reuthermonkey

I'm going to agree that we have some pretty jaded people in here.

1) (Continue to) treat the hotel staff with respect. Do not be a "DYKWIA", or you too will surely become quite jaded...

2) Be realistic. You're not their only guest, and you're not their only Plat. If you're staying for 2 weeks and don't get an upgrade you feel you should get, then ask for an upgrade during your stay as availability frees up.

3) European and Asian properties tend to treat Plats far better. If you're staying overseas frequently you'll be in good shape.

4) I've stayed at Westins for one night and not received an upgrade , while I've had 2-week stays at a Four Points, and been upgraded to Suites multiple times. My point? Don't expect anything, and be happy with what you get.

5) If you really, really want Top-Floor-Presidential-Mega-Super-Awesome-Suite? Pay for it. Upgrades are not guaranteed. SNA's are not guaranteed. If you care that much about getting an upgrade, pay for it.


Maybe I don't have high expectations, but I definitely remember the days when I was without status, and the room I paid for was ALWAYS the room I received. No better. Ever. The way I see it, one way or the other, I'm spending 60+ nights/yr in a hotel room. Platinum benefits are simply an occasional bonus to keep me staying with SPG. Nothing more. Maybe I'm stupid, but I'd rather be stupid and happy with what I get rather than jaded and angry.

bhrubin

Here, here! Great minds (and happy people) think alike. Well said.

Herb687

Fine as long as they treat me with respect. Treating me with respect means not lying to me and telling me that all suites are full when suites are available. Treating me with respect means honoring the GUARANTEED 4pm late checkout benefit...

Agree in general. Although even in Europe there are some properties that treat Plats shabbily.

Terrible, terrible advice in my opinion. Would "Expect nothing and be happy with what we give you" be a compelling slogan for SPG? I think not. I would rather expect that SPG live up to the spirit of what it says it will do for Platinums.

Otherwise, why not just F- the status game altogether and stay at better non-SPG properties, perhaps for less money, where having no status at all still nets an outstanding room and great experience?

yosithezet

I've experienced both of these with my Ambassador. They can't make the change to rack rate and sold out happen all the time. But if you are a frequent guest at a property they can sometimes.

And even in first-time stays at properities when not having interacted with my ambassador, I often see the evidence that she was in to up with them.

supatight80

OP,

check out the reviews on that specific property done by plats in spg.com.
If the reviews are great (suite upgrades, staffs, etc.), then you may expect more and no harm for you asking an upgrade upon check-in if you didnt automatically get one.

But if the reviews from plats are dismal, then just lower your expectations, espcially when it comes to suite upgrades.

Herb687

I agree that this board is a great resource. The more detailed reports that we can post in the property master threads the more complete a picture we all have into which properties are really good and which are really bad.

But if the reviews from Plats are dismal, I would suggest that instead of lowering your expectations, you find a different property. Hit these bad properties where it hurts and do not give them business.

Status is not so important that I would put up with a dismal property just for the sake of maintaining status.