SPG Open the World Game & Contest
Starwood Preferred Guest loves to run various games and promotions to highlight their properties and loyalty program. One of their big pushes now is the use of smart devices as room keys. To highlight this new function, they have created a game called “Open the World”.
Open the World is open to SPG members in most countries and can be played daily online through September 30, 2015. There will also be a version of the game that can be played through September 13, 2015 on location at the U.S. Open Tennis Championship.
The Online Game
The online game is fairly simple. After inputting your SPG number and email address, you then choose which device to want to use (Android, iPhone or iWatch) and then pick one of 5 doors to open. After opening the door you will be magically transported to one of SPG’s properties. At that point you can choose another door or click to see if you have won a prize.
The game is sort of fun and has the benefit of not taking very long. You can input your information and choose a door within a minute or so. Unfortunately my wife and I didn’t win today, however I’ll try to remember to make daily visits. During similar promotions in the past I have won points a few times.
The Prizes
Here is a look at the prizes that can be won online. You can find the on location prizes and full terms of the promotion on their website.
- One Free Night Award: 33 Awards available for any SPG participating category 1-5 hotel or resort. Approximate Retail Value (ARV) $171.00. Award will be available in the SPG member’s account within three weeks from the Game Period end date. Award must be consumed by March 31, 2016.
- Starpoints: 561 Awards Available: 25,000 Starpoints: ARV $625.00; 10,000 Starpoints: ARV $250.00; 5000 Starpoints: ARV $125.00; 1000 Starpoints: ARV $35.00.
- American Express $10.00 Gift Card*: 165 total Awards. One (1) per winner.
- Amazon $25.00 Gift Card*: 330 total Awards. One (1) per winner.
- Amazon $50.00 Gift Card*: 825 total Awards. One (1) per winner.
There is also a grand prize of 250,000 Starpoints!
Conclusion
This seems like a quick and fun way to pickup some prizes. I have found that it is easier to win as these promotions drag on since people tend to stop playing in the first week or so. Head over to their website to play. Good luck and let us know if you win anything!
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I also won a $50 Amazon gift card (ur… I mean my wife did) and I have been entering everyday since this post. Thanks Shawn for pointing this contest out to us!
Southwest and Alamo have teamed up for their “Free to Roam” contest, kind of similar to the Open the World contest, but not as fancy. Here is the link: http://www.freetoroamsweepstakes.com/
Daily entries, instant winners. Good Luck!
I won a $50 Amazon gift card. I haven’t received it yet, but did receive a confirmation email. I’m happy, but still trying for more.
So based on your screenshot.. if we keep opening doors until we find “The West St. John Resort & Villas” we will be an instant winner..?! … it can’t be that easy can it…? : ) (naivete’ intended)
Based on my understanding of the rules, the winning times are pre-determined. I don’t think the actual property has much to do with it. It more has to do with picking the right door at the right time.
Haha. I expected as much from reading that. But $50 Amazon gc is not such big loss. Now if won one of the points prizes and didn’t get credited then I would definitely complain
What are you talking about dawg!
$50 is still like 5,000 points @ $0.01 apiece bro! You gotta get what you win! $5 is nothing. But $50 is worth it.
Don’t hate. Give him his props! Would you have turned it down…..$5 or $50…..SERIOUSLY!
I’m a fairly new member. I signed up when the 30000 bonus came about earlier and if got this when I participated in this promotion:
—–
Congrats!
YOU’RE AN INSTANT WINNER.
A $50 Amazon.com Gift Card will be mailed to your address on your SPG profile.
You’ve also been entered to win the Open the World of SPG® sweepstakes grand prize: a weeklong dream getaway. Play daily through September 30, 2015.
———
I sure hope this is for real. Not like the Target college registry before where I never got my gift card.
Thats really cool man. Congrats. Did you take a screenshot? Was there an Email notification of you winning? You always want to make sure you have proof that youve won. Including the Target promotion. Better than not having any proof.
I didn’t get an email but I did a screenshot:
Posted it on my twitter https://twitter.com/kulam_batur/status/638090037658185728
Nice bro! Hope they Email you the AMZ GC code soon. You can even CC @spgassist or send an Email to customer service and make sure its on their communication log and verify the timeline of when it should arrive in your mailbox.
T&C specifically mention “Gift Cards are only available to US residents. Gift Card will be sent via mail to the address member has provided on their SPG profile at http://www.spg.com. Allow three to four weeks for Gift Card delivery from Promotion Period end date.”
So it sounds like it would take awhile bro!
Thanks for the notice bro.
However, I really didnt understand their device selection layer. What was the point of that?
Pretty stupid. It could have been any mouse cursor really.
Other than that, really easy to play daily and see. I am sure someone wrote a script for this.
I need ask around.
I think it is just to highlight the type of devices that will work. I doubt it has any real use other than that.
Very true. I guess they are just highlighting their new SPG Keyless, but its only available at the W, Aloft and Element hotels. And I still see customer controlled keyless entry as a major security issue so I hope independent 3rd party tests are performed.