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Starwood Announces End of Caesars Partnership on December 31

Dec. 18, 2016
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3 min read
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Starwood Announces End of Caesars Partnership on December 31
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Starwood Preferred Guest has announced that its three-year partnership with Caesars Entertainment will not be renewed, and is coming to an end on December 31, 2016.

The agreement, which launched in January 2014, gave SPG members reciprocal point-earning and redemption opportunities across Caesars hotels in Nevada, New Jersey and Louisiana. In exchange, Caesars Total Rewards members could pick up extra credit for Starwood stays. While SPG Platinum members could also get VIP Access status at Caesars, other SPG elite status perks were never included in the collaboration, so it was primarily a way to double-dip and get some extra points and credit toward elite status.

The announcement about the end of the partnership, which was posted by an SPG representative on FlyerTalk, states that while new Starpoint redemption reservations at Caesars hotels may not be booked after January 1, 2017, existing reservations will be honored. So if you still want to make a booking at a Caesars hotel using your Starpoints, you'll need to do it before December 31. Cancellations of existing reservations can be done via spg.com until the end of the year — after that, you can email Starwood to have a representative cancel reservations manually if needed.

Starting January 1, 2017, you won't be able to redeem Starpoints for Caesars stays.

While Starwood occasionally offered promotions for discounts on point redemptions at Caesars, the alliance never really lived up to the standard originally set by the Hyatt-MGM partnership. But even that partnership has seen its value reduced in recent months.

With the March 1, 2017 launch of Hyatt's new loyalty program "World of Hyatt," it will no longer be possible to match from Hyatt's program to MGM's M life Platinum status. Regardless of your elite level at Hyatt, M life Gold will be the highest matchable level. Additionally, you'll also no longer match to M life Gold by having Hyatt Gold status from holding the Hyatt Credit Card. Instead, your new Discoverist status will match to M life Pearl.

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For those who might still be interested in elite status at Caesars hotels, FoundersCard members receive Diamond status in the Total Rewards program, which includes benefits such as priority check-in, waived resort fees, an annual $100 dining credit, and access to Diamond lounges. So if you're a regular in Las Vegas, a FoundersCard membership could be worth a look.

It's disappointing any time a points opportunity disappears, but it seems these hotel partnerships aren't meeting the goals set by their respective companies. Hopefully we'll see some new and innovative relationships in the future.

H/T: View From The Wing

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Why We Chose It

There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)

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  • 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
  • Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
  • Solid welcome bonus

Cons

  • Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
  • Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
  • You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
  • Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
  • Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
  • $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
  • $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
  • $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
  • $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
  • Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees.
  • Annual Fee is $325.
  • Terms Apply.