Originally Posted by
Halle8
If I am arriving after 9-10 p.m. to a Ritz or a Marriott resort, do I really need to notify them? As a plat, am I not guaranteed my reservation either way?
And, do I stand more chance of an upgrade if they give away my standard room/fill up and we show up at night? (On the other hand, they may give away a suite available for upgrade to a gold or something.)
I guess what I am asking is which strategy is better to increase chances of a nice upgrade?
How upgrades are done is a hotel by hotel decision. In my hospitality career, each hotel I worked at pre-selected reservations for upgrades the morning of the reservation. Waiting to check in probably would not change your room assignment. Best thing to do is to call the hotel and ask politely ahead of time.
As to your question about calling to notifiy the hotel you will be a late arrival; that is unnecessary as long as you gave a credit card when you made the reservation - especially if you are a Platinum. Any hotel will hold your room for you and walk someone else if they are sold out to avoid giving you all the things you are entitled to if you do get walked.