When Marriott and Starwood merged last year, customers in both companies’ loyalty programs gained a huge advantage: double the hotels and resorts that accept their reward points! To book Starwood properties using Marriott Rewards, you simply need to set up an account on the Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) site. Link it to your Marriott Rewards account, and then transfer points between the two. (One notable exception: Marriott Rewards points obtained through the conversion of a timeshare into Marriott Rewards points can NOT be transferred to SPG.)
How do the points stack up in value? Marriott Rewards points transfer to SPG Starpoints in the ratio of 3:1. That is, three Marriott Rewards points are equal to one Starpoint. SPG Starpoints transfer to Marriott Rewards 1:3. That is one SPG point is equal to three Marriott Rewards points.
Here’s how the nightly cost breaks down at three Starwood properties located in destinations where Marriott has limited or no availability:
- The Westin Excelsior, Florence Italy: 25,000 SPG Starpoints per night = 75,000 Marriott Rewards per night, value $700 per night
- The Hotel Danieli, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, Italy: 30,000 SPG Starpoints per night = 90,000 Marriott Rewards per night, value $750 per night
- The Westin Dublin, Ireland: 16,000 SPG Starpoints per night = 48,000 Marriott Rewards per night, value $600 per night
