Starwood and Caesars Ink Reciprocal Points Earning and Redeeming Starting January 2014
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
Starting January 9th, 2014 you'll be able to earn 2 points per dollar spent and redeem Starwood Preferred Guest points for stays at participating Caesars Hotels and Resorts, and Caesars Total Rewards members will be able to earn credit for Starwood stays (in addition to the Starpoints they already earn). The maximum amount of Starpoints you can earn per year is 100,000 and you must have your current SPG account set to earn Starpoints (not airline direct deposit) to be eligible for this program. Paid and award stays will count towards elite status, but will be capped at 10 nights (no stay credit) per year. There are a bunch of hotels that can have dirt cheap rates (I remember staying at the Flamingo in college for $26 a night!), so this could be a new option for padding your elite status, though not if you qualify on stays or are looking to hit the 75 or 100 night Platinum "uber-tiers".
Sadly, Starwood elite status isn't going to get you very far - you don't earn the extra 1 or 2 points per dollar spent for Gold or 75+ night Platinum and there are no other SPG elite perks, like welcome amenities or free internet, that transfer while you're on Caesars stays. This is primarily an earning/redeeming partnership, which is better than nothing, but still has a lot of red-tape and exclusions. Hopefully they will continue to expand and strengthen the partnership if they really want SPG members to be excited about it. We work hard for elite status so it is a little annoying to announce a "great new partnership", but then not extend any of our SPG elite perks to partner stays.
Redemption rates for Caesars hotels have not yet been released, but I'm hoping they are in lower categories since room rates in Vegas can be extremely low, especially in the off season. It would also be nice to redeem for suites, but all of those details are yet to be announced.
Total Rewards Earning at Caesars Hotels
In addition, you can also double dip and bank Total Rewards points, Caesars' own loyalty program as well for all stays. Total Rewards gives points for dining, gaming, entertainment and hotel purchases. You generally get 1 point for $5 in expenses and you can redeem them for meals, shows, gaming and hotel stays or transfer them to Hawaiian airline miles at a ratio of 2 points ($10 in spend) for 1 mile. Caesars also has an elite program based on how much you spend- top tier is at 150,000 points or $750,000 in spend (!!).
Eligible Caesars Resorts
Nobu Hotel at Caesars Palace, NV
Planet Hollywood Las Vegas, NV
Earning Total Rewards Points at SPG Hotels for Caesars Elites
A Seven Star Member or who has Diamond or Platinum status in the Total Rewards program will earn one Rewards Credit for every one US dollar or its foreign equivalent denomination spent on Eligible Charges during Eligible Stays at SPG Participating Hotels in addition to earning Starpoints in accordance with the SPG Program Terms if the reservation includes the Participant's SPG Member account number.
Tier Credits. A Participant will earn 100 Tier Credits per Eligible Stay at an SPG Participating Hotel, up to a maximum of 2,500 Tier Credits per calendar year; provided, however, that redemption stays (e.g., Eligible Stays earned through through the redemption of Starpoints or Rewards Credits) will not earn Tier Credits
SPG Status for Caesars Elites
By registering for the SPG-Total Rewards Member Benefits: (1) a Seven Stars Member that is not a Gold Preferred Guest or a Platinum Preferred Guest in the SPG Program at the time of registration will receive Gold Preferred Status in the SPG Program within 2 weeks after registration and will maintain at least Gold Preferred Status for as long as he/she remains both a Seven Stars Member and a participant in the SPG-Total Rewards Member Benefits
Bottom Line
I like new partnerships, but this one has a lot of red-tape, especially around the elite earning. It is very clear that Starwood Preferred Guest does not want a huge influx of new super elite members who qualify on cheap Caesars stays. This program is much more restictive than the new Hyatt/MGM M Life partnership that was inked earlier this year.
But overall, it is more options to earn and redeem Starpoints, but I'll save my final opinion until I see the redemption rates at Caesars properties...something tells me I won't be too thrilled, but here's to hoping for some great deals!
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