Advice kindly sought on achieving a room upgrade with Hyatt
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
Advice kindly sought on achieving a room upgrade with Hyatt
Firstly, thank for so much for taking the time to read this -- I do appreciate it.
I just wanted to ask fellow FTers for some advice, if possible, about Hyatt hotels and, post-WoH, what might be the best ways -- if any exist -- of getting a room upgrade at their Kyoto Regency hotel?
(Just for reference: I used to be Platinum before the WoH rebrand and, as I understand it, there are no status matches available right now [for what is it worth, I'm currently Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, and SPG/MarriottGold].)
To cut a long story short, I am bringing my partner and her mother to Japan for the first time in October -- while my partner and I are London-based, the mother is flying in to Japan from Australia -- and I'd like to somehow manage to at least get a good room at the Kyoto Regency hotel in Kyoto. I stayed there earlier this year (with my own mother) and in spite of having emailed the hotel's GM in advance kindly asking for a discretionary upgrade, the room my mother and I ended up with was TINY (whereas, the year previously upon staying at the same hotel and with my Platinum Hyatt Gold Passport status, I got a suite upgrade).
As such, I just wondered whether there was any sleight-of-hand that I might employ in the hope of getting an upgrade this time around? The intended stay is in very early October for 5 nights.
Any advice would be warmly welcomed and gratefull received!
Again, thank you for taking time out to read this.
I just wanted to ask fellow FTers for some advice, if possible, about Hyatt hotels and, post-WoH, what might be the best ways -- if any exist -- of getting a room upgrade at their Kyoto Regency hotel?
(Just for reference: I used to be Platinum before the WoH rebrand and, as I understand it, there are no status matches available right now [for what is it worth, I'm currently Hilton Diamond, Accor Platinum, IHG Spire Ambassador, and SPG/MarriottGold].)
To cut a long story short, I am bringing my partner and her mother to Japan for the first time in October -- while my partner and I are London-based, the mother is flying in to Japan from Australia -- and I'd like to somehow manage to at least get a good room at the Kyoto Regency hotel in Kyoto. I stayed there earlier this year (with my own mother) and in spite of having emailed the hotel's GM in advance kindly asking for a discretionary upgrade, the room my mother and I ended up with was TINY (whereas, the year previously upon staying at the same hotel and with my Platinum Hyatt Gold Passport status, I got a suite upgrade).
As such, I just wondered whether there was any sleight-of-hand that I might employ in the hope of getting an upgrade this time around? The intended stay is in very early October for 5 nights.
Any advice would be warmly welcomed and gratefull received!
Again, thank you for taking time out to read this.
#2
FlyerTalk Evangelist, Ambassador: World of Hyatt
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: NJ
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Fairmont Lifetime Plat, UA Silver, dirt elsewhere
Posts: 46,919
Your best bet would be to contact the hotel and ask if they have an upcharge for a nicer room or a suite.
With no status, it's not likely they're going to give you any kind of an upgrade - unless the hotel is empty.
With no status, it's not likely they're going to give you any kind of an upgrade - unless the hotel is empty.
#3
@Scoob72: MikeFromTokyo provided a good suggestion in your previous thread about getting a room upgrade without WoH status.
By booking a Virtuoso rate, your travel agent may be able to secure your room upgrade preference by liaising with the hotel.
Also take a look at the master thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...er-thread.html
Also take a look at the master thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...er-thread.html
#5
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
Your choices are to pay for the upgrade with money or points.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
Mary2e / paul00 / azepine00 / MSPeconomist / jacobguo / austin_modern -- thank you all so much for your replies -- I really do appreciate them.
Paul00 -- I'm actually booked for five days entirely on Hyatt points, you see (2 x rooms, 5 days, all via Hyatt points), so Virtuoso/FHR, etc., wouldn't really help me here... as I understand it, anyway?
As many have said above, I guess my only option is really to contact the hotel directly and ask if a payable upgrade across two rooms is possible.
