Marriott baited and switched us on the upgrade policy
Sep 8, 2018, 5:03 pm
#76
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Of all the benefits that are offered the suite upgrade, to me,seems the most useless. What is the benefit of a bigger room over a normal room if I’m staying alone in a room on a business trip? Is it purely a status thing? The lounge access and breakfast benefits at least offer some tangible bonus, i.e. free food and drinks. Why is a larger room important at all?
Sep 8, 2018, 6:03 pm
#77
Join Date: Apr 2017
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Of all the benefits that are offered the suite upgrade, to me,seems the most useless. What is the benefit of a bigger room over a normal room if I’m staying alone in a room on a business trip? Is it purely a status thing? The lounge access and breakfast benefits at least offer some tangible bonus, i.e. free food and drinks. Why is a larger room important at all?
2. would you want to live in a 200 sq ft home, regardless of how many people you live with, with a view of a brick wall and nothing else? More space, nicer amenities, a good view, are all nice things to have. they might not make you have a full belly, but they make a trip more enjoyable.
Sep 8, 2018, 6:15 pm
#78
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium, Hyatt Globalist
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I find it interesting how many people don't care about suites - by far suite upgrades are more important to me than other plat benefits except maybe breakfast ( if Asia and full buffet etc).
Wish Marriott could figure a way to give suites to people who really care and still be fair to everyone, ie not diminish benefits for others.
Wish Marriott could figure a way to give suites to people who really care and still be fair to everyone, ie not diminish benefits for others.
Sep 8, 2018, 8:19 pm
#79
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
Posts: 1,394
SPG Suite Night Awards are a very very VERY poor attempt to mimic this as it's still a roll of the dice and it's night-based not stay-based. But at least it allows people to try to get to the front of the line when it really counts. One thing that I don't believe happens is that the front desk can see who requests an SNA at check-in. I believe they get redeposited if not confirmed day before. Would be good if that visibility and priority carried over until someone checked in as things change throughout the day of check-in. Of course delivering the same product as Hyatt's suite awards would be best outcome.
Sep 9, 2018, 12:46 am
#80
Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: SG
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Of all the benefits that are offered the suite upgrade, to me,seems the most useless. What is the benefit of a bigger room over a normal room if I’m staying alone in a room on a business trip? Is it purely a status thing? The lounge access and breakfast benefits at least offer some tangible bonus, i.e. free food and drinks. Why is a larger room important at all?
On a more human level, when you are at the same hotel 80+ nights a year, it's just nice to have a bit more living space in which you can stretch out and pace when you feel like it.
Sep 9, 2018, 6:54 am
#81
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Also IIRC with SPG one was eligible for suites on any stay (SNA or not) whereas pre-WOH Hyatt elites weren't eligible for suites.
Sep 9, 2018, 11:58 am
#83
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HYATT gave me a number of suites as a Diamond at stays where I hadn't used DSUs. AFAIK suite upgrades were a published benefit if available at check in.
Sep 9, 2018, 4:02 pm
#84
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: San Francisco, CA
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I am pretty sure DSUs pre-dated SNAs. I remember SNAs being introduced as somewhat of a response to DSUs. But i have no way of knowing for sure.
Sep 9, 2018, 4:53 pm
#85
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Correct. I remember my first years on FT with SPG, how the Hyatt people would always whine on the SPG forum how Hyatt offered them these guaranteed suite upgrades. Hyatt did it first!
Sep 9, 2018, 6:12 pm
#86
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SPG introduced SNAs in 2012...the earliest link I can find about Hyatt DSUs is 2014. Correct me if I'm wrong if it started earlier.
Sep 9, 2018, 6:46 pm
#87
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I'm not going to look for it, but I distinctly remember CheapElite/Kennected constantly comparing Hyatt to SPG and saying Hyatt was so much better than SPG because of the DSUs.
Sep 9, 2018, 7:50 pm
#88
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Way earlier. I first qualified for HGP Diamond in 2010 and remember that was the first year DSUs were digital. Paper upgrade vouchers existed before that.
Last edited by gengar; Sep 9, 2018 at 8:01 pm
Sep 10, 2018, 8:01 am
#89
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I am 1:6 on upgrades since the merger. 2:6 if you count a high floor as an upgrade when standard suites were available (Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre). As for the talk about SNAs, Starwood half-baked the scheme. They were supposed to devalue their programme in line with Hilton and Marriott, but that would’ve negatively affected their bottom-line. SNAs were essentially worthless to some members who were doing “well” with the old programme (me, read: upgrade rate of 25-33% per annum vs the current 17%). Now, SNAs are gold and must be used in a conservative manner.
Sep 10, 2018, 8:38 am
#90
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I'm 100 percent on suite upgrades at legacy Marriott properties since 8/18.
I'm sure I'll break my streak this week since I'm at a couple of properties with 300 rooms and 3 suites.
Overall this year with 100 actual nights, I'm above 40 percent suite upgrades for legacy Marriott properties and 10 percent for legacy SPG properties. Of course, its all property dependent as these upgrade decisions are really being made at the property, and not by anyone at Marriott corporate. Some GM's and franchises do better than others.
I'm sure I'll break my streak this week since I'm at a couple of properties with 300 rooms and 3 suites.
Overall this year with 100 actual nights, I'm above 40 percent suite upgrades for legacy Marriott properties and 10 percent for legacy SPG properties. Of course, its all property dependent as these upgrade decisions are really being made at the property, and not by anyone at Marriott corporate. Some GM's and franchises do better than others.