Recently in Starpoints Category

For nearly ten years, the Starwood Preferred Guest loyalty program has enabled guests to accrue and use Starpoints to stay at Starwood hotels and resorts around the world with no blackout dates. Now, SPG takes its no blackout date policy to the next level with the debut of SPG Flights. In an industry first, SPG members can use Starpoints to fly on hundreds of airlines to destinations around the globe. With no blackout dates, if there's a seat available, it's yours. Fly on your own terms by simply selecting your preferred itinerary and class of service, and redeem Starpoints for the entire cost of the flight. With SPG Flights, you avoid the restrictions that limit many frequent-flier awards because you can redeem your Starpoints for whichever flight you like, even during peak periods such as holidays. And unlike many airline programs, SPG Flights includes taxes and booking fees in the price of the flight, so there's no question as to the bottom line. So if you've been itching to take a trip, click on over to SPG Flights and see where your Starpoints will get you.

Here's a great way to rack up the Starpoints and check out a new concept in hotels at the same time. To celebrate the launch of aloft hotels, its new lifestyle brand, Starwood is offering SPG members an unprecedented eight Starpoints for every U.S. dollar spent on stays at any aloft hotel worldwide until December 31, 2008. That's quadruple the base earning, and a sweet enticement to experience the latest thinking in hotels and hospitality. aloft, a vision of W, is shaking up the lodging industry with urban-influenced design, cutting edge technology, sassy style, and a social atmosphere. Expect large, loft-inspired social spaces and guest rooms, the finest amenities, landscaped outdoor spaces, and a lobby with a bar and pool table that transforms from a place of business and relaxing during the day to an eclectic social scene at night. You'll never feel cramped at aloft, as all the rooms have nine-foot ceilings and oversized windows, but the best feature just might be the ultra-comfortable signature bed, which is perfect for the blissful sleep you need to be at your very best. More than 18 aloft hotels are scheduled to open between June 2008 and December 2008, so take a look at the upcoming locations and start planning your journey. To take advantage of this special offer, visit www.alofthotels.com/8to1.

The SPG Check In desktop widget is back and better than ever. Now visually enhanced to be easy on the eyes, SPG Check In offers members a quick and convenient way to search for hotels and special offers, access Starpoints accounts, get the latest news from SPG.com, learn about Starwood brands, and much more. A completely customizable feature tailors special offers to your specifications, so whether you're into romantic getaways, ski weekends, spa indulgences, or some combination thereof, you'll always know when deals that fit your lifestyle pop up. You can even get updates from SPG.com on your mobile phone or RSS reader. And just for fun, there's a selection of beautiful images from Starwood's most exotic properties that you can download as desktop wallpaper. I'm personally fond of the photo of the Blue Palace Resort & Spa in Crete, which is a nice view to gaze at while pondering future travel. PC users can download SPG Check in by clicking here. Installation is a breeze, and you'll be surfing through some of the finest properties in the world in no time.

Signs of spring come in many forms: the chirping of birds returning from their winter homes, the emergence of buds and blossoms on long-dormant plants, and, of course, basketball madness. That's right, the NCAA Final Four is just around the corner, and basketball fans across the country are gearing up for the action. Fortunately for SPG members, moments.com (Starwood's auction site) has two 2008 NCAA Men's Final Four Packages on offer, so you just might find yourself in San Antonio, Texas for the semi-final and final games. Each package includes two tickets to both 2008 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball National Semifinal Games on Saturday, April 5, 2008 and the National Championship Game on Monday, April 7, 2008. In addition to the tickets, the packages also feature two executive passes to tour the CBS broadcast facilities and a meet-and-greet with an available member of the CBS broadcast team. It's basketball heaven for any hoops fan, but bidding ends soon, so visit moments.com today to get in on the hardwood excitement. Need a place to stay while in San Antonio? Check out the Westin Riverwalk, San Antonio, the Sheraton Gunter Hotel San Antonio, or the Westin La Cantera Resort, San Antonio.

It's time for some serious action in Kansas City as the newly converted and fully renovated Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel unveils its new look and many amenities. The property is better than ever following a $42 million makeover that includes Sheraton Sweet Sleeper beds, flat-screen televisions, and comfortable leather chairs and ottomans in the guest rooms and suites. And for those who like a little exercise with their relaxation, the hotel complex will soon include the CoCo Key Water Resort, a 65,000-square-foot indoor water park with everything from water slides and water falls to swaying foot bridges connecting different aquatic play areas. Sports fans take note: the hotel is also adjacent to the Truman Sports Complex, twin football and baseball stadiums that provide a home for the Royals and the Chiefs, so you can enjoy an oasis of calm that's still close to the action on game days. The Sheraton Kansas City Sports Complex Hotel currently has several special offers, including the chance to earn double Starpoints through April 30, 2008 by booking online or calling 866-716-8134 and mentioning promotion code FMP. It's one more reason to explore an exciting new addition to this storied Missouri City.

