SPG(R) is the First Loyalty Program to Earn More Than 100 Awards and Takes Home Eight Honors at the 21st Annual Freddie Awards
SINGAPORE, May 6 /PRNewswire-Asia/ -- Starwood Preferred Guest(R) (SPG) took home eight awards at the 21st Annual Freddie Awards, cementing its place as the most recognized and awarded loyalty program in the hospitality industry. Since the program was introduced 10 years ago, frequent travelers from around the world have recognized SPG as the industry's top-rated program, making it the first to earn more than 100 awards. This year SPG was honored with such accolades as Program of the Year, Best Award and Best Affinity Credit Card, among others. More than 700,000 frequent travelers worldwide cast online ballots to determine the winners.
(Logo: http://www.prnasia.com/sa/200807290935.jpg )
Starwood took home top honors in the Best Affinity Credit Card category for the SPG Credit Card from American Express for the third year in a row. As the industry's most flexible and generous rewards card, the SPG American Express Card is the fastest way to earn Starpoints towards free nights and free flights -- with no blackouts.
In 2009, the SPG program's total award win includes:
Program of the Year - Asia Pacific and Europe/Africa/Middle East
Best Award - Asia Pacific
Best Member Communications - Asia Pacific
Best Web Site - Europe/Africa/Middle East
Best Elite Level - Asia Pacific
Best Award Redemption - Asia Pacific
Best Affinity Credit Card - Americas
"Exceeding the needs of our loyal guests is important to us, and we are thrilled and very thankful that our members once again recognized SPG with a number of Freddie awards," said Chris Holdren, Senior Vice President of SPG. "We have won 104 Freddie awards since we began in 1999, and as we launch game changing promotions like our latest, SPG Free Weekends, we plan to deliver the best for our members."
The Freddie Awards recognize the best loyalty programs in the world. The awards are voted on by frequent travelers around the world via an Internet survey sponsored by Inside Flyer magazine, giving those who travel most the opportunity to voice their opinions on favorite airlines, hotels and credit card loyalty programs. The Freddie Awards have grown in stature and importance over the past 21 years and are regarded as the most prestigious consumer-generated travel awards in the industry.
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 http://www.SPG.com , http://www.SPG.com/flights , http://www.thelobby.com , SPG Check-In, and others, SPG continues to innovate and lead the industry. By offering No Blackouts on standard rooms at over 890 participating properties, No Blackouts on hundreds of airlines, and once in a lifetime experiences available through SPG 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 http://www.SPG.com or call (877) - STARWOOD.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with 960 properties in 97 countries and 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(R), The Luxury Collection(R), W(R), Westin(R), Le Meridien(R), Sheraton(R), Four Points(R) by Sheraton, and the recently launched Aloft(R), and Element SM. 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 http://www.starwoodhotels.com .
