BRACKET CREEP AT STARWOOD and DRIVER'S EDGE CARD REFERRAL

Effective March 4th about 25% of the Starwood properties worldwide will have their category increased. This means it costs us more points to stay in the same rooms. It is inflationary and devaluation of the Starwood program. Now if the quality of the hotels and rooms is actually improving, I'm all for that, but the percentage increase in points required at the low end is way too much.


I like this program for the low end hotels like Four Points by Sheraton and some of the older Sheratons and Westins. They represent a good overnight value at 2K ,3K, or 4K per night. But when hotels jump from category 2 at 4K to category 3 at 7K per night, that is a pretty steep increase for a frugal guy. Worldwide 62 properties left categories 1 and 2 for the more expensive 3 and up tiers and only 6 fell down into my points price range. And most significantly the following cities lost their SPG category 1 or 2 airport hotels: Atlanta, Charlotte, Munich, Newark, Portland, San Francisco and Toronto. It is interesting to me that 5 of those 7 hotels are in airport hub locations. Atlanta-Delta, Charlotte-US Air, Newark-Continental, San Francisco-United and in Munich there is a large Star Alliance or United base.


And in Europe over 50% of the lower end category hotels took a hit to the higher levels.


There isn't much one can do when this happens other than protest with your feet. Walk your business over to the competition. I hate doing it as SPG has been great to me, but an increase from 4K to 7K points per night at some strategic locations is really too much for me.

If you can reserve your award stay before March 4th, it will be honored at the lower rate even if your stay is after March 4.




CITI DRIVER'S EDGE CARD REFERRAL


Citicards sent me a note today allowing me 5 referrals to friends for applying for the Citi Drivers Edge card. If you have been reading my posts on travel credit cards, this is my highest earning card. My January 19th blog entry details some of the advantages of using the Thank You Point Network for travel and those willing to do a little underground investigation will learn the real gems of this program. I am currently earning 12 points per dollar on my Driver's Edge card.


If you are considering this card for your portfolio, drop me an email at ingy104@gmail.com and I'll get the link to you. You'll pick up a $20 Driver's Edge rebate credit which amounts to 2000 Thank You Points. Again, I only have 5 referrals so please only email if you will be signing up for the card by March 5th.