Originally Posted by
christianj
IMHO the best HH has in NYC at the top end is The London NYC (soon to be Conrad Midtown) but they definitely need to finish their renovations before I will stay again. I stayed this past weekend and they still have ongoing issues associated with the renovation but once they are done it likely will be my choice for weekends in the city. The suite renovations are tastefully done, the suites are large, the staff is great and I like the location. Sure Marriott has some top end options like the St. Regis, Chatwal, RC, Edition and some other options that might be more high-end but suites are not guaranteed for redemptions there (unless one is a member of the elite Ambassador top echelon like you are.
) Us Titanium bottom feeders might get stuck in a regular award room (which can be a small box at the Edition) so the suites at The London NYC are definitely appealing to me.
The Marriott Bonvoy upgrade experiences thread, not to mention each of the specific property threads, belies your suggestion that Titaniums don't get upgrades at each of the St Regis NY, Chatwal, RC Central Park, Edition Times Square or New York, and the several W properties in the city. It may not happen all the time, but it most certainly happens. For the StR and Chatwal, in particular, it happens even more via SNAs.
Post Your Marriott Bonvoy Elite Upgrade Experiences 2019
(My own last upgrade in 2018 at the StR NY came via SNA and not Ambassador status, as well. Those SNAs are open and available to Platinums, Titaniums, and Ambassadors alike.)
Characterizing Titaniums as bottom feeders is wildly inaccurate and seems particularly misleading, especially when those same luxury hotels listed above also show examples of even "mere" Platinums being upgraded to suites and much better rooms at each of the StR NY, the Chatwal, and the W properties.
Like I said, there aren't even remotely the number of luxury options with Hilton as there are with Marriott. Upgrades that may be provided at those are a red herring and distraction from the original point.