Video: Starwood Preferred Guest(R) Takes Its 'No Blackouts' to New Heights

WHITE PLAINS, N.Y., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In a hotel industry first, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and its award winning hotel loyalty program Starwood Preferred Guest(R), are taking its groundbreaking NO BLACKOUTS policy to new heights with the introduction of SPG Flights. Launching today, SPG Flights lets members book flights on hundreds of domestic and international airlines with NO BLACKOUT dates. Members can simply go to WWW.SPG.COM/FLIGHTS, search for and select their preferred flight and class of service, and redeem their Starpoints for the entire cost of the flight. Members may even earn airline miles when booking airfare through SPG Flights.

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The introduction of SPG Flights comes at a time when redeeming an airline seat using miles has never been more challenging. As airlines impose further restrictions on previously available awards and the concept of a "free" seat is becoming almost obsolete, SPG Flights gives members access to booking flights using points. While airline redemption programs impose numerous fees on airline mile redemption flights, SPG Flights redemption includes taxes and booking fees in the price of the flight. The timing of SPG Flights launch is significant as this new member benefit reaches beyond the hotel stay and alleviates frustrations, heightened by today's economy, associated with air travel. With SPG Flights, members will now be able to get home and see family for Thanksgiving and take the kids to Disney World during spring break.

"Starwood Preferred Guest broke through the competitive landscape nine years ago with the launch of No Blackouts, which allowed our valued members to redeem their points for a standard room whenever Starwood had one available, with no blackouts or limits on the number of standard rooms set aside for redemption. SPG was the first program to deliver this benefit to members," said Mark Vondrasek, senior vice president of Distribution and Loyalty Marketing for Starwood. "We've now created SPG Flights as a natural extension of SPG's No Blackouts leadership. With the addition of SPG Flights, our members will now have the same access to air travel they have come to know in the hotel industry through SPG -- if there is an available seat, it's yours."

Starwood Preferred Guest launched in 1999 as the first hotel loyalty program to offer members No Blackouts when redeeming points, giving millions of members unprecedented access to more upscale and luxury hotels in more countries than any of its competitors. Designed as the simplest, most flexible and rewarding program of its kind, SPG has captivated travelers and generated loyalty through rich rewards, outstanding member recognition and distinctive redemption options. SPG is the winner of more Freddie Awards, known as the frequent travelers' answer to the Oscars, than any other program.

Earning Starpoints has never been easier. Starwood Preferred Guest members can earn two Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent at over 890 participating Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide. In addition, everyone can earn Starpoints by using the Starwood Preferred Guest credit card by American Express which gives new members 10,000 Starpoints with the first purchase and has no annual fee for the first year. Also, up to 20,000 Starpoints per calendar year can be purchased by going to www.spg.com and there is no Starpoints expiration date for active members.

   How many Starpoints does it take to redeem a flight through SPG Flights?

            TICKET PRICE                                STARPOINTS
            (Includes taxes & booking fees)

            Up to $150                                  10,000
            $150-$215                                   15,000
            $215-$280                                   20,000
            $280-$345                                   25,000
            $345-$410                                   30,000
            $410-$475                                   35,000
            $475-$540                                   40,000
            $540-$605                                   45,000
            $605-$670                                   50,000
            $670-$735                                   55,000
            $735-$800                                   60,000
            $800-$865                                   65,000
            $865-$930                                   70,000
            $930-$995                                   75,000

            HIGHER PRICES (Examples)
            $2,880-$3,140                               235,000
            $4,960-$5,220                               395,000
            $9,900-$10,160                              775,000

About Starwood Preferred Guest:

The SPG program's breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world's most sought after collection of hotels, reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/flights, thelobby.com, SPG Check-In, and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at 890 properties, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world's most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com or call (877) - STARWOOD.

About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.:

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 890 properties in more than 100 countries and 155,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(SM), and Element(SM). Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.