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Update: This post has been updated to include information relevant to the Marriott/Starwood merger now that the deal is complete and the two programs linked.
The Marriott acquisition of Starwood is now a done deal, and that has a significant impact on attaining elite status for both programs. If you currently hold elite status with Marriott, now is the time to link your accounts and receive an automatic status match to an equivalent status in SPG. There are now multiple paths to earning elite status via credit cards, which we'll detail below, and the merger has opened up some fantastic new avenues to get elite status across SPG, Marriott, and Ritz-Carlton Rewards.
Marriott has made it clear the SPG program is going to be around in its current form until at least 2018, and at the time when the two programs do merge, you'll likely receive a level of status with Marriott Rewards.
The benefits of achieving SPG elite status include earning additional Starpoints on stays and can also incorporate fantastic perks like guaranteed room availability, your choice of welcome gift (bonus Starpoints, continental breakfast, or a localized gift), and 4 pm late checkout.
How To Qualify For Starwood Preferred Guest Elite Status
SPG membership is broken up into three tiers.
- Preferred Guest – Under minimum required stays/nights
- Gold Preferred Guest – 10 stays or 25 nights
- Platinum Preferred Guest – 25 stays or 50 nights
Platinum Preferred Guest has an additional three levels that correspond to how many nights stayed in a calendar year.
- SPG Platinum 50 – 50+ nights
- SPG Platinum 75 – 75+ nights
- SPG Platinum 100 – 100+ nights
If you are one of the dedicated SPG members that maintain elite status year after year with Starwood, you can also achieve Gold and Platinum elite status for life by meeting the following requirements.
- Achieve 250 eligible nights total and five years of elite status, and you’ll earn SPG® Lifetime™ Gold status.
- Achieve 500 eligible nights total and 10 years of Platinum status to earn SPG® Lifetime™ Platinum status.
Award nights count toward elite status. SPG Free Night Awards count towards elite status, and you can cut down down the number of nights required to achieve Gold or Platinum status by taking advantage of one-night stays.
To bypass the stays/nights requirement completely for Gold Preferred Guest, spend $30,000 or more on eligible purchases on either SPG credit card in a calendar year, and you will automatically receive Gold status.
You can get SPG elite status via the following cards either directly, or indirectly via receiving Marriott status and then matching it to SPG:
- The Ritz-Carlton Rewards® Credit Card – Complimentary Marriott Rewards Gold Elite status the first year of card membership and each additional year when you spend $10,000 on the credit card in a calendar year.
- Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express – Complimentary Gold Preferred Guest Status within the SPG program after spending $30,000 on the credit card within a calendar year.
- Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express – Complimentary Gold Preferred Guest Status within the SPG program after spending $30,000 on the credit card within a calendar year.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express – Just by being a cardmember you’ll receive complimentary Gold Preferred Guest Status within the SPG program that you can then match to Marriott Rewards Gold Elite.
- The Business Platinum® Card from American Express – Simply by holding this card you’ll receive complimentary Gold Preferred Guest Status within the SPG program that you can then match to Marriott Rewards Gold Elite.
Benefits of Gold Preferred Guest Status
Gold status is where benefits start to have a real impact for SPG members.
- Earn three Starpoints® for every U.S. dollar spent on eligible stays
- 4 p.m. late checkout, subject to availability at resort and conference center hotels.
- Upgrade to an enhanced room at check-in — corner room, higher floor, or a better view.
- Choice of welcome gift upon arrival – choose from bonus Starpoints, complimentary premium in-room internet or a complimentary beverage.
- Complimentary premium Internet access when you book on SPG digital channels (This is in addition to your welcome gift)
- New! Your World Rewards ™ with SPG and Emirates Skywards®: Register to earn one Starpoint per dollar on eligible Emirates® flights.
- Earn one Starpoint for every $2 U.S. in eligible revenue when you book a group for any occasion.
- Register and earn with Uber®. Earn 1 Starpoint per U.S. dollar spent with Uber every day, and 3 Starpoints per U.S. dollar spent with Uber during your stays with SPG.
Benefits of Platinum Preferred Guest Status
- Earn three Starpoints® for every U.S. dollar spent on eligible stays
- Choice of welcome gift upon arrival — choose from bonus Starpoints, continental breakfast or local amenity.
- Upgrade to best available room at check-in — including a Standard Suite.
- Complimentary premium Internet access.
- Complimentary health club, Club-level, and Executive-level access.
- Guaranteed room availability when your room is booked by 3 p.m., 72+ hours prior to arrival.
- Register and earn with Uber®. Earn 1 Starpoint per U.S. dollar spent with Uber every day, and 3 Starpoints per U.S. dollar spent with Uber during your stays with SPG.
- Your World Rewards ™ with SPG and Emirates Skywards®: Register to earn one Starpoint per dollar on eligible Emirates® flights. Plus, enjoy elite in-airport benefits, including priority check-in, priority boarding, and complimentary e-gate access.
- Earn one Starpoint for every $2 U.S. in eligible revenue when you book a group for any occasion, business or pleasure. From weddings to meetings to family reunions.
In addition to the benefits above, Platinum members that stay 50+, 75+, and 100+ nights in a calendar year also receive:
After 50 eligible nights in a calendar year, you can choose from the 50-night benefits:
- 10 Suite Night Awards™
- Gift Gold status to a friend or family member
- 1 Free Night Award
- Five Elite-Qualifying Nights
- Up to 5 rental days with Silvercar*
- SPG donation to UNICEF
- 40% off your favorite hotel bed
After 75 eligible nights:
- Earn 4 Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent, the richest earning bonus in the hotel industry.
- Your24™ — have the flexibility of choosing your check-in. For example, check in at 9 p.m. and check out 9 p.m. on the day of departure.
- Plus, earn 4 Starpoints per dollar spent with partners like Uber.
After 100 eligible nights, enjoy SPG Ambassador service. SPG Ambassadors have the knowledge, training, and resources to help you with whatever you need — anywhere, anytime.
Final Thoughts
Starwood Preferred Guest has been the benchmark for loyalty programs. The high-value redemption options and abundance of transfer partners, mixed with fantastic elite benefits make for tremendous value. A fact we hope Marriott realizes has pushed SPG to the top of many people's list of loyalty programs and is what attracts us all to the program.
Our pick for the fastest way to instant Gold status with SPG is the two Platinum cards from Amex. Among a host of other benefits, you'll receive elite status with 7 different loyalty programs!
Earning elite status adds a massive boost to Starwood Preferred Guest's value, and when you combine it with the earning power of the SPG Amex and SPG Business Amex, you have a great combination of points and perks.
