Marriott International operates the finest luxury hotel portfolio in the world — the Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, EDITION, and Luxury Collection brands are all under one roof. And buried within that portfolio is a preferred advisor program called STARS (Starwood Travel Agent Reservation System) that most travelers from Chicago, Kansas City, Milwaukee, and across the Midwest have never heard of.
STARS is the Marriott equivalent of Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Hyatt Privé. It’s a select group of travel advisors who receive a confirmed amenity package for their clients at participating luxury Marriott properties. Booking through a STARS-enrolled advisor changes the experience in concrete, measurable ways.
What the Marriott STARS Program Includes
At participating Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, and Luxury Collection properties, STARS bookings receive:
- Daily breakfast for two: every morning, included, at the hotel restaurant
- $100 USD hotel credit: per stay, applicable to dining, spa, or resort charges
- Complimentary room upgrade: one category, based on availability
- Early check-in and late check-out: prioritized when available
- Welcome amenity: arranged with the property’s concierge team prior to arrival
- Best Available Rate: no premium — same rate as booking direct
The Ritz-Carlton vs. St. Regis: Which Is Right for You?
Both brands are under the Marriott STARS umbrella, but they have distinct personalities that appeal to different Midwest travelers:
The Ritz-Carlton
The Ritz is the gold standard of classic luxury — formal, attentive, impeccably consistent. It’s the choice for travelers from Indianapolis, Cincinnati, or Columbus who want the assurance of a known experience: the Ladies and Gentlemen service culture, the Ritz-Carlton spa, the white-glove dining. Favorite Ritz properties for Midwest travelers include the Ritz-Carlton Chicago, the Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua, the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, and the Ritz-Carlton Maldives.
The St. Regis
St. Regis is the older, more storied brand — with roots going back to John Jacob Astor IV’s original New York hotel in 1904. The brand signature is the butler service (every room gets a dedicated butler) and the Bloody Mary ritual, invented at the St. Regis New York bar. The St. Regis appeals to Midwest travelers who want grandeur with history — the St. Regis Florence, the St. Regis Venice, the St. Regis New York, and the St. Regis Maldives are particular favorites.
How STARS Stacks With Marriott Bonvoy Points
Like Hyatt Privé, STARS benefits are additive to your loyalty membership. Your Marriott Bonvoy points post normally. If you have Titanium or Ambassador status, STARS brings additional amenities on top of what your status already provides. If you have lower status or no status at all, STARS delivers the premium experience regardless.
For Midwest Bonvoy loyalists who’ve accumulated points through business travel from Chicago O’Hare or Minneapolis-Saint Paul — this is the program that makes your leisure travel more rewarding without spending more.
A Real Example: St. Louis Couple at the Ritz-Carlton Maui
A couple from St. Louis books four nights at the Ritz-Carlton Maui Kapalua for an anniversary. Nightly rate: $900. Total: $3,600. Through a STARS advisor like Erons Travel, they receive:
- 4 mornings of breakfast for two ($60–$80/person/day = $480–$640 total value)
- $100 hotel credit — applied to a couples massage or oceanfront dinner
- Room upgrade attempt — potentially from a partial ocean to a full oceanview suite
- Late checkout — meaning their last afternoon is on the beach, not in the lobby
Conservative value added: $700–$1,200. The rate they paid: identical to booking direct at Ritz-Carlton.com.
Which Midwest Cities Does Erons Travel Serve?
Erons Travel works with clients across the Midwest and Mountain West, including Chicago, Minneapolis, Kansas City, Omaha, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Des Moines, Milwaukee, Cincinnati, Columbus, Boise, and Denver. As a Virtuoso and Fora-affiliated advisor, the STARS program is available for all eligible bookings regardless of where you’re located.
Ready to Book the Right Way?
Midwest travelers deserve the same elevated experience as clients in New York or Los Angeles — and with Erons Travel, you get exactly that. Gabriel is your direct line to preferred partner status at the world’s finest hotels and cruise lines.
Visit eronstravel.com or reach out directly to start planning a trip where every detail is handled, every perk is secured, and nothing is left to chance.
