Luxury Collection taps into the affluent online community

Starwood’s Luxury Collection brand has launched a new online community.  This isn’t just any ordinary group of people online though.  Exclusivity and by invite only are key words for this social media group called ASMALLWORLD.

Members of ASMALLWORLD, which according to the website is a private international community of culturally influential people who are connected by three degrees, can now interact directly with Luxury Collection concierges.  Luxury Collection will have a microsite that houses a series of blogs written by brand concierges around Europe and Africa.  The blogs will contain content on local knowledge and information on special events selected with close collaboration with ASMALLWORLD to ensure fit with its exclusive members.  Members are free to comment and ask for advice.  Here’s a sample list of upcoming blog posts and events:

• Hotel Grande Bretagne’s (Athens) guide to the Night of the Full Moon in Greece.
• An insiders view on the Venice Film festival presented by the concierges of the Gritti Palace & Hotel Danieli in Venice.
• An introduction to Gansbaai Great White Shark Festival from the Arabella Western Cape Hotel in South Africa.
• The final blog for 2009 will see concierges from all The Luxury Collection’s Austrian hotels (Hotel Imperial and Hotel Bristol in Vienna and the Hotel Goldener Hirsch in Salzburg) collaborating to create the ultimate guide to enjoy pre-Christmas time in Austria.

I think this is a great strategic alignment between the two brands.  The fact that members of ASMALLWORLD are “culturally influential people” and simultaneously affluent make this community a sweet spot for Luxury Collection.  ASMALLWORLD will support Luxury Collection by offering links and media placements in the online community including features on the events calendar, magazine ads, and e-newsletters.

Get your free summer concert tickets from Starwood!

Check out Starwood’s latest promo . . . something that’s a result of their partnership with Live Nation.  Starwood Preferred Guest members can get one general admission lawn ticket to a Live Nation concert for each stay at a Starwood hotel through Aug. 31, 2009.

What would summers be without concerts?  I don’t know, but I do know that going to a concert for free makes it that much better.

About a week after you complete your stay, you’ll be sent a code which can be redeemed for Live Nation shows throughout October 2009.  SPG members can get up to a max of four online ticket codes.

None of this will happen if you don’t register for this promotion here: https://www.spgpromos.com/flyertalkconcerts/index.cfm

I checked out the list of concerts that are redeemale with the online codes.  It seemed like the value of these tickets range from $20 – $50, which is well worth it if you are a concert buff.  Check out the concert options here: http://promo.livenation.com/starwood/

Here’s the full terms and conditions.

Last day to book Starwood’s 50% off Summer Sale is today!

The countdown’s been tickin for days now, and we’re going down the home stretch now.  If you’ve gotten some hotel nights you gotta book for the summer, now is the time!

This summer sales promotion must be booked by July 20 (today), and save up to 50% off your Starwood hotel stays from July 16 – October 12, 2009.  Keep in mind this promo is only good for hotels in North America, South America, and Asia.  Too bad this one won’t work for Europe this time around.  :-/

Also, remember the 50% off applies to rack rates and not what you would normally see online.  In many cases, this discount off the rack rate is still a better deal than the online retail rate but do your shopping!

Here’s some sample rates:

Sheraton Kauai from $189 per night, W Times Square from $199 per night, and Sheraton Boston Hotel from $139 per night.

Happy booking!

Four Points improves its look and keeps the brews

Exciting news out of Texas!  A new prototype hotel for the Four Points by Sheraton brand came live in San Antonio yesterday.  The 130-room, six-story Four Points San Antonio Northwest is the first of three prototypes for the newly rejuvenated brand.  As the press release puts it, the new hotel has a new contemporary look and feel, “complemented by classic and comfortable interior design elements refreshed for today’s self-sufficient traveler.”

According to Starwood, the company has put in $1 billion into refreshing the entire brand on a worldwide basis, turning over roughly 70% of its properties globally through renovation, conversion, and new builds.  Here’s some more on some of the new features . . .

Highlights of the first Four Points by Sheraton prototype hotel include bright and bold design, clean architectural lines and warm, contemporary furnishings.  Facilities include a state-of-the-art fitness center, heated outdoor swimming pool, 1400 square-feet of flexible meeting space, and premium food and beverage facilities, including a full breakfast and Seattle’s Best Coffee.  At the end of the day, the hotel’s family room is the perfect spot to stay connected at Internet terminals and wind down with a local craft brew, courtesy of the popular Four Points by Sheraton Best Brews program.

And of course like all other Four Points, this new guy will have amenities such as free high-speed Internet, bottled water, and those tasty fresh brews for you thirsty travelers.  Check out this pool too . . .

Who wants to eat the Westin Heavenly Bed?

How did I miss this one?  Two weeks ago, one of the greatest cakes in the world was created by Duff Goldman, owner of Charm City Cakes and the celebrity star of “Ace of Cakes” on the Food Network.  It was a giant Westin Heavenly Bed cake made of white cream and vanilla.  And check this out . . . the pillows were made of rice krispie treats!  Yum.

Apparently the cake was specially made for Sue Brush, one of the senior leaders of the Westin brand, who was celebrating her retirement at the Westin Times Square in New York.

And in further celebration of Westin Heavenly Bed’s 10th anniversary and the 4th of July, the Westin Maui Resort & Spa in Hawaii is holding a 4th of July FLOWERWORKS.  The hotel is airlifting 50,000 orchids into the sky by helicopter and dropping them on their hotel pool decks.  Mixed in with the orchid shower will be five roses and special prizes for the guests who manage to find them.

Man, this sounds like a tremendous photo opp.