Once again, thank you all for your input above -- it is gratefully received.
Paul00 -- I'm actually booked for five days entirely on Hyatt points, you see (2 x rooms, 5 days, all via Hyatt points), so Virtuoso/FHR, etc., wouldn't really help me here... as I understand it, anyway?
As many have said above, I guess my only option is really to contact the hotel directly and ask if a payable upgrade across two rooms is possible.
Once again, thank you all for your input above -- it is gratefully received.
#9
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: BKK
Posts: 6,741
@Scoob72: MikeFromTokyo provided a good suggestion in your previous thread about getting a room upgrade without WoH status.
By booking a Virtuoso rate, your travel agent may be able to secure your room upgrade preference by liaising with the hotel.
Also take a look at the master thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...er-thread.html
By booking a Virtuoso rate, your travel agent may be able to secure your room upgrade preference by liaising with the hotel.
Also take a look at the master thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/hyatt...er-thread.html
#10
It's really going to depend on their occupancy rates because they do sell out the nicer rooms and suites. Definitely offer to pay to upgrade to their corner rooms so you're guaranteed something bigger than the Twin room.
#11
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
I, too, suggest that you reach out in advance and ask about paying for an upgrade. I've stayed there with top status and received no upgrade. It's a very popular hotel with not many rooms. You're staying in early October when it is sure to be booked solid. You have no status. You've very smartly recognized all of that. Don't be disappointed if you can't work out an upgrade but you have no downside in asking if there is anything that can be done.
What a lovely treat for your partner's mother, both to be with her daughter and to be in Kyoto. Have a wonderful time.
What a lovely treat for your partner's mother, both to be with her daughter and to be in Kyoto. Have a wonderful time.
#12
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Minneapolis: DL DM charter 2.3MM
Programs: A3*Gold, SPG Plat, HyattDiamond, MarriottPP, LHW exAccess, ICI, Raffles Amb, NW PE MM, TWA Gold MM
Posts: 100,409
Absolutely, Virtuoso is the way to go at any member property, including HR Kyoto. It's an absolute no brainer, you will be upgraded and with the value add you will pay less than if booking directly with Hyatt.... and Virtuoso bookings are 100% compatible with WoH for night/stay credit, etc...
#13
Community Director Emerita
Join Date: Oct 2000
Location: Anywhere warm
Posts: 33,747
One more thought: go to the website for the hotel. Check the five nights you have booked for paid stays. See if anything is available at a higher category. If so, note the difference between the award room and that room. That will help set your expectations financially when you reach out to the GM. I looked at arrival on October 8 for 5 nights. The standard room is 48K yen. The corner room is 73K yen. The delta of 25K yen is $226. Think about what value you place on getting a larger room. If the GM were to ask you for that delta, are you prepared to pay. These things can happen when you write:
Again, there's no downside in asking. You draw yourself to the attention of the hotel and only positive can come from that.
- The GM says I'm sorry, we cannot offer an upgrade
- The GM offers an upgrade at the cost delta shown online
- The GM offers an upgrade at a lesser price
- The GM says s/he will see what can be done on check in
Again, there's no downside in asking. You draw yourself to the attention of the hotel and only positive can come from that.
#14
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 407
MikeFromTokyo / Aventine / SanDiego1K / MSPeconomist -- once again, thank you all for your input!
SanDiego1K -- thank you for your second note about price deltas. That was a great way of looking at the situation, and one that hadn't occurred to me, so a great suggestion. That really gives me a great benchmark to work from when I reach out to the GM via email -- who I happened to meet in person only about 4 months back, coincidentally enough. Again, I genuinely appreciate all the advice here.
SanDiego1K -- thank you for your second note about price deltas. That was a great way of looking at the situation, and one that hadn't occurred to me, so a great suggestion. That really gives me a great benchmark to work from when I reach out to the GM via email -- who I happened to meet in person only about 4 months back, coincidentally enough. Again, I genuinely appreciate all the advice here.