It's time for your midwinter indoor tennis getaway. The 35th ABN AMRO World Tennis Tournament takes place this month in the dynamic Dutch city of Rotterdam, and if you've got the Starpoints, you could be there among the world's biggest tennis fans, watching some of the world's best players. Five top-10 tennis stars take to the court this year, including Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic, Nikolay Davydenko, David Ferrer, and Andy Murray. Which among them has what it takes to win the title from defending champion Mikhail Youzhny? Wouldn't you like to see what goes down on the court from your first-rank seat during the semi-final match, Saturday, February 23, and the final match, Sunday, February 24? There's just one package available, so place your bids at Starwood's auction site, moments.com now for your chance to win a VIP ticket to one of the Netherlands' most prestigious sporting events. The package also includes a night in an Executive room at The Westin Rotterdam, an opportunity to meet the bigwigs of the tennis world at the hotel's VIP lounge, an exclusive match analysis by Stan Franker, the former Dutch coach, plus breakfast and free public transportation. Just another once in a lifetime opportunity for Starwood Preferred Guest members. Gotta love it.

The sophisticated folks in Cambridge, Massachusetts have a stylish new neighbor. Le Méridien Cambridge opened its doors in December, ushering in a new era of luxury to a city known for its prestigious universities and research firms. The hotel anchors University Park at MIT, just minutes from Back Bay and Harvard Square, and it's a great home base from which to explore the best that Cambridge has to offer. The nearby Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, for example, is one of the oldest museums of its kind in the world, while the Longfellow National Historic Site occupies the home of poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) and contains memorabilia about the writer as well as the home's earlier occupant, George Washington. Yep, lots of history in this town. When you're ready for a bite, dig into the city's most succulent Middle Eastern fare at Oleana, followed by a refreshment at quirky People's Republik, a pub adorned with communist kitsch and posters, and you'll start to get an idea of what Cambridge is all about. Take advantage of a special Grand Opening offer and earn double Starpoints at Le Méridien Cambridge when you stay before March 31, 2008.

Here's a great way to get a jump start on racking up Starpoints for the summer travel season. The Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express is the ultimate card for travelers, with great ways to earn free nights at Starwood properties around the world. Get 10,000 bonus Starpoints with your first purchase. Earn double Starpoints for stays at participating Starwood hotels and resorts, and earn one Starpoint for every dollar of eligible spending everywhere else. Enjoy rewarding experiences at all seven Starwood brands as well as the Starwood Spa Collection. There's no annual fee for the first year, and it's $45 per year thereafter, so sign up and start earning points toward the destinations of your dreams. It really is that good.

It's time once again for a certain American football championship game, and you and a friend can be there for all the fun and excitement. Starwood's moments.com auction site is currently offering three Gridiron Event of the Year packages that each include four days of access for two people to events, parties, and the big game itself. The weekend gets started on Thursday, January 31 with The Best Damn Super Bowl Party Period, which will be hosted by Holly Robinson Peete, Jenny McCarthy, and the entire Show crew, with a special gig by Ludacris. On Friday, February 1, it's time for the 2008 Leather & Laces party at the Galleria Centre in downtown Scottsdale with Carmen Electra, Catherine Bell, and Roselyn Sanchez. Head on over to the Privé Ultra Lounge on Saturday night, because you've got two tickets to see Chris Rock share a few of his unique observations and insights. That should warm you up quite nicely for Sunday, February 3, when you'll enjoy two tickets to the Gridiron Event of the Year at the University of Phoenix Stadium. The auction ends soon, so gather your Starpoints and enter your bids today.

The first week of the New Year will soon be over, and we know you're already daydreaming about your next vacation while groaning about the fact that you'll be living out of a suitcase for the next month on business travel. So it's with pleasure that we've discovered a bonus Starpoints promotion geared towards our favorite repeat customers. If you're the kind of person that stays in the same hotel every trip, you know everyone in the lobby by name or face, which WestinWORKOUT room (with a view) you prefer when staying at the Westin San Francisco Market Street, well you've come to the right story. That's because If you register here, from now through March 31, 2008, you'll qualify for bonus Starpoints for up to three repeat stays at hotels in the US, Canada and Caribbean. On your first stay, you'll receive 1,000 bonus points; on your second 2,000, and if you make it to a third, you get triple the rewards: 3,000 bonus points! What's the catch, you might wonder? It's all rather simple. You must stay at the same property and all you have to do is register BEFORE your stay. That's it. So do it today and next week when you're in someplace cold and rainy, you'll know you're thousands of points closer to someplace tropical in February, like the Westin Puerto Vallarta in Mexico...