Bidding War! Starwood Has a Signed a New Deal, What This Means for Your Points
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Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.CNBC is reporting that Starwood has signed a deal to sell to Anbang Insurance Group, a company in China. But Marriott has pledged to counter.
I’ll explain what this means for Starwood points!
What Will Your Starwood Points Be Worth After the Merger?
As of now, no one knows for certain what will happen to Starwood’s popular loyalty program after the hotel chain is officially sold.
But based on what Marriott has said in interviews, it seems Marriott would eliminate the Starwood name brand. And my feeling is that Marriott will also remove many of the loyalty benefits we love about Starwood such transferring Starwood points to airlines at a great rate. Again, this is not for certain, it’s just a hunch.However if Anbang successfully purchases Starwood, they may be more likely to leave the Starwood brand (and hopefully their loyalty program) intact. That’s because Anbang values the strong brand as a way to diversify its assets outside of China. But again, this is conjecture.
So far, Anbang has reached a deal to purchase Strategic Hotels & Resorts, along with their 2014 acquisition of the Waldorf Astoria hotel in New York City.
Marriott has 5 days to respond.
This a developing story, so we’ll see what happens next!
Limited-Time Offer for AMEX Starwood Cards With 35,000 Point Bonuses
Link: American Express Starwood Preferred Guest (Personal)
Link: American Express Starwood Preferred Guest (Small Business)
Link: My Review of the Increased 35,000 Point AMEX Starwood Offers
The AMEX Starwood cards are offering their highest sign-up bonuses ever. But the promotion ends March 30, 2016.
Emily and I both collect Starwood points, mainly to use at their top hotels to pay for rooms that are otherwise too expensive! Emily is planning to apply for the Starwood small business card this time around.
She recently used Starwood points to stay at the Gritti Palace Hotel in Venice.
As of now, I suggest earning the bonus with an eye towards using the points soon.
Ways to Use Starwood Points
Here are ideas for how to use the Starwood points you’ll earn with the cards.
- Starwood Cash & Points
- 7 Week-Long Vacation Ideas Using Starwood’s 35,000 Point Bonus
- 6 Super 6-Night Starwood Stays Using Starwood’s Sign-Up Bonus + $660
- How to Use the Starwood Card Bonus to Fly Business Class to the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America, and in the US
- 5 Top European Hotels to Book With Starwood Points
Who would you rather see win this bidding war, Marriott or Anbang?
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Intro APR on purchases
N/A
Regular APR
16.24% – 23.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Rates & Fees
Other
MORE INFO
Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card
Earn 80,000 bonus points after you spend $4,000 on purchases in the first 3 months from account opening. That’s $1,000 when you redeem through Chase Ultimate Rewards®.
Enjoy benefits such as a $50 annual Ultimate Rewards Hotel Credit, 5x on travel purchased through Chase Ultimate Rewards®, 3x on dining and 2x on all other travel purchases, plus more.
Get 25% more value when you redeem for airfare, hotels, car rentals and cruises through Chase Ultimate Rewards®. For example, 80,000 points are worth $1,000 toward travel.
With Pay Yourself Back℠, your points are worth 25% more during the current offer when you redeem them for statement credits against existing purchases in select, rotating categories
Count on Trip Cancellation/Interruption Insurance, Auto Rental Collision Damage Waiver, Lost Luggage Insurance and more.
Intro APR on purchases
N/A
Regular APR
16.24% – 23.24% Variable
Annual Fee
$95
Balance Transfer Fee
Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each transfer, whichever is greater.
Rates & Fees
Other
MORE INFO
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