Today SPG unveiled their 2015 Member Favorites Hotels & Resorts List, which reveals the top 10 properties across three regions.
What methodology is used to determine which hotels belong on the “member favorites” list?
The 2015 Member Favorite Hotels & Resorts list is based on SPG Ratings & Reviews and hotel survey feedback. In addition, this year SPG added new criteria to the mix: the most popular hotels and resorts for free night redemptions. This unique blend of measurement takes a closer look to pinpoint the hot spots most frequent travelers want to stay.
That’s sort of an interesting approach to take, as you’re mixing quality and popularity. In other words, just because SPG members frequently redeem points at a property doesn’t make it great, and just because a property is great doesn’t make it a good value on points.
With that in mind, what are the 30 hotels on the “member favorites” list?
The Americas
- Four Points by Sheraton Puntacana Village, Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
- The St. Regis Punta Mita Resort, Nayarit, Mexico
- Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne, North Carolina, USA
- Sheraton Erie Bayfront Hotel, Pennsylvania, USA
- The St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, Motu Ome’e, Bora Bora
- Element Dallas Fort Worth Airport North, Texas, USA
- The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort, Florida, USA [Trip Report]
- Four Points by Sheraton Midtown – Times Square, New York, USA
- The St. Regis New York, New York, USA [Trip Report]
- The Canyon Suites at The Phoenician, a Luxury Collection Resort, Arizona, USA
Europe/Africa/Middle East
- Hotel Goldener Hirsch, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Salzburg, Austria
- The St. Regis Florence, Florence, Italy
- The Gritti Palace, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Venice, Italy
- Four Points by Sheraton Ljubljana Mons, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- The St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca Resort, Mallorca, Spain
- Hotel Maria Cristina, a Luxury Collection Hotel, San Sebastian, Spain [Trip Report]
- Al Maha, a Luxury Collection Desert Resort & Spa, Dubai, UAE
- Grosvenor House, a Luxury Collection Hotel, Dubai, UAE [Trip Report]
- Le Meridien Dubai Hotel & Conference Centre, Dubai, UAE
- Le Meridien Fairway, Dubai, UAE
Asia Pacific
- Sheraton Qiandao Lake Resort, Zhejiang, China
- The Royal Begonia, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Sanya, Hainan, China
- Sheraton Zhoushan Hotel, Zhejiang, China
- Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel & Towers, Kowloon, Hong Kong
- Aloft Ahmedabad, SG Road, Gujarat, India
- Le Meridien Pune, Maharashtra, India
- The St. Regis Bali Resort, Bali, Indonesia
- W Retreat & Spa, Fesdu Island, Maldives
- W Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
- W Retreat Koh Samui, Surat Thani, Thailand
That is indeed quite a varied list, in the Americas alone ranging from the St. Regis New York to the Aloft Charlotte Ballantyne (which seems sort of random).
I’m staying at Al Maha as we speak, and can’t even begin to say the degree to which the property deserves to be on the list. Staying here has been my favorite Starpoints redemption ever, and the property is also my new favorite Starwood property.
Other interesting statistics include where members are redeeming their Starpoints most. The most popular city for Starpoints redemptions is New York City, followed by San Francisco, Orlando, Chicago, San Diego, Lake Buena Vista, Fort Lauderdale, Maui, Paris, and London.
Bottom line
I always find these lists to be quite interesting, in particular when they reveal where members redeem Starpoints most often. While the methodology used to rank hotels here isn’t perfect, I do think it’s sort of a fun hybrid approach, of finding the intersection of quality and popularity.
What do you make of the 2015 SPG Member Favorites Hotels & Resorts List? Do you have any favorites on the list?
Any detailed trip report on Al Maha? Very interested! Thanks!
I would have to agree with the St. Regis Bora Bora. I stayed there in August for a week and was upgraded to the largest OWB, spoiled by everyone including the GM and more. I love the Sheraton Hong Kong Hotel and Towers and know it is immensely popular largely due to it being in a great location, but it can be hit or miss there.
I agree that this is a random list of hotels for sure...
I stayed at W Hong Kong last month and absolutely loved it. The service, decor, rooms are all outstanding!
We stayed at St Regis Bali for our honeymoon and loved it!
Why is the St. Regis Bora Bora on the list for the "The Americas?" Shouldn't it be on the Asia / Pacific list?
W Hong Kong is very good. I stayed there a few months ago and will be there this month as well. Amazing buffet (Free for plats) and great service.
We stayed at the Andaman hotel in Langkawi, Malaysia last year as part of our honeymoon. We am were at the Sheraton Maldives right before. We moved it so much (and stars above the Maldives) we changed our honeymoon to stay there for 6 nights as opposed to 4. Then we left, simply broken hearted. Soo, we went back again this past April for 10 nights - cause we just wanted more! Can't recommend the...
We stayed at the Andaman hotel in Langkawi, Malaysia last year as part of our honeymoon. We am were at the Sheraton Maldives right before. We moved it so much (and stars above the Maldives) we changed our honeymoon to stay there for 6 nights as opposed to 4. Then we left, simply broken hearted. Soo, we went back again this past April for 10 nights - cause we just wanted more! Can't recommend the place and setting more. Just amazing, scenic, peaceful, fun and a setting within nature that was like no place else. We went there on recommendation. So glad we did!
The St. Regis Florence blew our honeymoon stay out of the water. The service (and room) were incredible. Longing to go back for an extended stay.
Sheraton Tokyo Bay is a great redemption for Disney lovers. I love SPG. I've managed a lot with one card sign up, various paid stays, and redemptions.
I stayed at the Maria Cristina in San Sebastian, Spain, earlier this year and absolutely loved it. Gorgeous hotel, big rooms, phenomenal breakfast, outstanding service.
Lucky,
Thanks for the post. In general, I'm not a fan of "blended" lists, because the weighting criteria is rarely objective and represents the opinion of the list creator. I'd rather have the "raw" data and make the blends myself, if they're even appropriate.
Personally, I'd like to see a list of "top SPG properties" around the world by region or whatever, based on star rating or something. When I'm paying cash, I'd like to...
Lucky,
Thanks for the post. In general, I'm not a fan of "blended" lists, because the weighting criteria is rarely objective and represents the opinion of the list creator. I'd rather have the "raw" data and make the blends myself, if they're even appropriate.
Personally, I'd like to see a list of "top SPG properties" around the world by region or whatever, based on star rating or something. When I'm paying cash, I'd like to know which hotels are worth considering spending the money on, and which ones aren't.