Starwood Adds Design Hotels to SPG Portfolio
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
SPG has been in the news a lot lately – whether it be for rumored acquisitions, potential Cyber Monday deals, offering up to 10% off select stays or adding two new hotels in Las Vegas. But today, SPG announced that it has added Design Hotels to its collection, becoming the eleventh brand in the chain's portfolio. Design Hotels are described as a curated selection of individual hotels that offer cultural authenticity and thought-provoking design and architecture.
The full Design Hotels portfolio, which has 287 properties worldwide, has yet to be added to SPG. As of today's soft launch, five properties are available to book with SPG – the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City; the C-Hotel in Lake Como, Italy; the Nira Montana in La Thuile, Italy; the Ten Bompas Hotel in Johannesburg, South Africa; and the Kruisherenhotel Maastricht Hotel in Maastricht, Netherlands. SPG will add additional Design Hotels on a regular basis, with 40 projected to join by the beginning of 2016.
SPG Members who book stays at participating Design Hotels will be offered different benefits than they receive at other SPG properties (when booking through Starwood) — here's the rundown:
- 2 Starpoints per dollar spent (3 for Gold Preferred and Platinum Preferred Members, 4 for P75 and P100)
- Night and stay credit toward elite status
- High-speed internet access and bottled water in-room
- SPG Gold and Platinum members will automatically receive a Starpoints bonus as their welcome gift
- Members who pay with the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express or Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express card will earn 2 points per dollar at participating Design Hotels
- Free night redemption is planned to be available in early 2016
To book a stay at one of Design Hotel's properties, go to the new chain's tab on SPG's website. When booking, make sure to use the Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express, which is offering 25,000 points when you make $3,000 in purchases in the first three months or the Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express, which is offering 25,000 points after spending $5,000 in the first three months. SPG points are widely regarded as the most valuable loyalty currency, and you can now earn points at some amazing new properties with the addition of Design Hotels.
TPG featured card
at Bilt's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 1X | Choose to earn up to 1X points on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee |
| 2X | Earn 2X points + the option to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday purchases |
Pros
- Choice to earn up to 1 Bilt Point per dollar spent on rent and mortgage payments
- Elevated everyday earnings with both Bilt Points and the option to earn Bilt Cash
- $400 Bilt Travel Portal hotel credit per year (up to $200 biannually)
- $200 Bilt Cash annually
- Priority Pass membership
- No foreign transaction fees
Cons
- Moderate annual fee
- Designed primarily for members seeking a premium, all-in-one card
- Earn points on housing with no transaction fee
- Choose to earn 4% back in Bilt Cash on everyday spend. Use Bilt Cash to unlock point earnings on rent and mortgage payments with no transaction fee, up to 1X.
- 2X points on everyday spend
- $400 Bilt Travel Hotel credit. Applied twice a year, as $200 statement credits, for qualifying Bilt Travel Portal hotel bookings.
- $200 Bilt Cash (awarded annually). At the end of each calendar year, any Bilt Cash balance over $100 will expire.
- Welcome bonus (subject to approval): 50,000 Bilt Points + Gold Status after spending $4,000 on everyday purchases in the first 90 days + $300 of Bilt Cash.
- Priority Pass ($469/year value). See Guide to Benefits.
- Bilt Point redemptions include airlines, hotels, future rent and mortgage payments, Lyft rides, statement credits, student loan balances, a down payment on a home, and more.