PHOTO: SPG Pro offers travel agents SPG elite status, upgrades and Starpoints. (Courtesy of SPG Pro)
Starwood Hotels & Resorts is now putting travel professionals (its name for travel agents) in the same category as its guests, at least where its Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) loyalty program is concerned. The company also is now putting all of its travel agent educational programs on its new SPG Pro website.
SPG Pro, a new loyalty program for meeting and travel professionals that went live on Oct. 15, offers travel agents SPG elite status, upgrades and Starpoints for any business-to-business bookings at any of Starwood's nearly 1,200 properties around the world, including Sheraton, St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, W Hotels and Westin.
As of Oct. 15, travel professionals can earn SPG Pro points for bookings made on behalf of their clients under a new rewards structure. Agents can earn one Starpoint for every $3 of eligible room revenue when they book leisure or business travel for their clients, including any groups, meetings and events they plan with Starwood. Eligible rate plans include retail commissionable rates booked via the GDS, CCC, Starwood websites or any Starwood property direct.
Travel agents also can earn one eligible night toward elite status for every 20 group room nights or room nights they book for their clients. Elite status means more Starpoints and elevated benefits when agents stay in a Starwood hotel, including late checkout and room upgrades. They can track their client bookings, personal earnings, progress to elite status and ProLearning history all in one simple account. ProLearning is Starwood's online travel agent education program.
Agents can redeem their Starpoints for Free Night Awards without blackout dates, merchandise, free flights or VIP access to top concerts and celebrity meet and greets. They can also gift SPG points, or use them to treat their clients to a spa treatment when booked at a Starwood resort,
"Now any travel professional will earn Starpoints for the business they influence, including leisure and corporate booked on eligible rate plans, and groups, including corporate off sites, office holiday parties or even personal events like weddings or anniversaries," said Christie Hicks, senior vice president of the Starwood Sales Organization.
Starwood is encouraging travel agents to visit the SPG Pro website. Those who have not yet linked their accounts will need to email [email protected] to have their ProLearning history linked to their SPG account. Starwood already has 50,000 ProLearning travel professional graduates in 106 countries around the world.
Starwood says SPG Pro continues its strong support of the travel agency community. "The launch of SPG Pro demonstrates Starwood's unwavering commitment to supporting the travel professional and the travel agency segment," said Chris Austin, vice president of global leisure and luxury sales for Starwood.
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