This new partnership brings generous rewards and elite membership benefits, injecting vitality into the growing travel market and enhancing guest loyalty
Stamford, Connecticut, USA & Dubai, UAE, November 21, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) and Emirates Airline today announced a new reciprocal program offering exceptional benefits to members of SPG and Emirates Skywards. Dubbed “The World is Yours,” the program launches on November 19, offering registered SPG and Skywards elite members rewarding perks when flying with Emirates or staying at participating SPG hotels.
Whether flying or staying at hotels around the world, SPG and Skywards members can reap rich rewards through the “The World is Yours” program. For both business and leisure travel, enrolled members will enjoy valuable benefits, personalized services, and a host of exciting rewards during their flights and stays, experiencing the best of both loyalty programs.
Elite members of SPG and Emirates Skywards can enjoy exclusive rewards from both loyalty programs. Skywards Gold and Platinum members staying at hotels may receive special benefits to enhance their experience, including SPG elite member check-in, 4:00 PM late checkout, and complimentary in-room internet. Likewise, all SPG Platinum members can access Emirates Skywards elite benefits such as priority check-in and boarding, as well as complimentary access to automated border control when flying to or from Dubai.
Members earn Starpoints when flying with Emirates and accumulate award miles when staying at participating SPG hotels. SPG elite members flying on eligible Emirates-operated flights earn 1 Starpoint per US dollar spent in addition to Skywards miles; Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold, and Platinum members earn 1 mile per US dollar spent on eligible stays at Starwood hotels worldwide while also earning Starpoints. Conversion rates are subject to local currency adjustments.
“The combination of Emirates’ ever-expanding global network and Starwood’s innovation in hospitality brings our most valued customers an elevated level of service and greater rewards across more than 140 destinations or at any of our 1,200+ Starwood hotels,” said Thierry Antinori , Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer of Emirates. “This partnership unites two like-minded companies, complementing each other’s global footprints and delivering enhanced benefits to our most loyal travelers.”
As one of the world’s leading airlines, Emirates continues to open new routes and destinations, bringing people closer to the world. To date, Emirates operates 54 A380 aircraft, with an average of two added each month. Notably, the United States has been a key growth market for Emirates. In August, the airline launched a new route to Chicago and upgraded its Dallas/Fort Worth service to the A380. Soon after, San Francisco and Houston routes also transitioned to the A380. Emirates now serves over 140 destinations across 80 countries on six continents. Based in Dubai, the airline serves as a bridge between East and West, facilitating easy travel between the Americas, Europe, and Africa to the Far East, Australasia, West Asia, the Indian Ocean region, and the Middle East. Emirates currently operates 35 weekly round-trip flights between Mainland China and Dubai. Passengers from China can connect via Dubai—Emirates' world-class hub—to conveniently reach Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, taking advantage of Emirates’ Dubai Stopover packages. Since May 2014, the daily A380 service between Shanghai and Dubai has increased to one flight per day. First and Business Class passengers can enjoy exclusive lounge access at Beijing Capital Airport and Shanghai Pudong Airport, as well as Emirates’ newly upgraded complimentary luxury chauffeur service.
“The travel industry is in a golden age, with more people than ever eager to explore the world,” said Mark Vondrasek , Senior Vice President of Distribution, Customer Loyalty & Partnerships Marketing at Starwood. “The ‘The World is Yours’ program allows us to further enhance guest loyalty in a rapidly evolving travel market. Emirates plays an increasingly important role in connecting East and West, emerging markets, and developed nations, aligning perfectly with Starwood’s growth. Starwood’s premium hotels are located around the globe, and 75% of our new hotels under development are in emerging markets.”
According to Vondrasek, SPG Club membership in major emerging markets has grown 400% over the past five years. The Middle East continues to serve as a primary global gateway and crossroads for new travel trends, making it a source of new frequent travelers. It is also the third-fastest-growing market for SPG, behind only China and India, and is among the top ten favorite travel destinations for SPG members. Today, Starwood is the largest operator of premium hotels in the region, with plans to expand its portfolio by 70% over the next five years—especially in high-growth Gulf countries like Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Starwood currently operates 82 hotels in the region, with 20 new properties scheduled to open by the end of 2015, marking the milestone of 100 hotels in the Middle East and Africa.
