Secreted VIP Benefits you can get with Elite Points

We had a great time eating smoked Salmon, sipping cocktails and meeting a good-looking celebrity Tennis Seed.

This little known perk is offered by Starwood Hotels, Citi Cards, AMEX and several other loyalty programs. I used SPG Hotel points to get Luxury Suite tickets to the Tennis match of the WTA 2014 CT Open at Yale University. Members can enjoy exclusive access to ticket presales and once-in-a-lifetime experiences - from sports, fashion and fine dining to the visual and performing arts.
Not many people know about these unique experiences, up for the grab. I advise you to keep an eye out for offers to redeem points for your dream event.

I spotted the Tennis event and since it was only 10,000 SPG points, I thought it would be fun and I was not wrong. The same amount of points would get a SPG Category 4 Hotel Stay. For example, it costs 10,000 points for The Westin Houston Downtown Hotel. To be contrite, a hotel stay has an advantage because award stays, including Cash & Point stays, count toward earning elite levels at SPG. But redeeming points for unique experiences, fine dining or performing arts, can be exciting!

I redeemed the Starpoints 2 weeks prior to the event and instantly got 2 automated messages to confirm that I could attend the Connecticut Open and Meet Legend James Blake package. it said I would be ‘”contacted by a MomentsSM by SPG® representative very shortly to finalize the details of your experience. Should you have any questions in the meantime, please contact the email address provided”.

I immediately checked my online points balance and realized that they had removed 4 tickets instead of 2, so I emailed to inform them of the error. I had a lot of questions so I anxiously waited to hear from the Liaison person from Moments by SPG and I never did get a phone call, but I did get an email in response to my emails and voice mails and we were happy in the end.

Check the travel benefits that come with your card. for example the Citi ThankYou Premier Visa Card allows you to redeem Points for a cruise, travel package or all-inclusive vacation offered by their travel rewards provider, Connexions. Last year I got a free companion flight from my Cii Card, but unfortunately they don't do that anymore. Bummer, because I was about to request it.

Moments is an exclusive program for members of Starwood Hotels in which hard-earned Starpoints® can be transformed into one-of-a-kind experiences. SPG is your ticket to the ultimate in music, sports and the arts, so check the site frequently for an ever-changing array of great events. Citi Private pass also offers events like Preferred VIP Ticket Access Tickets offers only available to Citi credit card members. Now available are a wide array of Backstage tours, meet & greet your favorite artists like: Katy Perry, Larry King, B.o.B and Dierks Bentley or See the Musical JERSEY BOYS at Paris Las Vegas on September 27,2014.

The present Marriott Megabonus promotion is not as good as their previous promotions, you can earn a free night for every two paid stays. The free night earned was for a category 1-5 hotel, this time you can only redeem at a category 1-4.  Also, you can only earn a maximum of 2 free nights during the promotional period.

Elite Points go a long way with exclusive access to tickets. The AMEX Platinum card gives you  access to premium seats for select cultural and sporting events based on availability with the Preferred Seating program. You basically move to the front of the line, with exclusive access to ticket presales and Card Member-only events in your city. American Express Card Members can enjoy exclusive access to ticket presales from TicketMaster. “By Invitation Only” is a program that gives Platinum Card Members exclusive access to once-in-a-lifetime experiences - from sports, fashion and fine dining to the visual and performing arts.

Unique experiences can be had via Marriott also. The FlashPerks is program exclusively for Marriott Rewards members. It includes flash sales on memorable hotel deals, merchandise and experiences. Transactions can be purchased with cash or redeemed with points for the offers. Each week, they have limited availability offers – only available to members! Deals available for purchase only through the FlashPerks website from Thursdays 12:00 PM CST to Fridays 12:00PM CST each week, but once quantities are gone, you’ll have to wait until the next week to get your hands on a hot FlashPerks Deal!

Michael Ha., AMEX Card Member said:“I made a last-minute weekend trip to New York and was able to get great seats to a Broadway show for a reasonable price, and more importantly, it took me less than five minutes.”

…In other news, check out Crossover Rewards. SPG and Delta take Elite travel to new heights. If you are registered for Crossover Rewards, are an SPG Platinum or Gold elite member, and you book a Delta marketed flight, this is good.  Registration for Crossover Rewards requires active membership in both the SPG Program and the Delta SkyMiles program and that an individual’s membership accounts in both programs are under the same name.  Membership into both programs may be obtained for free at spg.com and delta.com/SkyMiles. 

Need extra Starpoints for a free night, free flight or room upgrade? Now, you can buy 500 Starpoints for as little as $17.50 USD. To add up to 20,000 Starpoints to your account.

This is the 2nd email I got from SPG:

Here's your ticket to the semifinal matches of this year's WTA Connecticut Open presented by United Technologies at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University. You and your guest can join other SPG(R) tennis fans and enjoy a great view of all the women's pro tennis action from the SPG Luxury Suite while indulging in complimentary food and beverages. Fairfield native and Connecticut tennis legend James Blake will pay a visit to the suite during the semifinals. (Remember your camera!) Please note, no children under the age of 6 will be permitted inside the suite.
The Connecticut Open Semifinals with James Blake package includes:

• Two (2) SPG Luxury Suite tickets to the semifinals of the WTA 2014 Connecticut Open at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University on Friday, August 22, 2014 at 7:00 p.m.
• Food and beverages for two (2) while in the luxury suite
• An opportunity to meet ATP World Tour pro James Blake
• One (1) complimentary parking pass Conditions

There are 14 Connecticut Open Semifinals with James Blake packages available. Each Connecticut Open Semifinals with James Blake package consists of: (i) two (2) SPG Luxury Suite tickets to the semifinals of the WTA 2014 Connecticut Open at the Connecticut Tennis Center at Yale University on Friday, August 22, 2014; (ii) food and beverages for two (2) while in the luxury suite; (iii) an opportunity to meet ATP World Tour pro James Blake; and (iv) one (1) free parking pass.

Its also nice to hang out with other Elites! Preferred Ticket Access for SPG’s music fans were among the first to score concert tickets to some of the hottest tours across Europe, courtesy of the partnership between SPG and Live Nation. An Elite Member told me that "Attending the Justin Timberlake concert in Hamburg, Germany was an electric SPG Moments experience".Check out Broadway shows and concert tours, family and sporting events, and more with Entertainment Access.