Originally Posted by
Land-of-Miles
This is what I was thinking too. Effectively with the generally good value suite upgrade for points programme via SPG, the hotel is substituting a suite upgrade for some additional points for any member prepared to pay for additional capacity for free upgrades for Plats. I have never noticed this as an issue and increasingly pay for a suite or use SPG points to get a suite when I really want one.
Though SPG Suite upgrade program has become so standardized, sometimes it feels a little sterile if not almost mechanical.
I have so rarely had a suite upgrade at Hilton properties (I can think of only 3 upgrades like this ever as a Diamond with Hilton) that it isn't even an "unwritten rule" it is a rare exception to the standard Exec Floor upgrade that a Diamond is entitled to.
I think your experience is more typical of an European HH Diamond member. However, Suite upgrade happen more often in North America. I found it hard to get Suite upgrade in Europe even though they tend to treat Diamond member with greater respect and more additional benefits. In North America, Suite upgrade are surprisingly frequent. Even taking my last 10 stays into account, excluding Hampton Inns, which typically do not carry Suites, I'd say the probability is about 50-50. And when there is a Suite upgrade, it's usually very good Suites, far better than the so called Standard Suite from SPG hotels.
The HH approach to upgrades appears rather different from SPG, but then the points for upgrade element of the SPG programme throws up some quirks too (like almost 100k points at say the Westin Whistler to secure the most marginal of upgrades). I am really keen to understand the level at which these upgrades are pitched. I fear you are probably right about this being higher than Starwood given that upgrades can be booked far in advance (rather than only 5 days out under SPG).
SPG Suite upgrade can be confirmed at time of booking if you are entirely using points for the stay. You are correct, if paying for a standard room using cash, it's only 5 days out. It's unclear how Hilton will differentiate between the two. In any event, my guess is the HH Premium Room / Suite Upgrade or Award will work similarly to the Aeroplan awards with Air Canada. AC offers a reward scheme where you can use miles to redeem until the very last seat on all their flights. However, the cost of such redemption is outrageous, it could be 7-8 times the value of a standard award. So it sounds like the hotel will have a lot of liberty in setting their own Premium Room and Suite price using points. I don't expect a standardized formula similar to SPG based on hotel category. More likely than not, if supply is smaller as I think it is, then we should expect to pay an astronomical / outrageous value in points for these Suites. And it will likely be very hotel specific. Some will price their Suites so far out of the market - others, will be more reasonable.
Whole properties could quickly become overrun with points upgraders at the expense of paying guests. I would really like to understand how this will play at resorts like the Conrad Rangali where upgrades to the better villas are rather expensive.
I don't think this concern is very serious. If the W Maldvies is a good comparable, SPG claims there is no standard room on that property and the least expensive room you can book using point is about 70-80K Starpoints / night. For our Hilton members, that's roughly the value of about 300K HH points per night. Then, the next category up will go up by about 20K for 90-95K Starpoints / night. Because my guess is each HHonors property will decide what price they will charge for Room Upgrade, the property could easily demand something like 90K HH points extra per night for an upgrade to the Spa Overwater Villa at the Conrad Maldvies, in addition to the 50K HH point rate per night. Essentially, this will more than double the cost of staying there using points. Even then, my estimate may still be generous, considering how inexpensive Conrad Maldvies is vs. the W Maldives, using points.