Starwood Preferred Guest - faxing the GM ahead of time

A while back, someone posted a really nifty letter he faxed to the GM of the hotel he was about to stay in, praising the hotel and asking for a suite upgrade. I've done the search and can't find it; can anyone help me with the link? I finally make platinum this week and look forward to the opportunity to get suites.

Sending the GM a letter in advance is appropriate if you have a special occassion(anniversary, honeymoon, etc.). Otherwise, I don't think anyone in our little flyertalk world here condones faxing the hotel to request an upgrade when it's a benefit that *most* properties recognize and do what they can to provide it.

As a Plat., you'll find the upgrade success varies from place to place. Generally, we seem to be pleased with the upgrades at W and Westin properties moreso than Sheratons or 4 points. St. Regis' are a world above all others, seemingly recognizing Plats. a vast majority of the time.

Welcome!

Point well taken PHL. I agree with you and should have mentioned that I would only do this under special circumstances. Thanks.

I concur with PHL. Unless it is a special event, don't bother the GM for something the front desk will provide if it is available.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PHL:
Generally, we seem to be pleased with the upgrades at W and Westin properties moreso than Sheratons or 4 points
Welcome!</font>

I know you qualified it with a "generally", but I think the subject of upgrades cannot be summed up AT ALL like that.

I almost never stay at Westins. Allergic to the Heavenly Beds (even after they replace all the pillows and comforters with synthetics. Feathers linger...)

My experience has been 95% upgrades with Sheraton and 4 Points .

THat's my experience at 21 different properties this year.

One glaring non-upgrade was the Westin Copley Place, where it seems no-one gets a suite. Loved the free high speed internet access, although I was sneezing......

aloha

I know an FT who upgraded to a suite (from a $99 room rate!) at the Westin Copley Place...

Actually, I DID get a suite at the Westin Copley. A studio suite I think they called it. It was a very large room, but I don't call THAT a suite. Great views, and, again, free high speed access, but without two baths and a wall separating rooms, I don't call it a suite.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by clublounger:
One glaring non-upgrade was the Westin Copley Place, where it seems no-one gets a suite. Loved the free high speed internet access, although I was sneezing......
aloha</font>

Now that's very interesting - I've been staying at the Westin Copley every week since July and have gotten a junior suite upgrade all but once....without asking. They always are quick to point out that they have me upgraded. Their suites come in two varieties -

an oversized room, which is what clublounger seems to have gotten.(ending with an 18, 19, 12 or 13)

a corner room with a seperate desk area(ending with a 01)

Neither of those room types have a second bathroom.

Two baths don't necessarily qualify as a suite, though. They have ONE humungous suite, on the 36th floor, that has several bathrooms. It's several thousand square feet and takes up half the floor. As you can imagine, it's not given to SPGs as an upgrade. I only know about it because I've gotten to know the staff in the bar pretty well. I'd love to take a peek at it sometime, though.

[This message has been edited by PHL (edited 12-07-2001).]