drop us a comment below and we’ll try to answer it for you 🙂