How to maximize the SPG50 Benefits

Starwood Preferred Guest's Platinum Level has three tiers SPG50, SPG75 and SPG100. SPG50 will let you choose a benefit after reaching 50 nights, SPG75 gives Your24 (Check-in at anytime for example at 4 AM) and more points and SPG100 gives you an dedicated Ambassador who check all your stays and helps you planning your stays and informs the Hotels that you are coming.

Here are the 2016 SPG50 Choices you get once you hit 50 Nights in 2016

American Express 5000 SPG Points Promotion

Unlimited SPG Points Le Meridien Promotion

What's the best Strategy and should you go for SPG50?

Depending on how many nights you already got with SPG it could make sense for you to go for SPG50. 

These years best benefits to chose from are:

• 1 Free Night Award (Category 1-5)
• Five Elite Qualifying Nights
• Suite Night Awards
• 40% of Hotel Bed

If you have reached normal Platinum Status with 25 Stays and 35 Nights year to date it would be worth while to go for SPG50 if you can find a cheap Le Meridien (USA, Mexico or Canada) to stay. Let's say you you find a Le Meridien for 80 USD per night the cost for reaching SPG50 would be 15 x 80 USD= 1.200 USD. Let's say you go the crazy route checking out every day (Stay 1 Meridien, Stay 2 (stay Home), Stay 3 Meridien) you will receive the following Points:

• 15 x 500 SPG Platinum Welcome Points = 7.500 Points
• 15 x 500 SPG Stay Points = 7.500 Points
• 1 x 1000 SPG Points Meridien Promo
• 14 x 2000 SPG Points  Meridien Promo
• 1 x 5000 SPG Points Amex Promo
• 1 x 1200 Amex Membership Rewards Points (3600 SPG Points if you have an SPG Amex or other Cards)

Total: 49.000 SPG Points + 1200 Amex Points + 1 Free Cat 5 Night*

*On top of that once you reach SPG50 you receive a Category 1-5 Free Night Award which can be worth 200-500 USD depending on the Hotel you redeem the Award at. 

So for 1200 USD you are getting back:

• 49.000 SPG Points = worth 1000 USD 
• 1200 Amex Points= 12 USD
• Free Night = 200-500$ 

So if you do this before the December 18 you are staying for free.

But is gets even better: Promo is valid until Feb 28th 2017 you could first reach SPG50 in 2016 as described above than start from Januar 2017 to work on your requalification. 

Example: 

You pay 80 USD per night at a Meridien in 2017. You receive back as a Platinum 

• 1x 500 SPG Platinum Welcome Points = 500 Points
• 1 x 500 SPG Stay Points = 500 Points
• 1 x 2000 SPG Points  Meridien Promo

Total: 3000 Points per Stay

3000 Points are worth 50$-85$ (you can redeem for a free night at any Cat1 Aloft in the world, for example here HERE) so you could basically reach Platinum in 2017 for free. You could do 25 Stays in 2017 at 2000 USD and receive back 75.000 SPG and 2000 -6000 Miles through your Creditcard spend (Combine this with an Signup Offer for a Mileage earning Creditcard and your ROI (Return on Invest) will be even greater! +100.000 Airline Miles)

Remember once you reach SPG Platinum you will be Marriott Platinum without staying once at a Marriottt

Are you going for Starwood Platinum???

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