Originally Posted by UA1kMFR
Wow, I spen nearly 45-nights at this hotel a year and I do get great treatment. With the loss of the IC and soon the Plaza, this part of town will need more rooms and it might get tight around the holidays.
But generally the hotel is really tops. Lovely suites, nice people and great location.
I agree 100%. I do not stay there as much as you do, about 15 stays per year. I am only SPG Gold, and basically earn it at this property. When the property is not full, I get upgraded almost every time. I have found that loyalty to an individual hotel is MUCH more highly valued by that property than status in a corporate loyalty program. It also helps to get to know the desk staff personally - well worth a couple of minutes of chatting with them.
That being said, I have not been able to even GET a room at the Essex House recently without pulling strings with my contact due to being sold out. Its becoming increasingly tough to get a good hotel room in NY on short notice.