GalaxyChris

Last 2 stay I used my SNA (both time confirmed) and the second stay I saw that the biggest suite was available, and asked if this is possible to get upgrade to the biggest one, to see the difference The Women at the desk told me that the suite will be empty only for 2 days (I had 4 days stay) I said I'm fine to move after that.
​​​​​​She called the room manager to validate that and the drama started. Finally she apologized and give me strictly my SNA upgraded suite.
Then the manager come at the lobby to told me that these suites are not part of the upgrade for Marriot Elite, seem no upgrade possible to any nice suite.

I find also that the breakfast is not great, quality is low for a W.

escape4

Logically speaking, this makes sense and I cannot argue with that. However my experience sometimes makes me wonder if something else might be at play, although it's only speculation on my part. My suite upgrade success rate has grown materially in the last few months, which could be due to a bunch of reasons unrelated to properties becoming more generous, admittedly. However there are some hints here and there in different hotels where I have been denied suite upgrades despite availability online several times in the past, and then suddenly in the last few months I get suite upgrades at those same hotels, Athenee being one of them. Maybe just wishful thinking on my part that something has changed for the better, but results are indeed better for me. Might just be luck though, time will tell.

When you say the "biggest" suite, do you mean the Extreme WOW suite? If they denied you an upgrade to the fantastic suite (which is one notch above the studio suite) then it would not be very generous indeed. But to deny an upgrade to the Extreme WOW is understandable - if that was the case then in my humble opinion your expectations were too high.

You are right, and my question is how W would handle it. I would be more willing to book the studio suite if I knew W might upgrade me to a better suite if available. However if experience from others is such that if you book the studio suite then you get the studio suite, in that case W is less attractive of a choice compared to SGS and StR, among others.

kaizen7

geminidreams

When you select the SNA it lists the rooms you can request. Did you get the choice of higher than Marvellous?

GalaxyChris

I get both time fantastic suite with my SNA, i think marvelous suite was a possible SNA choice, but never got one.
Has someone get upgraded higher than studio suite without SNA ?
​

Dr. HFH

I think that properties that do this look at it the same way that airlines manage operational upgrades. If Y is oversold, they don't put Y pax into available F seats. They upgrade J pax to F, then Y pax to J, all as needed.

Kacee

I suspect different properties handle it differently. At StR and SGS, they consciously work at turning high spend guests into return guests. Upgrading someone who pays for a suite to an empty premium suite is a very smart way to do that.

kaizen7

I believe that would be the most sensible things to do.

Returning guests ... especially elites ... should be valued highly by the property.

I always assume that people who book directly supposedly cost less for a hotel in term of comission etc
So having these returned elites keep coming back using direct booking should be great for a hotel.

escape4

Right, I suspect those hotels don't only upgrade to premium suites when oversold. Airlines do, but hotels are more generous.

escape4

It's always useful to know the experience of others at individual properties in such cases. If I know in advance a hotel will do as you say, then circumstances can vary but my natural tendency will be to book the entry level room rather than a suite at such hotel, or book a suite somewhere else where my odds of a premium suite upgrade would be better.

kaizen7

I think the cost for airlines to upgrade someone to F will be higher than the cost of a hotel to upgrade someone to their premium ... even presidential suite.

Few Nespresso pods, some premium tea bags, and few extra minutes of housekeeping surely cheaper than 1 bottle of Dom in F

escape4

Just 1? What about 8 bottles of Dom in F.

That reminds me of the most epic trip report I ever read on FT about @macabus who drank 8 bottles of Dom during his journey on SQ F, on his way to BKK coincidentally
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trip-...-bkk-sq-f.html

An amazing and entertaining read

kaizen7

I can only finish 2 bottles on LAX to DXB flight

8 bottles of dom ... that can pay for 1 night in a premium suite at rack rate I guess

lost_in_translation

Must try harder

lost_in_translation

Wrapped up a stay here where I booked a Studio Suite and was upgraded to a Marvellous Suite so it does happen. Actually I had two back-to-back stays booked here both in a Studio Suite, the first one they apologised unprompted for not being able to upgrade me but offered me the chance to move mid-stay if I wanted which I accepted. Unclear if this is general policy or because I’m starting to rack up spend at this hotel as a repeat guest.

Couple of other small changes which are improvements - they’ve moved from plastic water bottles in rooms to the same glass Chang bottles in leather holders as The Athenee and also pool-side service is much improved - two visits and both times there was a free ice cream service plus cold towels one time and orange juice the other. Will be back again, realise this hotel isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but I still really like it as long as you get at least a Studio Suite.