Starwood shares hit 5-year-low after a weakening travel outlook

Starwood shares hit 5 year low on Monday

The rejection of the $700 billion bailout plan had a significant impact on Starwood stock, as shares dropped sharply on Monday to hit a five-year low due to increasing pessimism around business and leisure hotel demand.

Starwood shares dropped $3.13, or 10.3%, to $27.14.  At one point in the day, the stock dipped down to $26.86, its lowest point since 2003.  

A Citi Investment Research analyst downgraded Starwood stock to “hold” from “buy” and added there was significant risk.

On the bright side of things, Citi commented on Starwood’s strength in international markets and among foreign travelers to major U.S. cities, saying this could help relieve the stress placed by weakening economic conditions in Europe as well.

Citi also said the U.S. economy next year may be weaker than expected, which may hurt business travel.  Starwood CEO Frits Van Paasschen said in an earlier interview that he did not expect to see any signs of turnaround for 2009.

 

Source: AP

Quadruple Starpoints when you say aloha to a new Aloft

Quadruple Starpoints at Aloft Hotels

This quadruple Starpoints promotion for Aloft Hotels has been around for some while now, but just in case you missed it, here it is again . . .

In honor of Starwood’s 8th hotel brand, Aloft is offering 8 whopping Starpoints for every dollar spent between now and December 31, 2008.  Normal earnings would be 2 Starpoints per dollar spent, but I’m sure you think 8 sounds better.

There are 19 Alofts opening in 2008, so there will be lots to choose from for this promotion.  If you find yourself heading into any of the destinations, make sure you try out the new Aloft and get 8x bonus Starpoint while you’re at it.  Here’s the full list . . .

Register here to earn quadruple Starpoints at Aloft.  As always, the official terms & conditions are important to read.

Elliott.org is upset with the Four Points Pleasanton, and therefore also all of Starwood

Four Points Pleasanton

Do you know who Christopher Elliott is?  He’s the writer behind the Elliott Blog, a place for travel tips and his own personal reports and views on customer service issues in the travel world.  Most recently, one of his readers brought to his attention a service issue he encountered with the Four Points in Pleasanton, CA.  Elliott contacted the Four Points Pleasanton on behalf of the guest who wanted a cancellation fee refund.  Click here to read his post.

After some delayed ping pong communication with the manager of the hotel as well as with Starwood customer service, this was Elliott’s conclusion . . .

“Sheraton apparently doesn’t care. It won’t answer a customer’s question, either at the customer-service or managerial level, and it apparently doesn’t give a hoot about what the press thinks of it.”

Ouch!  While entitled to his personal views, I’m still picking my jaw off the floor after reading such a gross conclusion.  Even if this one property is completely at fault, this single event isn’t nearly enough for anyone to draw a generalizing conclusion that Sheraton as a whole doesn’t care at the customer-service or managerial level.  Mr. Elliott, with all his touchpoints on customer service issues over his lifetime, should be among the first people to recognize that.

According to Trip Advisor, the Four Points Pleasanton is #4 out of 21 hotels in Pleasanton, and its average rating on the site is 3.5 out of 5.  

At this point, Starwod’s online “lurkers” have contacted Elliott and we’re waiting for the resolution.  I suppose his little rant worked in the end.  I think it’s important there are people like Mr. Elliott out there fighting for consumer rights, but tainting the reputation of an entire company based on one example at a hotel Starwood doesn’t even own may perhaps be a bit overkill.

MasterCard and Starwood offering free weekend nights in Asia

MasterCard and Starwood joint SPG promotion for Asia

It’s clear that of all credit card companies, Starwood primarily partners with American Express.  Every now and then, MasterCard wants in on a piece of the SPG action.  Starwood and MasterCard have created a joint SPG promotion specifically targeted at travelers in Asia Pacific.  Unlike the Earn Your Dreams bonus Starpoints promotion going on in Europe, this one allows you to earn and redeem free weekend nights in Asia.

Register today to qualify for a free, two-night weekend getaway when you pay for three different stays with your MasterCard at participating Starwoods in Asia from October 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008.  Free weekends can be redeemed at selected Starwoods in Asia between November 1, 2008 and January 31, 2009.

Be careful because there are two separate eligible property lists.  One is for earning and the other is for redeeming.  As you might have guessed, the redeeming property list is shorter than the earning list.  For the most part, Starwood has excluded its resorts from participating in the free two-night weekend redemption.  While you can certainly earn credit at resort properties in the Maldives, Bali, Fiji, Thailand, Vietnam, New Caledonia, and Vanuatu, you won’t have the ability to redeem your complimentary nights there.

Redeemable - Le Meridien Kuala Lumpur

You wish was redeemable - Le Meridien Vanuatu

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Make sure you register for this promotion and also read the T&C!

