Starwood Hotels brands -- and their guests -- are now cashing in on location-based, mobile check-ins.
From now through July 31, Starwood Preferred Guest members with confirmed reservations can check in via foursquare from their mobile devices at more than 1,000 hotels in nearly 100 countries and receive 250 bonus Starpoints.
In a promotion running through May 31, each check-in qualifies guests for a chance to win a free resort night, which is hidden daily throughout some of the participating hotels. And through July 31, the check-ins will make rewards program members eligible to win a five-night resort stay with airfare.
And, of course, foursquare check-in are nothing without mayorships. So every month under this new Starwood program, the loyalty program member with the most check-ins across all of the properties will be designated the Starwood Preferred Guest Mayor and be the recipient of "special SPG perks," Starwood says.
The new program affords local properties the ability "to engage with guests and reward SPG members for their geo-social behavior, leveraging Starpoints as a form of social currency," Starwood says.
To get in on the program, members need to visit this Starwood Preferred Guest page to link their foursquare and SPG accounts.
Finally, foursquare is increasingly being associated with concrete perks and not just badges and mayorships.
Starting in August, Starwood plans upping the marketing by introducing foursquare specials and bonus opportunities based on hotel brand and region.
Starwood brands include Le Meridien, Aloft, The Luxury Collection, Westin, Four Points, element, Sheraton, St. Regis and W Hotels.