SPG

Today, SPG Platinum Members the world over are rejoicing at news of a new benefit... Free In-Room Internet at more than 940 hotels around the world, starting March 1, 2010.

It has long been a complaint of mine, and thousands of others, that high-end luxury hotels charge for Internet Access, while cheaper, lower-quality hotels often include Internet Access free of charge. The thinking has always been, that the people staying at these properties are either uber-rich or on business expense accounts, and that is why they charge so much for Internet Access, Valet Parking, and in-room telephone calls.

But Starwood Hotels has come through with a benefit for Platinum Elite members (those who stay 25 times or 50 nights a year), with free in-room internet. This is likely in response to Hyatt who offered the same benefit to its top-tier members in 2009, and Fairmont who offers all loyalty program members free internet access.

I know myself, I often take the added cost of Internet into account when booking a room, and have often adjusted my plans to avoid a hotel that doesn't include it or have left the hotel in search of a cafe with free or low hourly rates for Internet access.

• Darren Mak's blog

I have never really understood why anyone would buy points in a loyalty program, as they are always very, very expensive. But I guess if you needed just a few more points for an award, it might make sense if you want to redeem that reward right away, or if you don't plan on earning points in that program the traditional way for a while.

So for those of you needing a few more SPG points to top-up your Starwood, SPG is currently offering Starpoints at a 20% discount for a limited time.

500 Starpoints is the minimum you can buy, at a cost of $14 USD instead of the usual $17.50, with a maximum of 20,000 for $560. You can theoretically redeem 7000 points at a Category 3 hotel for $196, or 12000 points at a Category 5 hotel for $336. This could possibly be a decent price for points at hotels which are chronically priced high, but likely you will be able to get a better rate just paying cash.

You can also take care of this offer to gift points to someone else, which I guess makes this an OK promotion if you were going to provide the points to someone as an incentive or something of the sort, but I am not sure how useful gifting perhaps 1000 points would be... but then again, that might be why I am not in charge of marketing for a hotel loyalty program.

• Darren Mak's blog