In 2015, Starwood announced it was adding the Tribute Portfolio and Design Hotels to its expanding network of properties. Although SPG members have been able to redeem Starpoints for free nights participating Tribute Portfolio properties, SPG just announced the redemption rates for its 32 Design Hotels properties.
As of today, you’ll be able to redeem Starpoints for stays at both new brands. Each of the brands are different and give travelers something new — an independent, boutique hotel experience unlike anything else in Starwood’s expanding portfolio. Last month, SPG announced hotel category changes, which took effect today. With some notable properties moving up a category, this could be a great opportunity to redeem valuable Starpoints for a stay at one of SPG’s new Design Hotels.
Tribute Portfolio
In April 2015, the Tribute Portfolio became SPG’s 10th brand and second collection of independent hotels (along with The Luxury Collection). When the brand was first added to Starwood’s portfolio of hotels, the aim was to open properties in locations where SPG had little or no footprint by planning to open 100 hotels around the world by 2020.
The collection boasts unique properties that offer guests something they wouldn’t be able to find at a standard cookie-cutter hotel. With six properties currently part of the Tribute Portfolio, there are plans to open new properties in several cities domestically, including Costa Mesa, Coral Gables, Fort Lauderdale, Asheville, Nashville, Savannah, Charleston and Denver.
Here is a list of all of the Tribute Portfolio properties that are currently available for booking:
Country
City
Name
Category
Redemption Rate
Indonesia
Jakarta
The Hermitage
4
10,000
Japan
Yoichi-gun, Hokkaido
The Kiroro
3
7,000
United Kingdom
London
Great Northern Hotel
6
20,000-25,000
United States
Las Vegas
SLS Las Vegas
5
12,000-16,000
United States
Miami Beach
Royal Palm South Beach Miami
5
12,000-16,000
United States
Palm Springs
The Riviera Palm Springs
4
10,000
Here are some select Tribute Portfolio properties:
The Hermitage, Jakarta
This nine-story Tribute Portfolio property is located in central Jakarta’s historic district. It boasts old-world elegance and modern amenities in an intimate setting. There’s a rooftop swimming pool, fitness center and a wellness room. With the category changes in effect, the Hermitage is now a Category 4 property, requiring 10,000 Starpoints for a free night.
Great Northern Hotel, London
The Great Northern Hotel first opened in 1854 and has since gone through renovations to make it one of the most iconic boutique hotels in London. It’s conveniently located next to the new Western Concourse of King’s Cross Station, making it the perfect location to connect to all of the city. Also affected by the category update, the Great Northern Hotel moved from a Category 5 to Category 6 property, now requiring 20,000-25,000 Starpoints for a free night.
Design Hotels
A few months after the Tribute Portfolio was added to SPG, Starwood announced its 11th brand, Design Hotels, in November. The brand is described as a curated selection of individual hotels that offer cultural authenticity and thought-provoking design and architecture. The full Design Hotels portfolio, with 287 properties worldwide, has yet to be added to SPG — in fact, only 32 are available as of this writing. And just today, SPG announced free night redemption categories for all 32 properties, including two properties in Category 3, 11 Category 4 properties, nine Category 5 properties, six Category 6 properties and four Category 7 properties.
SPG members who book stays at participating Design Hotels directly through Starwood will be offered different benefits than they receive at other SPG properties. You’ll get 2 Starpoints per dollar spent (3 for Gold Preferred and Platinum Preferred, 4 for P75 and P100), night and stay credit toward elite status and on-property benefits like internet access and bottled water in your room. Members who pay with an Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card from American Express or Starwood Preferred Guest Business Credit Card from American Express will earn 2 points per dollar at participating hotels.