Enhance Your Rewards
Starting November 19, members can visit emirates.com/yourworldrewards or spg.com/yourworldrewards to link their Skywards and SPG accounts to enroll in “The World is Yours” program and learn more. Benefits begin immediately upon registration.
About Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is one of the leading companies in the world’s hotel and leisure industry, with more than 1,200 properties in 100 countries and territories and over 181,400 employees at its owned and managed properties. As a globally recognized brand, Starwood is a fully integrated company that owns, operates, and franchises hotels, resorts, and residences, including world-renowned brands such as St. Regis®, The Luxury Collection®, W®, Westin®, Le Méeridien®, Sheraton®, Four Points® by Sheraton, Aloft®, and Element®. Starwood also offers an industry-leading and award-winning loyalty program -- SPG (SPG®), allowing members to earn and redeem points for free hotel stays, room upgrades, and flights with no blackout dates. Starwood also owns Starwood Vacation Ownership, Inc., whose villa-style resorts and exclusive member privileges deliver world-class vacation experiences. For more information, visit www.starwoodhotels.com/cn.
About SPG the Club
SPG (SPG®) is an award-winning and innovative loyalty program encompassing nine distinct hotel brands under Starwood, including many luxury properties in top resort destinations worldwide. Since its launch in 1999, SPG has been a trailblazer in customer loyalty, introducing groundbreaking policies such as no blackout dates, followed by innovations like Cash + Points rewards, SPG Moments, and more recent offerings like Your24 and SPG Lifetime. Members can use Starpoints earned through SPG not only for free hotel stays and airline tickets with no blackout dates at over 1,200 hotels and 350 airlines, but also for unique experiences in music, sports, and the arts through SPG Moments. Meeting planners and professional travel agents enrolled in SPG can also enjoy benefits such as Starpoints and elite night credits toward upgrades. SPG is committed to digital innovation, from its iPhone app (for local insights and personalized stays) and SPG.com’s Best Rate Guarantee to integrations with various social media platforms, meeting the needs of today’s global travelers. This rich rewards experience has built a passionate global membership base. Learn more at spg.com/cn and spg.com/moments, or follow us on Sina Weibo @StarwoodSPGClub, Tencent WeChat @SPG-Starwood, facebook.com/spg, twitter.com/spg, foursquare.com/spg, pinterest.com/spglife, youtube.com/spg, and more.
About Emirates
Since its founding in 1985, Emirates has been committed to delivering exceptional service, earning over 500 international awards.
Over the past 26 years, Emirates has experienced rapid and steady growth, with an average annual growth rate of over 20% and consistent profitability. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, operating independently and profitably, Emirates carried 44.5 million passengers, achieved a net profit of $887 million, and increased group revenue by 13.2% to AED 87.8 billion (US$ 23.9 billion).
Emirates Airline is headquartered in Dubai, one of the few cities in the world that operates an open skies policy. Its free and fair competitive environment has also fostered the growth of over 120 other airlines.
As one of the youngest airlines, Emirates operates more than 230 wide-body aircraft and plans to double that number by 2020.
Currently, Emirates has 292 aircraft on order, valued at over $138 billion. Setting yet another record in civil aviation, the airline has ordered 150 Boeing 777Xs—including 35 Boeing 777-8Xs and 115 Boeing 777-9Xs—as well as 50 purchase rights. Additionally, it has ordered 50 Airbus A380s. The deal was signed at the 2013 Dubai Airshow and represents the largest aircraft order in aviation history. Excluding the purchase rights, the total value of the Boeing and Airbus orders is approximately $99 billion.
Serving as a global bridge between travelers and cities, Emirates flies to over 140 destinations in more than 80 countries, including locations across Europe, North America, South America, the Middle East, Africa, South Asia, and the Asia-Pacific region.
Please visit the Emirates website at www.emirates.com.
About Emirates Airline Skywards
Emirates Skywards is the airline’s frequent flyer program, featuring four membership tiers—Blue, Silver, Gold, and Platinum—each with exclusive privileges. Members can earn Skywards Miles when flying with Emirates and its partner airlines, or by using designated partners in categories such as hotels, car rentals, finance, leisure, and lifestyle. These Miles can be redeemed for a wide range of rewards, including flights and leisure and lifestyle services. Launched in 2000, Emirates Skywards continues to grow, with a global membership of over 12 million.