Starwood Preferred Guest now only sending membership cards on request

UPDATE – JUNE 2025:  This is an old article, and the credit card information given is likely to be out of date.

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Starwood Preferred Guest – the Westin / Sheraton / W / aloft etc loyalty scheme – is one that many Head for Points readers will be elite members of, since Gold status is a free benefit of the American Express Platinum card.

(By the way, if you DO have SPG Gold via Amex Platinum, remember that you need to re-apply for the Gold status each year.  You do have it for as long as you hold the card, but you must contact Amex each year once you are dropped down to the base level to boost yourself back to Gold.)

Starwood has now decided not to send out Gold cards automatically.

This does make some sense – your number will automatically be in any booking you make online anyway (although not all corporate travel agents are efficient at adding in numbers for employees).  Printing and posting membership cards around the world is not cheap.

Instead, Starwood now offers ‘MyCard’.  Via this website, you can design your own Gold card from a number of pre-set images, and then download it to the Starwood app on your iPhone or Android phone.  Or – if you really insist – choose to have a card posted to you.

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How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (June 2025)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 15th July 2025, the sign-up bonus on the Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card is TRIPLED to 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points. This would convert into 25,000 Avios or into 40 other airline schemes. It would also get you at least £300 of Marriott hotel stays based on our 0.5p per point low-end valuation. Other T&C apply and remain unchanged. Click here for our full card review and click here to apply.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express Card

60,000 points (to 15th July) and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.

We reviewed The Platinum Card from American Express in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

50,000 bonus points and great travel benefits – for a large fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Rewards Credit Card (10,000 bonus Amex points)

and for small business owners:

• The American Express Business Gold Card (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• The American Express Business Platinum Card (50,000 bonus Amex points)

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points.