Per Mr. Stauffer at Marriott Rewards "... At participating locations Gold and Platinum members will receive an upgrade to the next best guest room, when available upon check-in. The type of upgrade will vary from hotel to hotel. Upgrades can include suite, concierge, corner, nice view, etc."

Marriott is not saying anything new here. The words "Upgrade to the next best guest room," is new language they added to the terms and conditions this year. Instead of putting you in a standard room next to the ice machine, they'll put you in a corner room, a room overlooking the pool instead of the parking lot (i.e. nice view) or in a standard room on the conceirge level (if space is available)and that's considered an upgrade. Big deal!


"Our hotels are instructed to pre-block Gold and Platinum Elite members to upgraded rooms well before their arrival. This is one reason why having your Marriott Rewards number and current Elite level noted on your reservation. If hotels are able, they should upgrade Gold and Platinum members to a suite. The benefit is for a room upgrade, but the upgrade to a suite is an exception hotels would like to make when possible. Sometimes suites are available but are unable to be offered as the Elite upgrade benefit."

I think that last line says it all, in other words, just because a Marriott has suites availabe doesn't mean you are entitled to them as a Platinum member! (Read "EXCEPTION!")

"I highly suggest either calling the specific hotel ahead of time or if that is not possible, discussing your upgrade options with the front desk at the time of check in."

Has this worked for anybody else. Discussing upgrade options with the front desk for me usually leads to, "The room you have been preassigned is an upgraded room and that's the only upgrade we have available."

The only thing the response from Marriott does for me is makes me realize that I should expect nothing from Marriott to reward my loyalty and I am glad I shifted my alliance to *wood this year (34 nights @ Marriott vs. 118 at *wood).