Named Program of the Year and Wins Ten Awards at 2004 16th Annual Freddie Awards
In February 1999 Starwood Preferred Guest(R) was born, and since then frequent travelers have crowned it the number one hotel loyalty program in the world. Last night Starwood Preferred Guest was once again voted Program of the Year in both America and Internationally during the 16th Annual Freddie Awards, one of the most prestigious honors in the travel industry. On the heels of its fifth anniversary, Starwood Preferred Guest also took top honors Best Website, Best Award Redemption, Best Customer Service and Best Elite Level.
Known as the frequent travelers answer to the Oscar, Emmy and Grammy Awards, the Freddie Awards recognize the best loyalty programs in the world. The awards are voted on by frequent travelers via Insideflyer magazine and an Internet survey, giving those who travel most the opportunity to voice their opinions on favorite airlines, hotels and credit card loyalty programs. The Freddie Awards have grown in stature and importance over the past 16 years and are regarded as the most prestigious consumer-generated travel awards in the industry.
"We have taken top honors since we introduced the program five years ago and I couldn't be happier," said Jim Berra, vice president, loyalty marketing for Starwood. "We set out to introduce benefits that would change the world of travel loyalty programs, truly reward members and set a benchmark in the way the travel industry does business. The key to our success is that we are dedicated to the same principles we instituted when we first launched the program - deliver industry leading customer service and member recognition with the most flexible and generous awards. It is because of these principles and Starwood's one-of-a-kind hotel portfolio that has made Starwood Preferred Guest the number one hotel loyalty program five years in a row."
Starwood Preferred Guest made headlines when it launched in 1999 with a breakthrough policy of no blackout dates and no capacity controls, meaning members can redeem free nights anytime, anywhere. Starwood Preferred Guest members have also cited the program's hassle-free award redemption, outstanding customer service, dedicated member website and innovative promotions and benefits for elite members. The program boasts an unrivaled portfolio of award-winning hotels and resorts that includes some of the world's most celebrated hotel brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Sheraton, W Hotels and Four Points by Sheraton.
Starwood Preferred Guest also offers members the ability to redeem awards at more resorts, more luxury properties, more European hotels and more golf properties than any other hotel program, which has proven to be a big draw for the world's most frequent travelers, and a significant competitive advantage.
Starwood Preferred Guest opens the door to some of the world's best hotels. Key business destinations around the globe are covered, and leisure opportunities are endless with more than 125 world-class resorts and over 2,700 holes of golf worldwide. In addition, Starwood has the most hotels of any company recognized on the recently announced Conde Nast Traveler Gold List.
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