The closing of the Atrium Lounge at the Westin Times Square moves it well down on the list. The breakfast amenity option is poor (items from a "grab and go").
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss the two W's on 39th in Murray Hill. Had a very high upgrade percentage there --- IIRC, 25% to Suite at the Tuscany and close to 100% at the Court. Used to have great AAA rates on the weekends too.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paullevi
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss the two W's on 39th in Murray Hill. Had a very high upgrade percentage there --- IIRC, 25% to Suite at the Tuscany and close to 100% at the Court. Used to have great AAA rates on the weekends too.
You're definitely not alone. Those rooms were enormous by New York standards and the upgrade frequency was high. When SPG would run stays-based promos, having those two properties available were a dream. Admittedly, Murray Hill is somewhat "blah" as a neighborhood, but the location to Grand Central was ideal. Very sad to see them go, the only bright spot was that Sofia, the really wonderful manager of the two properties, remained with Starwood and is now at the W New York - Downtown (where she has no suites with which to upgrade us!)
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Quote:
Originally Posted by beachfan
The closing of the Atrium Lounge at the Westin Times Square moves it well down on the list. The breakfast amenity option is poor (items from a "grab and go").
The new (last year) element on west side should have breakfast every day and evening appetizers and drinks in the lobby Monday through Thursday. IIRC there's no Plat upgrade benefit, but the offerings at this extended stay brand are similar to lounge access privileges.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
The new (last year) element on west side should have breakfast every day and evening appetizers and drinks in the lobby Monday through Thursday. IIRC there's no Plat upgrade benefit, but the offerings at this extended stay brand are similar to lounge access privileges.
The Element is one property I have on my do not stay list - I have had numerous problems with their front desk, housekeeping, accounting, and security departments. The breakfast is bad and the elevator situation is a mess.
Also, they do not block rooms for platinums (and I was a regular) ... got there at 11 pm one night, only to be assigned a third floor room with a noisy street view.
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss the two W's on 39th in Murray Hill. Had a very high upgrade percentage there --- IIRC, 25% to Suite at the Tuscany and close to 100% at the Court. Used to have great AAA rates on the weekends too.
breaks my heart to think about those two properties
The Westin Times Square did indeed close their club lounge. Another of the many reasons I will no longer stay at that property. I've had problems with the business center, losing bags at check-in, losing incoming packages, calling service express and not getting an answer.
Also if you're platinum they will try to "upgrade" you to a tiny room saying it's a "corner suite on a high floor." Don't be fooled. Ask specifically for a room on the Atrium club floors. Rooms are huge with large bathrooms, stylish decor, a MAC desktop...all a mute point now that the club lounge is closed in my opinion. Part of why we bother to achieve platinum status is for the convenience of waking up and having breakfast, coffee, water, etc. available in the hotel.
Also the Sheraton Tribeca is not a good option. Rooms are TINY and they "suites" are still quite small - also they give them away first come, first served and don't seem to hold any back for SPG Plat members.
The club lounge does have a nice deck, but what a mess. Dirty dishes everywhere, running out of water, watery lousy coffee that seemed to be a cost saving measure (asked 3x and the made new coffee - all as bad as the previous pot), waiting for 20 minutes for hot food to be replenished, also a cost saving measure. All in all a disgrace to the brand. We'll be going back to Hyatt Diamond.
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SPG50 and RACK rate in NYC
I'll be staying in NYC in Nov for a special occasion and looks like the week in question is significally more expensive (BAR 400-995usd++) than a regular week. Has anyone had luck with SPG50 in NYC? What are the typical RACK rates in Manhattan? Am open to most properties there.
I've always been well taken care of at the W Times Square and the W Downtown.
Have to agree with you here. Patrick Armano has always taken good care of me and all of my colleagues I've sent to the W Times Square. Great customer-service experience, and fantastic upgrades.
I know I've posted here before as a fan of ParkerLM, and although I have never stayed here as Plat, I have always been treated well, even as Gold! This is our family "go-to" place in New York, and we are devoted fans. I have found that a bit of pre-arrival communication with the hotel results in a wonderful stay at this perfectly-located property.
That being said, I will arrive for our annual Xmas family holiday at LPM for the first time as Plat this year expecting something exciting...will post results, certain they will be awesome! VIVA LISA!
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Quote:
Originally Posted by paullevi
Maybe I'm in the minority, but I miss the two W's on 39th in Murray Hill. Had a very high upgrade percentage there --- IIRC, 25% to Suite at the Tuscany and close to 100% at the Court. Used to have great AAA rates on the weekends too.
Yep, I miss them too. Had some good weeks at the Court/Tuscany. I got to SPG Gold for the first time by hopping between them on business trips. And the free Acura SUV ride was much easier than hopping cabs everywhere.
Quote:
Originally Posted by jdawg
The Element is one property I have on my do not stay list - I have had numerous problems with their front desk, housekeeping, accounting, and security departments. The breakfast is bad and the elevator situation is a mess.
Also, they do not block rooms for platinums (and I was a regular) ... got there at 11 pm one night, only to be assigned a third floor room with a noisy street view.
I think breakfast at the Element is fine (if crowded), and the location is great, but the noisy rooms drive me crazy.
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Their typical Plat upgrade seems to be the large corner rooms (Cool Corner?), which are huge by NYC standards and very nice.
This W is nice and light, although I've had the all white corner room with red accessories at the W Downtown (near Wall Street), which is another example of a W room that isn't decorated in dark colors.
The Union Square and Downtown Ws are located so that many rooms get good sunlight and have views other than of nearby buildings. At W on Lex, you tend to look at competitors' hotel rooms.
And if they do you the favor of giving you a T Square view, you may have about 20 spotlights pointed at your room which sits behind some large billboards. I asked to be moved after I realized I had enough light at 11 PM to literally read in bed. And in half a dozen stays, I've never got a room other than what was booked despite availability showing on spg.com. They disdain plats...or are at least apathetic toward them.
