First-of-its-kind SPG FLIGHTS Program Allows Members To Book Air Travel on HUNDREDS of Airlines With NO BLACKOUTS Using SPG Starpoints®

In a hotel industry first, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) and its award-winning hotel loyalty program Starwood Preferred Guest®, are taking its groundbreaking NO BLACKOUTS policy to new heights with the introduction of SPG Flights.   Launching today, the SPG Flights program lets members book flights on hundreds of airlines with NO BLACKOUT dates. Members can simply go to www.spg.com/flights, search for and select their preferred flight and class of service, and redeem their Starpoints for the entire cost of the flight.  Members may even earn airline miles when booking airfare through SPG Flights.   

The introduction of SPG Flights comes at a time when redeeming an airline seat using miles has never been more challenging.  As airlines impose further restrictions on previously available awards and the concept of a “free” seat is becoming almost obsolete, SPG Flights gives members unrestricted access to booking flights using points.  While airline redemption programs impose numerous fees on airline mile redemption flights, SPG Flights includes taxes and flight booking fee in the price of the flight.  The timing of the SPG Flights launch is significant as this new member benefit reaches beyond the hotel stay and alleviates frustrations, heightened by today’s economy, associated with air travel. 

“Starwood Preferred Guest broke through the competitive landscape nine years ago with the launch of No Blackouts, which allowed our valued members to redeem their points for a standard room whenever Starwood had one available, with no blackouts or limits on the number of standard rooms set aside for redemption.  SPG was the first loyalty program to deliver this benefit to members,” said Mark Vondrasek, senior vice president of Distribution and Loyalty Marketing for Starwood.  “We’ve now created SPG Flights as a natural extension of SPG’s No Blackouts leadership. With the addition of SPG Flights, our members will now have the same access to air travel they have come to know in the hotel industry through SPG – “if there is an available seat, it’s yours.” 

Starwood Preferred Guest launched in 1999 as the first hotel loyalty program to offer members ‘No Blackouts’ when redeeming points, giving millions of members unprecedented access to more upscale and luxury hotels in more countries than any of its competitors.  Designed as the simplest, most flexible and rewarding program of its kind, SPG has captivated travelers and generated loyalty through rich rewards, outstanding member recognition and distinctive redemption options.  SPG is the winner of more Freddie Awards, known as the frequent travelers’ answer to the Oscars, than any other program.  Currently, SPG Flights program is available in English, but will be translated into French, German, Spanish, Italian, Japanese, and Chinese within six months of the launch.   

Earning Starpoints has never been easier.  Starwood Preferred Guest members can earn two Starpoints for every eligible U.S. dollar spent at over 890 participating Starwood hotels and resorts worldwide.  In addition, up to 20,000 Starpoints per calendar year can be purchased by going to http://www.spg.com and there is no Starpoints expiration date for active members.