As some of you may remember from my posting on prior threads, I stay at the AMS Marriott each year for the IBC trade show (did a detailed report on the hotel last year & posted to FT).
Here's my question & it might be a moot point for this year, but possibly for next year's show.
Because the trade show takes over the entire town, ALL the hotels (including Marriott) jump up their rates - a LOT. Except for my first year at the hotel when I was able to get in at last minute & didn't know about exec level-ie, reg small room, I've always bitten the bullet & paid for exec level, which is normally more $$. I've been able to do this cuz I have multiple clients at the show, so the expenses get divided.
Here are this year's rates:
Exec Level: 279E; goes up to 395E during trade show; drops back after show
Standard Room: 229E; goes up to 345E during trade show; drops back
When doing a search on this forum because I had a question about the AMS Marriott, a post reminded me that Platinums are supposed to get upgrades - presumably to exec level & at least lounge access (which in this case is good, cuz the bkfst & evening stuff helps offset the food costs during the show).
So, should I cancel my exec level confirmed reservation & book standard instead, & then hope for the upgrade to exec? It would save 400E (ie, rooms are 50E dif/day) in total over the 8-day stay. Some have posted they got the upgrades; others posted they didn't, but were given key to exec lounge. I'm NOT referring to a suite upgrade, but an upgrade to exec level room which I think is a bit better than non-exec.
Here's my concern about switching reservation - w/ exception of 1st year & one other, I've always gotten rooms which ended in *23 & look right out over the Leidesplain. They're quite large, and when I come back exhausted from the show it's nice to be in a large room where I can unwind/not feel claustraphobic.
If I switch down to standard room & hope for the upgrade, do you think that would potentially screw up my getting the nicer room - ie, if I'm actually paying for the exec level there's a better chance they'll put me in the larger one vs a smaller one?
And the reason this year I need the larger room is that I'll have a roommate for 6 of the 8 nights. A friend wants to attend the show but needs to save $$, so I said could stay w/ me (and I never do roommates, so this is really going to be interesting - I'm used to going to bed late, getting up early, hitting 24-hour health club weird hours, having my own space, turning on the telly - but I digress).
Your thoughts? There's a 15-day cancel/change clause for the hotel room & I'm outside that, but will have to decide relatively soon.
Also, unrelated but couple of quick ?s:
* Should I put 2 for people in the room (it doesn't affect the rate), or just keep it as 1 & get an extra key? Does it even matter to the hotel? Would it help w/ trying for larger room?
I can't have a 2nd name on the res or my clients would think the expenses are being shared when in actuality I'm just helping out a friend & letting them stay for free.
* Has anyone stayed there recently? In 2002 the lounge was open on Fri & Sat & in 2003 it was closed on those days. Anyone know whether it's open or closed on weekends for food/drink?
* Hi-speed internet was 19.95E/day last year. I thought someone mentioned Plat receives for free, but I don't know if that's just a vague thought or true. Anyone know? There is internet in the exec lounge, so I can check email up there (and log onto FT
), since I did it last year.
* Anyone stayed in reg room & junior suite? I'm not expecting upgrade to jr. suite since Marriott doesn't really give them (and the threads say mixed things about this particular Marriott in gen). I was just trying to figure out if I had one in the past, as some of my rooms had a dining room table in it (but not kitchen in terms of microwave or anything but counter) & some haven't. I just wondered if that was considered the jr. suite, or if JS was something else.
BTW - the website has a photo tour now, which I don't think was on there before.
Cheers. Sharon