Checked in for another stay this afternoon. Same rigmarole when asking about a suite upgrade. However, this time I was in the mood to not get steamrolled. After being told that I was “upgraded” already to a high floor room, I asked again about a suite and mentioned that there were suites for sale - both Studio King and Buckhead Suites. The FD associate pretended not to hear, so I repeated myself. She then went immediately to the phone and talked to someone who I presume has a management role. After hanging up, she told me that if I wanted a suite I’d have to use a TSU. Which indicated to me that those suites were in fact available. Now obviously this is not how space-available upgrades at check-in are supposed to work, and I politely expressed that. Almost gleefully she told me that I could call the Globalist line if I wanted to argue it, which I did. I accepted the key to the room she assigned me, went up, and called my concierge who didn’t pick up. I then called the Globalist general line, went through the T&Cs with the really helpful agent, she called the hotel, and miraculously a couple minutes later I had someone showing me to the Buckhead Suite.

Anyhow, I relate all this to provide notice that Globalists should definitely not expect to be upgraded to a standard suite here even if one is available at check-in. Hopefully if enough people do make an issue of it the hotel management will change their tune.

Incidentally, the Buckhead and Accessible 1-Bedroom Suite With Tub suites are in fact standard suites despite their text descriptions saying that they’re premium suites. I know this because 1) they’re bookable with points as standard suites and 2) the Globalist agent confirmed that they are standard suites. I am not sure how the Studio King Suite is classified as it’s a lower level suite than the other two and doesn’t have a description of standard or premium.