Starwood Preferred Guest now only sending membership cards on request

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 (September 2024)

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.

You can apply here.

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 American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

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

and for small business owners:

• American Express Business Gold (20,000 bonus Amex points)
• American Express Business Platinum (40,000 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. 

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)