The current offer for 2 free nights at Category 1 to 5 Starwood hotels on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express is set to expire on October 19, 2016. For some folks, this is a potentially good deal. But most folks prefer to earn Starwood points.
So what will the next deal be for this card? I do NOT have official confirmation. But I’m guessing it will return to its usual offer for 25,000 Starwood points.
20,000 Starwood Points Is Enough for a Night at the Category 6 Westin Excelsior, Florence. But It’s Not Available With the Current AMEX SPG Small Business Card Offer, Which Ends October 19, 2016
I’ll help you decide which is better for you!
AMEX Starwood Small Business Card 2 Night Offer
Link: Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express
Link: How to Fill Out an American Express Business Card Application
Link: How to Use Starwood Points
Through October 19, 2016, you can earn 2 free nights at participating Starwood Category 1 to 5 hotels & resorts worldwide with the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express after spending $5,000 on purchases within the first 3 months.
You’ll also get:
- Up to 5 Starwood points per $1 you spend at Starwood hotels (includes Aloft, Design Hotels, Element, Four Points, Le Meridien, Sheraton, St Regis, The Luxury Collection, Tribute Portfolio, Westin and W brand hotels)
- 1 Starwood point per $1 you spend on everything else
- Unlimited use of Boingo Wi-Fi hotspots (excluding in-flight)
- Access to Sheraton Club lounges (free breakfast and hors d’oeuvres) for cardholder and 1 guest staying in the same room (3rd-party bookings are excluded).
- 2 stay credits or 5 night credits toward Starwood Elite Status
- $95 annual fee, waived for the first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Terms & limitations apply
Note: Some hotels may charge additional resort fees.
Plus you’ll have access to American Express OPEN discounts and AMEX Offers. And you’ll get a subscription to ShopRunner, which offers free 2-day shipping from dozens of online stores.
Why I Think the Next Offer Will Be for 25,000 Starwood Points
If you’ve had this card in the past, you will NOT be able to earn the bonus again. Because American Express only allows folks to get the sign-up bonus ONCE per person, per lifetime on ALL their cards. No matter which version of the sign-up bonus you earned.
That said, I think after October 19, 2016, the sign-up bonus will return to the usual offer of 25,000 Starwood points after meeting minimum spending requirements.
That’s because the offer for 30,000 Starwood points usually happens in summer. And the last big offer was for 35,000 Starwood points.
But with the Marriott-Starwood merger well underway, I do NOT expect either of those offers to return in the near future.
Should You Jump Now, or Wait?
You should only take advantage of the current offer if you have a very specific award in mind.
If You Want to Stay at a Category 4 Hotel or Lower, You’re Better Off With Points! There’s Only One Situation Where the 2-Night Offer Makes Sense
The current offer for 2 nights is only better if you stay at a Category 5 hotel that costs 16,000 Starwood points per night (worth 32,000 Starwood points). Because with the 25,000 point offer, you would NOT have earned enough points for a 2-night stay.
With the Regular Offer, You’ll Have Enough for a Night at the Category 7 Gritti Palace, Which Sells for ~$1,100 a Night, After Meeting the Minimum Spending Requirements
And if you want to stay at a Starwood Category 6 or 7 hotel, which cost 20,000 to 35,000 Starwood points and include Starwood’s most luxurious hotels, you’ll have at least 30,000 Starwood points after completing the minimum spending requirements.
For example, 30,000 Starwood points is enough for a night at the Gritti Palace where Emily stayed.
I Prefer Having Starwood Points Because They’re So Flexible!
For most folks, you’re better off waiting for the regular offer to return. Unless you want 2 nights at a Category 5 hotel that costs 16,000 Starwood points per night. But that’s the only time you’ll come out ahead. And it’s a very specific award.
If you want it, you have until October 19, 2016, to apply for the offer! But I’d recommend waiting for the normal offer to come back.
How to Use Starwood Points
You can use Starwood points for things like:
- Cheaper hotel stays using Cash + Points
- The 5th night free perk at Starwood Category 3 to 7 hotels
- 5 nights and 2 airline tickets to Disney World
- Transfers to airline partners for award flights
You can also transfer Starwood points to Marriott at a 1:3 ratio. So 25,000 Starwood points is worth 75,000 Marriott points!
Bottom Line
Through October 19, 2016, you can earn 2 free nights at category 1 to 5 Starwood hotels after completing the minimum spending requirements on the Starwood Preferred Guest® Business Credit Card from American Express. And I think the offer will go back to 25,000 Starwood points afterward. Although I do NOT have official confirmation of this.
Most folks will do better with the normal offer, unless you stay 2 nights at a Category 5 hotel that costs 16,000 Starwood points per night. Otherwise, I recommend waiting until after October 19, 2016!
Starwood points are also extremely flexible. So if you like to book Cash + Points awards, use the 5th night free perk, or transfer points to airline partners, that’s even more reason why the regular offer is better for you. Don’t forget you can also transfer Starwood points to Marriott for even more award options.