 

Source: Starwood

Starwood slow to introduce mobile websites despite encouraging mobile working

New SPG.com mobile site

Last week Starwood launched G.O.O.D. (Global Out of the Office Day) by demonstrating how Link@Sheraton lounges in New York, Shanghai, Sydney, and Lisbon could facilitate working even while out of the office.  To coincide with this marketing event, the brand released the findings of a study it sponsored on work-life balance and the effect of PDAs, Blackberries, and iPhone type devices.  According to the study, 85% of U.S. professionals surveyed said that because of modern technology, they feel compelled to be connected to work 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.  

“A whopping 87% of professionals bring their PDA into the bedroom and, in a potentially related finding, more than one-third of folks surveyed (35%) say if forced to choose, they’d pick their PDA over their spouse! The vast majority of people (84%) also say they check their PDA’s just before going to bed and as soon as they wake up, 85% say they sneak a peak at their PDA in the middle of the night.”

Staggering statistics (and to a small degree somewhat ridiculous in my opinion).  

So if Starwood is obviously aware of the growing influence of mobile convergence devices and the increasing role they play in our lives, then why can’t Starwood develop mobile versions of their full HTML websites (i.e. starwoodhotels.com, etc.)?  Marriott seems to have a mobile site already.  Hotels.com has a mobile site for iPhone users.  When I check StarwoodHotels.com on my iPhone (granted it’s version 1.0), it takes 90 seconds for the website to load fully, and trying to navigate through the site takes longer than the wait list at a suburban PF Chang’s.  

Searching on SPG.com mobile site

At this point, SPG.com is the only one of Starwood’s sites to offer a mobile version of the full HTML site that I am aware of.  This landing page only took 15 seconds for me to load on my outdated iPhone, yet the mobile site remains useful.  You can make search for hotels, make reservations, and look up your SPG account much faster than before.  All you have to do is point your data-enabled phone to www.spg.com, and you should be redirected automatically.

While probably not the most functional site when trying to learn about and explore new hotels, the mobile SPG.com site is great for the business traveler who’s shopping for rates, looking for hotel contact information, or just ready to make a quick reservation.  Simply put, the SPG.com mobile site is a great start for those professionals who want to make reservations on the fly and with their mobile devices . . . even if it’s in place of pillow talk!

Hopefully it won’t be long before Starwood replicates all of its branded websites into a more stealth mobile version.

 

 

Source: Starwood

Westin Times Square looking for American Idol Jr. to sing happy birthday

Westin Times Square YouTube Birthday

The Westin New York at Times Square is looking for the next American Idol . . . Junior, that is.  In celebration of the Westin Times Square’s sixth anniversary this October, the hotel is collecting YouTube audition tapes of kids making up and singing original happy birthday songs.  The lucky winners (and their even luckier parents) get a complimentary three-night stay at the Westin Times Square over New Year’s Eve!  

It gets even better.  The winning family won’t stay in any old guestroom.  Instead, the Westin Times Square will be putting them up in a newly redesigned one-bedroom suite that comfortably sleeps a family of four!  Dinner at Shula’s Steak House will be on the house, as well as champagne for the legal adults, cider for the children, and plenty of party favors for the suite.  

To enter, the young ones (must be under 15 years old) need to create an original video of themselves singing an original birthday song to the Westin Times Square and then post the clip to YouTube.  Parents, feel free to dress up the little ones as creatively as possible, as the judges are looking at originality and uniqueness.  The judges want you to know that the New York City skyline is the limit!

Check out this sample audition clip . . .

So what are you waiting for?  Put your kids to work!  The deadline for entries is October 31.  For full details, please click here.

 

Source: Starwood

Party with a purpose at the new Aloft Charleston Airport – Big Bash Premier Party

Aloft Charleston Airport - Big Bash Premier Party

Generally speaking, an airport hotel isn’t the first place that comes to my mind for a “big bash premier party,” nor is it where I think most VIPs would usually go to attend a “VIP party.”  However, on September 25 the new Aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center is putting a “twist” in traditional hotel openings with an exclusive and high-profile event.  What’s different about this grand opening?  This swanky soiree is a party with a purpose.  

Proceeds from each Big Bash Premier Party ticket, every “red ribbon” martini, and all other drinks will be donated to the Lowcountry AIDS Services (LAS) organization.  This is the only group in the Charleston area that provides end-to-end AIDS services, including prevention, counseling, and treatment.  Being an organization of volunteers, the Aloft donations will help raise much needed funding, but more importantly it will raise awareness for the group in the local community.

I asked Brian Harris, General Manager of the Aloft Charleston Airport, how he came up with the idea of doing a launch party to benefit a local organization and why LAS was chosen over other community groups.  He states, “Part of the aloft concept is an attempt to become an integral part of the local community, and my interpretation of that goal includes finding ways to give back. [This event] provides an exceptional platform for raising both awareness and funds for a worthy cause.”  Harris said he chose LAS because Charleston does not have nearly as many AIDS organizations as does his native Southern California.  He quickly found Lowcountry AIDS Services to be an ideal beneficiary worthy of Aloft’s assistance.  Good on ya mate!

