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SPG Members Can Now Transfer Starpoints to China Southern Airlines' Sky Pearl Club
Sky Pearl Club Members Who Enroll in SPG Can Earn 1,000 Miles During Next Stay at a Starwood Hotel or Resort
SHANGHAI, Dec. 13, 2011 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) today announced that its industry leading loyalty program, Starwood Preferred Guest, has partnered with China Southern Airlines (CSA). The partnership allows SPG members to transfer Starpoints to CSA miles. Each Starpoint transferred is equivalent to one mile in CSA's Frequent Flyer Program, Sky Pearl Club.
"China is one of the world's fastest growing domestic and outbound travel markets and we've seen Chinese enrollment in Starwood Preferred Guest jump over 70% by tailoring SPG offerings to meet the needs of local travelers," said Mark Vondrasek, Senior Vice President, Distribution, Loyalty and Partnership Marketing for Starwood. "Partnering with China Southern Airlines gives SPG members the flexibility to convert Starpoints into airline miles with one of Asia's largest airlines."
"China is Starwood's second largest hotel market and in 2011, we have opened one hotel every two weeks in the region. Today, more than 50% of our guests in China are Chinese," said Qian Jin, Senior Vice President, Operations, Greater China for Starwood Hotels & Resorts. "The partnership with China Southern Airlines is an additional benefit to tailor to the Chinese travelers."
In honor of the new partnership, SPG is launching a new "Access to Your Dream Vacation" campaign, offering Sky Pearl Club members who are not yet SPG members an opportunity to earn 1,000 bonus miles on its Sky Pearl Club for every eligible stay at a Starwood hotel or resort for a maximum of 3,000 bonus miles. To participate, Sky Pearl Club members must join the SPG program and register at http://www.china-spg.com/csa/register.do from now to 29 February 2012. Hotel stays must occur by 31 March 2012. In addition, Sky Pearl Club Silver and Gold members will receive SPG Gold status after their first eligible stay at a Starwood hotel during the campaign period. For further information, terms and conditions on this campaign, please visit: http://www.china-spg.com/csa/register.do.
About Starwood Preferred Guest
The SPG program's breakthrough policy of No Blackout Dates at the world's most sought after collection of hotels reinvented the hospitality loyalty program when it launched in 1999. By creating a program centered on its members, SPG has developed the most passionate and knowledgeable membership base in the hotel loyalty space. Through its use of new technologies and innovative channels such as SPG.com, SPG.com/stayconnected, SPG.com/flights and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at over 1,000 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG Moments at spg.com/moments, the program has proven to be a big draw for the world's most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage for Starwood. For more information about Starwood Preferred Guest please visit SPG.com.
About Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 1071 properties in 100 countries and territories with 145,000 employees at its owned and managed properties. Starwood Hotels is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels, resorts and residences with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Meridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft®, and Element SM. The company boasts one of the industry's leading loyalty programs, Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG), allowing members to earn and redeem points for room stays, room upgrades and flights, with no blackout dates. Starwood Hotels also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., one of the premier developers and operators of high quality vacation interval ownership resorts. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
About China Southern Airlines
Established on October 11, 2002, China Southern Air Holding Company is a large state-owned air transport group merging China Southern Airlines, Xinjiang Airlines and China Northern Airlines. As one of the three major air transport groups under direct management of State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission of the State Council, China Southern Air Holding Company specializes in air transport service, and is engaged in air passenger and cargo agencies, import and export trade, financial planning and wealth management, construction and development, media advertising and other industries. China Southern Air Holding Company has more than 70,000 employees and total operating assets of over RMB 150 billion. Through close cooperation with SkyTeam, China Southern Airlines Company Limited is an airline with the most transport aircrafts, the most developed route network and the largest passenger capacity in China, headquartered in Guangzhou. Sky Pearl Club is China Southern Airlines' frequent flyer program, which rewards its members with miles credit and convenient services through the dedicated sales service hotline 95539 and the onsite service centers located in the airports all around China.
