Starwood Preferred Guest - Comp Status from Wyndham Old San Juan

Not long ago the Wyndham Old San Juan became the Sheraton Old San Juan. When it was a Wyndham, I stayed there about 60 times a year and became very used to the room upgrades and "extras." Now that they are SPG I'm back to being just another guest.

My question is this -- isn't there a way I can refer to my previous stays at the same property (even though it wasn't SPG at the time) and get some sort of comp elite status? I don't think Wyndham ever made their "elite" status available (there is no card I can fax it), and the Sheraton has no records of the hotel when it was a Wyndham.

It's frustrating to go from valued guest to nobody at the same address. I must say, however, that the hotel as a Sheraton is a hundred times better than the Wyndham ever was...

Thanks!
DK

try to ask starwood lurker.

he might be able to help you.

dp

Surely one of the members of the hotel management you have been in touch as a regular guest (assuming Sheraton hasn't done with the lot ;) ) can ask SPG to issue a comp membership to you on the grounds of your being a long-standing repeat customer.
I know that hotels can do this, they can even get you Platinum for the first year, though after that it will revert to standard membership if you haven't made the required number of stays.

60 times a YEAR??

You'll be Plat in no time, so I am sure hotel knows your name - you are there as often as most of them surely?

Glen


FlyerTalk 'Oz Fest #2' in Sydney May 27/29, 2005. Click for details (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=336631)

Surely one of the members of the hotel management you have been in touch as a regular guest (assuming Sheraton hasn't done with the lot ;) ) can ask SPG to issue a comp membership to you on the grounds of your being a long-standing repeat customer.
I know that hotels can do this, they can even get you Platinum for the first year, though after that it will revert to standard membership if you haven't made the required number of stays.

Most of the former staff quit -- however, I just learned that the corporate sales manager is still around. I'm going to try and see what she can do.

Thanks!

I have had hotels after changing hands have the new affiliated program contact me, and/or even give a temporary comp status. It doesn't hurt to ask.

Just got word back from the hotel sales manager. I was thanked for once again bringing my business back to the property and POOF!

I am now SPG Platinum.

For the benefit of others reading this thread, I first went to SPG and requested a comp upgrade. The answer was "no." Then I went to the hotel managment (who remembers me from the old days). The answer was "of course!"

Thank you Sheraton!

DK

Just got word back from the hotel sales manager. I was thanked for once again bringing my business back to the property and POOF!

I am now SPG Platinum.

For the benefit of others reading this thread, I first went to SPG and requested a comp upgrade. The answer was "no." Then I went to the hotel managment (who remembers me from the old days). The answer was "of course!"

Thank you Sheraton!

DK

Awesome! Congrats ^

Out of curiosity, what kind of upgrades did you generally receive? I will be staying at this hotel beginning tonight for about two weeks. I'm SPG Plat -- hoping for a decently large room and/or suite.

Just checked in about 20 minutes ago. The hotel seems pretty full. They graciously upgraded me to a two room Suite on the 3rd floor overlooking the marina with a tiny terrace. The room has one bathroom ensuite, with TV's in both the living room and bedroom. Both rooms are a very nice size, but sparsely furnished.

Internet access is $9.95/day. Valet parking with unlimited in/out is $18/day. They have a lounge on the 7th floor.

I'm on a corporate rate of $135/night. Just for this weekend the rate goes up to $225/night

I'll post some pictures soon.

Awesome! Congrats ^

Out of curiosity, what kind of upgrades did you generally receive? I will be staying at this hotel beginning tonight for about two weeks. I'm SPG Plat -- hoping for a decently large room and/or suite.



Here's the layout...

The 9th floor is the top floor; the pool and gym are located there.
The 8th floor is the SPG floor - some rooms have mini-balconies.
The 7th floor is the (former) concierge level when it was a Wyndham. The club lounge is located here. Most outside rooms have balconies here.
The 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th floors are pretty much the same.

Rooms are numbered from X00 to X37, where X is the floor you are on.

The best room in the hotel is 933, also known as the presidential suite. (I've only stayed there once.)

The rooms with the nicest view/balcony are the X03, X04, X32 and X33 rooms (junior suites). In addition to those, rooms X05 to X13 are standard size, but face the bay.

Rooms 827 and 927 are suites. Very nice.

Rooms X14 are junior suites and are located on the corners, with bay view.

My favorite upgrade room in the hotel is the X04 column. It's not the biggest, but it's got a nice layout plus a nice view.

AVOID X00-X02 and X34-X37, they are inside rooms with a view of nothing.

So, having said all of that, I would opt for (in order):

X33 (suite)
X32 (suite)
927 (suite)
827 (suite)
X04 (suite)
X03 (suite)
X14 (suite)
729 (std. room, big balcony)
731 (std. room, big balcony)
X05-X13 (std. room, nice view)

Oh, and get this -- the ATM in the casino does not charge a transaction fee of any kind!

Good luck on your stay!
DK