Originally Posted by
bhrubin
You can only get what you ask for, in general, with luxury properties that don't have official frequent guest/loyalty programs. If you don't ask for more, you rarely will get much more.
If you want to use a Virtuoso agent, that can be helpful, but rarely more than a category or two upgrade in my (admittedly limited) experience.
I almost always get upgraded...but then I always ask. As much as possible, I travel at shoulder season or low season when occupancy is lower and upgrade chances are higher. When you ask for an upgrade and there are few guests, it's a lot easier to get a big upgrade. I never travel at high season if I can avoid it....and then I rarely expect any upgrade.
I almost always reach out to the GM or comparable person to ask for a specific upgrade. Even if I don't get what I want, I often find myself upgraded to something a lot nicer than I otherwise might.
For some properties, I do negotiate. If you don't want to negotiate, don't expect the amazing upgrade to fall in your lap.
For some properties, I simply reserve the amazing suite that I want. Sometimes I negotiate a better price; sometimes I accept the given price.
I'm curious how this actually works out or what does someon have to write / negotiate to a GM or similar to score an amazing upgrade?
You write Virtuoso bookings get "rarely more than a category or two upgrade" ... did you ever get more just for asking / negotiating ?
Like "Im interessted in your hotel and would instantly book it if I could just get a suite with a view if I book the entry level room..." ?
I just cannot imagine a hotel would give out a 3 way or more upgrade in advance just because someone ask for it ?
With what should someone negotiate to get "an amazing upgrade" ?
I guess its not some kind of begging like " We are coming for our XX anniversary and would love to stay at a suite but only have a budget of ..." ?
Also do people have sucess with a request like a email to the hotel " Im in XXX for that date YYY and would like to have a suite. I see your hotel has one for fe 750$/night, but your competitor has a similar suite for 600 avalible. Would it be possible for you to match that price"
Would love to hear about sucessfull experience people had in this area...
PS: I can imagine that there are some good negotiations possible with really big booking like if some books a presidential suite + 5-10 regular rooms for a couple days...