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SPG has been a market leader when it comes to strategic partnerships to enhance the value of their reward programs to Elite members. Recently we reported that SPG Platinum members will now benefit from upgrades to Comfort+ with Delta Air Lines.
One of Starwood's other partnership was with Caesars Palace; the partnership which launched in January 2014 is set to end on December 31, 2016.
The Historic Agreement
Under the current agreement, SPG members could earn and redeem their points at Caesars properties in Nevada, Louisiana, and New Jersey. On the other hand, Caesars Total Rewards members were eligible to pick up extra credit for their stays at Starwood properties. SPG Elites could also get CIP access status when visiting Caesars properties, although other benefits were never part of the promotion.
How The Deal Will End
Starting January 1, 2017, you will no longer be able to make bookings at Caesars properties using your Starpoints. However, existing reservations and ones made prior to the cutoff date will be honored. If you want to cancel before the end of December, you can do so at SPG.com. After the end of the partnership, you will have to email SPG to have a customer service agent cancel the reservation manually.
The Real Impact
It is never great news when a points-earning opportunity or a way of leveraging status across several companies ends. However, SPG has always been innovative with its partnerships so hopefully there should be more opportunities in the future. For those who valued the status benefit with Caesars, they can always opt for the FoundersCard, which includes Diamond status in the Total Rewards program. This will give you a $100 annual dining credit, waived resort fees, priority check-in, and access to Diamond lounges, amongst other benefits.
Caesars properties were a way to rack up some extra stay and night credits while allowing you to stay at on-strip properties when in Vegas; something Starwood lacked. Given Marriott's takeover of Starwood, we really can't be too surprised with this occurrence; nonetheless, it is a benefit loss.
Source: View from the Wing/Gary Leff
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Sad to hear it!
By the way – which chain has the best connection with LV hotel?
At this point, Hyatt & MGM.
Agree with those who said it’s probably more of a Marriott decision.
This sad to hear!
At least SPG is still in Vegas. SLS and Westin has better prices than the Caesar properties.
I think the tie up with Marriott is more useful than with Caesars as it opens up far more opportunities to spend points.
Too bad that this is going to end!
Well – it’s still possible to transfer their miles to Marriott and use them in LV
Hotel rewards programs seem to be less and less valuable each month.
Sad to see any agreement like this end, however, I didn’t even know about it ;o( So I guess I missed out. Oh well. Thank you for the heads up! I wonder how the hotel agreements going forward will be working? I know a lot of hotel companies are changing up their frequent stay rules, names and accrual.
this was never anything fantastic and will be no great loss
Agree with the above, the Marriott merger was bound to to make other partners lose the link eventually, shame!
Always said to see partnerships go but with the Marriott merger I guess we all need to get used to a lot more conservative approach on what companies and brands will be eligible for points accruel
Sad to see these Vegas reciprocal relationships going the way of the Dodo. Besides Starwood/Marriott and Caesar’s, Hyatt and MGM’s relationship will be lessened (although not eliminated… yet) when Hyatt transitions from Gold Passport to World of Hyatt in a few months. Really too bad, given that Vegas is one of the most popular destinations in the world.
This was a great partnership. Took advantage of it earlier this year to use SPG points n Vegas at Caesars Palace. It was usually a poor redemption value but sad to see it go away.
It was clear that the Marriott deal will cause these to end….
Darn. At least we still have Hyatt and MGM
This is a sad separation. I’ve used these benefits before.
This partnership never really worked. If I recall correctly, you didn’t even earn SPG stay credit, only night credit up to an annual cap. And forget about any status recognition at a Caesars property…