SPG Members can now access 100 unique and original experiences in in-demand destinations, including areas where the program did not previously have a footprint such as Iceland, Grenada, and the Ukraine.

“Design Hotels is a collection of very unique stories curated to create experiential journeys for today’s global luxury traveler,” said Claus Sendlinger, founder and CEO of Design Hotels. “Our partnership with SPG has given Design Hotels member hotels exposure to an entirely new set of elite travelers seeking ‘Original Experiences,’ in addition to providing one-of-a-kind hotel options in sought-after destinations for this jet set crowd.  It is truly a win-win.”

PARTNERSHIP HIGHLIGHTS AND EXPANSIVE HOTEL OPTIONS

SPG expanded its relationship with Design Hotels in 2015 by offering a powerful distribution and loyalty benefit to member hotels, creating a platform for travelers to explore one-of-a-kind boutique properties designed by the world’s most creative minds.

With a wide variety of settings, from great capital cities to beach retreats, mountain resorts to offbeat locales, Design Hotels truly offers SPG Members unparalleled access to more experiences. Iconic Design Hotels properties now available to SPG Members include The Waterhouse at South Bund in Shanghai, China; 101 Hotelin Reykjavik, Iceland; Mainport in Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Hotel J in Stockholm, Sweden; Laluna in St. George’s, Grenada; and three unique hotels in Thailand, The Naka Phuket, Casa de la Flora and The Library.  By the end of 2016, SPG is slated to have approximately 130 Design Hotels and, by the end of 2017, the program is expected to expand to include 200 Design Hotels.

THREE LEADING LOYALTY PROGRAMS UNITE

The continued expansion of the SPG and Design Hotels partnership creates even more opportunities for travelers to experience unique destinations and incredible hotels while earning the following benefits:

• Two Starpoints per eligible U.S. dollar spent (three Starpoints for Gold Preferred and Platinum Preferred Members)
• Night and stay credit toward elite status
• On-property benefits of high-speed Internet access and bottled water in-room
• Gold Preferred and Platinum Preferred Members will automatically receive a Starpoints bonus as their Welcome Gift
• Free Night redemption

Members of Marriott’s leading loyalty programs, Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards, as well as SPG, are invited to link their accounts at spg.com/marriott for immediate elite status matching, along with the ability to transfer and redeem points across programs, including stays at select Design Hotels™. Members who link their accounts will be able to transfer points at a three-to-one ratio (three Marriott Rewards points = one SPGStarpoint) between the programs for redemption stays.

For more information, please visit spg.com/designhotels.

About Starwood Preferred Guest
Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) is an innovative, award-winning frequent traveler program that unites 11 distinctive hotel brands and includes more luxury hotels in more destinations around the world. SPG’s unique portfolio of brands is comprised of Four Points by Sheraton, Sheraton Hotels & Resorts, Aloft, W Hotels, Le Méridien, The Luxury Collection, Element Hotels, Westin Hotels & Resorts, St. Regis Hotels & Resorts, Tribute Portfolio and Design Hotels. SPG reinvented the hospitality loyalty landscape when it launched in 1999 with its breakthrough policy of no blackout dates, and over the years has continued its tradition of innovation with enhancements such as SPG Lifetime and SPG Moments. SPG also offers the opportunity for meeting and travel professionals to earn rich rewards including Starpoints and elite status through SPG Pro. SPG has an ongoing commitment to meeting the needs of today’s connected global traveler by leveraging must-have mobile apps for iPhone, iPad, and Android that utilize state-aware technology to create a more personalized hotel stay. All of this has helped SPG build a passionate member base among the world’s most frequent travelers. Learn more about the #spglife at spg.com, spg.com/pro and spg.com/moments and connect with us on facebook.com/spg, twitter.com/spg and instagram.com/spg. SPG members can now also link their accounts with Marriott Rewards for instant elite status matching and unlimited point transfers at spg.com/Marriott.

About DESIGN HOTELS
Design Hotels represents and markets a curated selection of over 290 independent hotels in more than 50 countries across the globe. More than a collection of hotels, the company is a collection of stories. Each property reflects the ideas of a visionary hotelier, an “Original,” someone with a passion for genuine hospitality, cultural authenticity, thought-provoking design and architecture. Each “Original” stands for the individual, aesthetic and service-driven experience that his or her hotel provides.

Founded by Claus Sendlinger in 1993, Design Hotels offers its members insightful travel industry knowledge, from market trend consultancy to international sales representation. The company has its headquarters in Berlin and branches in London, Barcelona, New York and Singapore.

In 2015, Design Hotels joined forces with Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG®), enabling its member hotels to have both a greater and more selective reach while offering its Community the benefit of the industry’s leading loyalty program. Now one of three leading loyalty programs under Marriott International, SPG members can link accounts with Marriott Rewards and The Ritz-Carlton Rewards for instant elite status matching and unlimited points transfer.