WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK Starwood Preferred Guest is teaming up with Foursquare to encourage and reward guests who check-in on the geolocation-based social media site.
SPG members who link their accounts to Foursquare are rewarded with 250 bonus Starpoints whenever they check in with a confirmed hotel reservation. Through May 31, another perk is being offered—Foursquare check-ins are eligible to win a free resort night award that is hidden at a different Starwood property each day. The bonus points are available through July 31. Each check-in through then also enters the user in a sweepstakes for five free resort nights and airfare.
There is a noteworthy social media aspect to this promotion, as well. Besides special Starwood badges that can be displayed on users’ Foursquare pages, SPG will declare the members with the most Foursquare check-ins each month as its new “SPG Mayor.” Mayors will be featured on the official SPG blog and will be asked to share insider travel tips with other users.