Here’s a list of all of the Design Hotels properties that are currently available for booking, with free night redemptions just being announced today:
Country
City
Name
Category
Redemption Rate
Austria
Vienna
The Guesthouse Vienna
6
20,000-25,000
France
Paris
Les Bains, Paris
7
30,000-35,000
Greece
Athens
New Hotel, Athens
5
12,000-16,000
Greece
Athens
Periscope, Athens
4
10,000
Greece
Athens
Semiramis Hotel, Athens
4
10,000
Iceland
Nesjavellir
ION Luxury Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir
6
20,000-25,000
Italy
Cassago Brianza
C-Hotel & Spa, Cassago Brianza
3
7,000
Italy
La Thuile
Nira Montana, La Thuile
5
12,000-16,000
Italy
Rome
G-Rough, Rome
7
30,000-35,000
Italy
Venice
PalazzinaG, Venice
7
30,000-35,000
Kenya
Nairobi
Tribe Hotel, Nairobi
5
12,000-16,000
Mexico
Acapulco
Boca Chica, Acapulco
4
10,000
Mexico
Guadalajara
Casa Fayette, Guadalajara
4
10,000
Mexico
Mexico City
Condesa df, Mexico City
5
12,000-16,000
Mexico
Mexico City
Distrito Capital, Mexico City
4
10,000
Mexico
Mexico City
Habita, Mexico City
5
12,000-16,000
Mexico
Monte Gordo
Azucar, Monte Gordo
4
10,000
Mexico
Puebla
La Purificadora, Puebla
3
7,000
Mexico
Puerto Escondido
Hotel Escondido, Puerto Escondido
6
20,000-25,000
Mexico
San Rafael
Maison Couturier, San Rafael
4
10,000
Netherlands
Maastricht
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht
5
12,000-16,000
Netherlands
Rotterdam
Mainport, Rotterdam
4
10,000
South Africa
Johannesburg
Ten Bompas Hotel, Johannesburg
4
10,000
Spain
Barcelona
Grand Hotel Central, Barcelona
6
20,000-25,000
Spain
Madrid
The Principal Madrid
5
12,000-16,000
Switzerland
Adelboden
The Cambrian, Adelboden
5
12,000-16,000
Switzerland
Silvaplana
Nira Alpina, Silvaplana
6
20,000-25,000
Turkey
Istanbul
Gezi Hotel Bosphorus, Istanbul
4
10,000
Ukraine
Kiev
11 Mirrors
4
10,000
United Kingdom
London
Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London
5
12,000-16,000
United States
New York
Gramercy Park Hotel, New York
7
30,000-35,000
United States
New York
Hotel Americano, New York
6
20,000-25,000
Here are some select Design Hotels properties:
Gramercy Park Hotel, New York
The Gramercy Park Hotel is a quiet oasis in the heart of the bustling city. Guests at the hotel get access to the famed Gramercy Park, the only private park in Manhattan. In addition, the hotel is home to the exclusive Rose Bar and Maialino, a Danny Meyer Italian eatery. This is a Category 7 property, requiring 30,000-35,000 Starpoints per night.
ION Luxury Adventure Hotel, Nesjavellir
Located less than an hour outside of downtown Reykjavik, the ION Luxury Adventure Hotel is set in the beautiful countryside of Iceland. It’s the perfect location to see the famed Icelandic Northern Lights, walk across an ancient glacier or explore the surrounding landscape — including a dormant volcano. This is a Category 6 property, requiring 20,000-25,000 Starpoints per night.
Kruisherenhotel Maastricht, Netherlands
The Kruisherenhotel Maastricht is located in the center of Maastricht inside a renovated 15th-century monastery. The 60-room complex still maintains many of the aspects of its original structure, including the Gothic church, which now houses a reception area, library, boutique, restaurant and wine bar. This is a Category 5 property, requiring 12,000-16,000 Starpoints per night.
The Principal Madrid
This 76-room property is located in the heart of Madrid and boasts the Terraza, a rooftop terrace, with some of the best views of the city. You can make use of its wellness suite, gym, solarium and overflow pool, all of which are some of the best in Madrid. This is a Category 5 property, requiring 12,000-16,000 Starpoints per night.
Bottom Line
The ability to book Design Hotels and Tribute Portfolio properties with Starpoints presents some great redemption options. Each of the brands brings something new to the SPG portfolio, and they definitely offer a non-cookie-cutter experience. It’s still unknown how these properties will be affected once the SPG-Marriott merger is complete, but as of now, there are some great redemptions you should look into taking advantage of sooner rather than later.
Starwood Preferred Guest® Credit Card from American Express
Apply Here
Earn 25,000 bonus Starpoints® after you use your new Card to make $3,000 in purchases within the first 3 months.
New: No Foreign Transaction Fees on international purchases.
New: Receive free in-room, premium internet access. Booking requirements apply.
New: Enjoy complimentary, unlimited Boingo Wi-Fi on up to four devices at more than 1,000,000 Boingo hotspots worldwide. Enrollment required.
Earn free nights at over 1,200 hotels and resorts in nearly 100 countries with no blackout dates.
Some hotels may have mandatory service and resort charges.
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
Terms and limitations apply. See Rates & Fees
Intro APR
Regular APR
Annual Fee
Balance Transfer
Credit Rating
N/A
15.49%-19.49% Variable
$0 introductory annual fee for the first year, then $95
See Terms
Excellent Credit