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Quote:
Originally Posted by gmax58
Checked on my upcoming stay. Upgraded to Exec Suite w/ 2 doubles. Hopefully there will be a view! (I am very pleased with this upgrade, too, as I've heard pleasant info about the Exec suites.)
Any updates on the remaining upgrades for people staying?
I was there 2 years ago and they upgraded me to a corner suite with an amaizing view of the WM. I was there on Reward Points for 5 nights.
Thats fantastic! What time of the year was that? I fear a special occasion like the new year's might unfortunately decrease our chance from having as good an upgrade as you.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pranu
Thats fantastic! What time of the year was that? I fear a special occasion like the new year's might unfortunately decrease our chance from having as good an upgrade as you.
It was the first week of Nov. 2004--oh wait--actually it was last year. Time flies when you're having fun.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pranu
Thats fantastic! What time of the year was that? I fear a special occasion like the new year's might unfortunately decrease our chance from having as good an upgrade as you.
Yup. I think I just got caught on that...reservation got downgraded again to a Jr. Suite, likely because they're running short on suites that can be booked online, but they have more than one exec suite w/ doubles (which I had before).
I've noted my experience here. It's quite a good place, even though I didn't get the upgrade I wanted.
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Last edited by gmax58; Jan 1, 07 at 8:11 pm.
Reason: Updating with link to RA experience thread.
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Most recent stay (last week, 2 nights on points, 1 paid, 1 free weekend night cert) upgraded to executive suite with 2 doubles. Preferred king, none available, so took a downgrade to Willard Room which is ~ 525 sq ft with a direct view of Washington Monument. And the paid stay yielded 44k points.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gleff
Most recent stay (last week, 2 nights on points, 1 paid, 1 free weekend night cert) upgraded to executive suite with 2 doubles. Preferred king, none available, so took a downgrade to Willard Room which is ~ 525 sq ft with a direct view of Washington Monument. And the paid stay yielded 44k points.
How did you get 44K points for the stay? What promotion gave you that much? Or did you do it as separate stays (paid / free / paid)? Even in that case, 44K would be a lot ... congratulations.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by pranu
Must have been
a. 30k promo for the Great North East offer
b. 10k promo for the stay x
c. 2k Standard
d. 1k Plat Bonus
e. 1k RA Bonus
Am I correct?
Yep.
Btw, I've had Executive Suites there on all my other stays (never asked for anything higher), all were king beds in the past. Has never mattered what rate I paid or whether it was on points. Have never seen an award night unavailable either, even when the base room was going for over $450.
Once I turned up and they had me in just a Willard Room. That's really quite reasomable as an 'executive room' per the RA t&c. The hotel was pretty much sold out. But a little banter at checkin and they found me one last suite, though I had to wait in the bar (having a drink on them) while housekeeping finished it up.
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This is the official policy for RAs, though obviously they often do much better.
[b]Doppy[b], I raised this as a possibility just today in another thread -- do you know this for certain (I suspect you do from some source) or has this been your experience? Also, do you think the rate paid makes a difference at the Willard (ie, AAA rate vs. full rate) when they assign upgrades to RA's?
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I've been told by the hotel that RA's are guaranteed an upgrade to a Willard Room. But I've also had rooms upgraded without banter from me beyond that. If you contact in advance you'll see the res change to Willard Room. Either way, you'll see the actual room type you've been assigned to online the night before.
Btw I've been told RA's are entitled to 12pm checkin (!) but have had no problem turning up just after 8am... and checking into the suite I had been preblocked into...
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gleff
Btw I've been told RA's are entitled to 12pm checkin (!) but have had no problem turning up just after 8am... and checking into the suite I had been preblocked into...
Well this is a printed benefit in the RA T&C right? So it's no surprise that you were able to get into your room so early. What may be surprising is that you were able to do it with no fuss.
[b]Doppy[b], I raised this as a possibility just today in another thread -- do you know this for certain (I suspect you do from some source) or has this been your experience?
This is the policy; I do have it from a reliable source. I don't think they worry about the rate booked, though I'd assume that if space were tight (which it can be since the hotel does sell out - including paid suites - on a regular basis) that they'd have a way of determining who got what, which would probably be rate paid, but that's just a guess.
The Willard is one of the best hotels for RAs since they don't make you play games and jump through hoops to get upgrades - if they're available they go ahead and make sure to put people in them, including very nice suites. At other ICs it's like pulling teeth to get an upgrade, and even when you do you can't even tell at a lot of these places.
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Nota bene: The views expressed in this post are not necessarily mine.
This is the policy; I do have it from a reliable source. I don't think they worry about the rate booked, though I'd assume that if space were tight (which it can be since the hotel does sell out - including paid suites - on a regular basis) that they'd have a way of determining who got what, which would probably be rate paid, but that's just a guess.
The Willard is one of the best hotels for RAs since they don't make you play games and jump through hoops to get upgrades - if they're available they go ahead and make sure to put people in them, including very nice suites. At other ICs it's like pulling teeth to get an upgrade, and even when you do you can't even tell at a lot of these places.
Thanks Doppy, this is very valuable information to me, and I do agree that the RA experience at the Willard is excellent, especially compared to some IC's that don't seem particularly familiar with the rules and make RA's ask (it feels like begging and is therefore humiliating) for their benefits.
Hopefully there will be a view! (I am very pleased with this upgrade, too, as I've heard pleasant info about the Exec suites.)
What may be surprising is that you were able to do it with no fuss. 
