American Express and Starwood Launch The New Starwood Preferred Guest(SM)Credit Card from American Express
Now It's Even Easier for Members of the Industry's Top Rated Hotel Rewards Program to Earn Free Nights and Free Miles
NEW YORK, June 19 / American Express Company
Cardmembers will earn valuable Starpointssm for every eligible dollar charged and will be able to redeem Starpoints for free nights at Starwood Hotels & Resorts, including The Luxury Collection, St. Regis, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and W Hotels, or for airline miles on major carriers with a conversion rate of one Starpoint for one mile with most airline partners.
The benefits of the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card include:
- One Starpoint for every eligible dollar charged for purchases plus two additional Starpoints for every eligible dollar charged at participating Starwood hotels. Starwood Preferred Guest Gold and Platinum members earn three Starpoints per eligible dollar spent at participating Starwood hotels.
- The opportunity to earn up to 6,000 bonus Starpoints during the first year of Card membership. Bonus Starpoints are earned when Cardmembers pay for Starwood stays on their Card: 1,000 bonus Starpoints for the first stay and 500 bonus Starpoints for up to 10 more stays during the first year of membership.
- Certificate for 50% off a leisure stay for up to five nights redeemable at any participating Starwood hotel or resort upon acquiring the Card and each year the Card is renewed.
- Complimentary membership in Preferred Plus, a new level of Starwood Preferred Guest, that offers:
- Complimentary upgrades to a preferred room at check-in, when available;
- 4pm late checkout;
- Free weekday newspaper.
- No annual fee for the first year with a $30 annual fee for subsequent years.
- Fee-free additional cards.
In addition, the Card offers the versatility of the Starwood Preferred Guest program including:
- One to one transfer of Starpoints to airline miles on most major airline carriers. Additionally, when members transfer 20,000 Starpoints toward airline travel, Starwood awards its members with a bonus of 5,000 airline miles, giving the customer the 25,000 total miles necessary for a free domestic coach ticket on most carriers.
- No blackout dates or capacity controls for hotel redemptions.
- For a minimum of 2,000 Starpoints, Cardmembers can redeem for a free weekend night.
The Card also provides signature American Express® Card retail and travel benefits, including: 24-hour customer service; Car Rental Loss and Damage Insurance(1); Travel Accident Insurance(2); Return Protection(3), offers Cardmembers guaranteed product satisfaction on designated items purchased entirely with the Card within 90 days of purchase date; Best Value Guarantee(4), which ensures Cardmembers pay the lowest price available for covered items purchased on the Card and Purchase Protection Plan(5), which insures covered items purchased with the Card from accidental damage or theft.
"Many consumers are looking for more and faster ways to earn points toward their favorite travel reward," said Richard Quigley, vice president of Cobrand Portfolios for American Express. "The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card allows Cardmembers to earn Starpoints for all their spending, with bonuses for Starwood stays. More importantly, Cardmembers can redeem for great travel rewards at easily attainable point levels."
"The best frequent hotel rewards program just got better," says Hoyt Harper, senior vice president of business marketing and development for Starwood. "Not only is it easier for our members to earn free nights and miles, but thanks to our partnership with American Express, the Card offers a flexible reward program, allowing members to stay for free at some of the best resorts and hotels in the world, with no capacity controls or black out dates."
Consumers can find information about the Card or apply at or by calling 1-800-THE-CARD.
For the second year in a row Starwood Preferred Guest was voted Hotel Program of the Year by consumers via the Freddie Awards, and has also received awards for Best Customer Service, Best Web Site, Best Elite-Level Program and Best Award Redemption. Starwood Preferred Guest also was named the No. 1 hotel rewards program by USA Today, winning the highest grade overall of any hotel reward program.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 725 properties in 80 countries and 120,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. With internationally renowned brands, Starwood is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchiser of hotels and resorts including: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton and W brands, as well as Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc. one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For further information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com