So if you’re in the Charleston area, you might want to consider making an appearance for the Aloft Big Bash Premier Party charity event.  Tickets are $8 in advance and $13 at the door.  Entertainment includes two internationally-known female DJ’s as part of the aloft Diva DJ program.  DJ Annalyze from Chicago recently played Jimmy Kimmel Live and completed a residency in Shanghai. DJ Kelly Trance comes from Oklahoma and was recently named one of the “Sexy DJ’s of the World” by FHM Magazine. The hotel advises you to dress to impress, as local art from Eye Level Art will be on display.  For this bash, be sure to ditch the Hummer limousine . . . the VIP parking is strictly for the new Lexus hybrids on display courtesy of Lexus of Charleston.

 

Source: Aloft Charleston Airport & Convention Center

A moment of silence for victims of the Marriott hotel bombing in Pakistan

Bombing at Marriott Islamabad

As you may or may not know, the Marriott in Islamabad, Pakistan was the target of a massive truck bomb that wounded over 250 people and killed 40 and counting.  The explosive left a deep scar at the entrance to the hotel . . . a giant crater estimated at 40 feet wide and 25 feet deep.  Rescuers are still pulling bodies from the ruins of the hotel, and many are still believe to be trapped beneath all the rubble.

On his blog, Bill Marriott acknowledged the bravery of the hotel’s security team.  He said the security personnel were examining the truck at a secured gate outside the Marriott when the explosives were detonated.  He confirmed that there were no survivors on the team.

Some of us are travelers. Some of us are hotel employees ourselves.  Let’s all take a brief moment of silence to honor those innocent civilians, travelers, and Marriott employees who lost their lives today.  Let’s remember that in certain regions of instability around the world, many of us have little choice but to travel and work in fear.

Here’s some video footage of the bombing aftermath . . . 

 

Source: NY Times

won·der·lust (noun) – an insatiable desire to travel and party like a rockstar at W Hotels

When you stay at a W Hotel, you know your five senses are having a feast.  Sound is absolutely no exception to this rule.  W Hotels just released its sixth musical CD, The Sound of Wonderlust: W Hotels Worldwide Tour.  Even the sound of the word “wonderlust” is a whimsical play on the word, wanderlust.  To have wanderlust is to have an insatiable desire to travel.  I interpret the W’s “wonderlust” as an insatiable desire to travel . . . and party like a rockstar at W Hotels around the world.

Carlos Becil (W Dir. of Marketing) and Natasha Bedingfield

W Hotels is preparing to kick off an action-packed 2009 with new hotel openings that will surely put a big smile on all W addicts who can admit to having wonderlust.  Santiago, Hollywood, St. Petersburg, Bali, and Barcelona are just some of the worldwide destinations due to open next year.  As 2009 will be W Hotels’ biggest year of expansion into international markets, it’s fitting that the new CD also be dubbed “W Hotels Worldwide Tour.”  

The disc is available at W Hotels and W Hotels’ online store and features big-name artists like Natasha Bedingfield and Kylie Minogue.  To see the full list of tracks and to hear all the previews, click here.

The release of The Sound of Wonderlust: W Hotels Worldwide Tour is in fact part of a larger partnership between Sony BMG and W Hotels that began earlier this summer with Sony BMG artists performing at W Hotels worldwide.  This year, W Hotels hosted performances by Natasha Bedingfield at the W New York – Union Square and Paddy Casey at W Los Angeles.  More performances to come in the near future so stay tuned!

 

Source: Starwood, Billboard

Double or Triple Starpoints at 60 Starwood properties in Europe, Africa, and Middle East

Earn Your Dreams - 2x to 3x Starpoints in Europe, Africa, and Middle East

The United States has been a hot spot for bonus Starpoints promotions in the past few weeks, and travelers in the U.S. have been taking advantage of all the specials.  It’s no wonder though that travelers in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East were starting to feel left out.  This latest “Earn Your Dreams” – Double Starpoints & Triple Starpoints Promotion should spice things up a bit for them.

There are 60 Starwood hotels and resorts included in this offer.  Most are in Europe, but there are a small handful in the Middle East and Africa.  Whether you get double or triple Starpoints varies by property, as does the promotion eligibility period.  Make sure you read through the fine print for each hotel.

Below is a summary list of countries with participating Starwood hotels in this bonus Starpoints promotion.  To see all the participating properties, click here.  Registration for this SPG promotion is not necessary.

• Austria
• Belgium
• Cyprus
• Egypt
• France
• Greece
• Ireland
• Italy
• Malta
• Netherlands
• Portugal
• South Africa
• Spain
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• United Kingdom