Ritz Carlton Upgrades General Discussion Thread
May 21, 2019, 10:09 am
#31
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Starwood:Lifetime Platinum, Air Canada:Basic, Asiana:Lifetime Diamond Plus, ANA: Basic
Posts: 980
Coming from the SPG side, I stayed at the Ritz Osaka (or any Ritz) for the first time last month. I told my ambassador that its my first time staying in the Ritz so I'll keep an open mind comparing it to the how I get treated with SPG's St Regis. Ambassador put in the notes and stuff (and probably did some behind the scene work).
I didn't get an upgrade to a suite. I did get a room in a higher floor. Maybe that room has a better view. I did ask for a day-pass to the lounge to see if it's worth the extra about $80/day but was rejected. Manager did leave a nice note in my room and I did get a plate of decent strawberries refreshed daily.
St Regis Osaka gave me a free breakfast, lounge in addition to a higher floor and (it seems) a slightly better room and view.
I didn't get an upgrade to a suite. I did get a room in a higher floor. Maybe that room has a better view. I did ask for a day-pass to the lounge to see if it's worth the extra about $80/day but was rejected. Manager did leave a nice note in my room and I did get a plate of decent strawberries refreshed daily.
St Regis Osaka gave me a free breakfast, lounge in addition to a higher floor and (it seems) a slightly better room and view.
May 21, 2019, 11:06 am
#32
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Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Southern California, USA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador and LTT, UA Plat/LT Gold, AA Gold
Posts: 8,764
Coming from the SPG side, I stayed at the Ritz Osaka (or any Ritz) for the first time last month. I told my ambassador that its my first time staying in the Ritz so I'll keep an open mind comparing it to the how I get treated with SPG's St Regis. Ambassador put in the notes and stuff (and probably did some behind the scene work).
I didn't get an upgrade to a suite. I did get a room in a higher floor. Maybe that room has a better view. I did ask for a day-pass to the lounge to see if it's worth the extra about $80/day but was rejected. Manager did leave a nice note in my room and I did get a plate of decent strawberries refreshed daily.
St Regis Osaka gave me a free breakfast, lounge in addition to a higher floor and (it seems) a slightly better room and view.
I didn't get an upgrade to a suite. I did get a room in a higher floor. Maybe that room has a better view. I did ask for a day-pass to the lounge to see if it's worth the extra about $80/day but was rejected. Manager did leave a nice note in my room and I did get a plate of decent strawberries refreshed daily.
St Regis Osaka gave me a free breakfast, lounge in addition to a higher floor and (it seems) a slightly better room and view.
May 21, 2019, 11:37 am
#33
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 702
Pardon me if this is already being discussed elsewhere (couldn’t search it), but a question for Titanium (and above) elites:Do Ritz Carltons actually proactively upgrade you to suites? Or do you guys fight for it? What are your batting rates so far? Do Ritz Carlton FDAs even know of Marriott rules to allow Titaniums to be upgraded to available suites?I ask because I have a decent shot at going for Titanium this year (I’ve been plat for many) if I felt the value was really there. For me, aside from the extra points that Titaniums earn, the probability of being upgraded to suites at Ritz Carltons is probably the only real value I see… (I do stay at Ritz Carltons occasionally) but I fear that the upgrades don’t happen often enough (if at all), either through hotels bending the rules and/or the check-in agents not even knowing about program rules regarding Titanium benefits.
Thanks in advance!
Thanks in advance!
May 21, 2019, 12:09 pm
#34
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,263
The best answer is probably 'it varies' based on region, occupancy and also the policies of the individual hotel. Two RC stays in the last month - RC Doha was upgraded from Club Room to Executive Suite (with an 8am check in time), RC Langkawi was upgraded from a standard room to a villa (which is equivalent to getting a suite upgrade).
May 21, 2019, 11:00 pm
#35
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The road less traveled
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Posts: 5,118
Ritz Sarasota - bizarre
Recent stay at Ritz Sarasota was bizarre. Emailed beforehand, they said no suites available during my stay so sorry, etc. I also called in and the woman said they only do upgrades to a better view. After all that, when I checked in and just asked, we were out in a 1 bedroom suite for the stay. Since we had our toddlers with us, this “made” our stay.
Last year at Ritz Dove Mountain, we were upgraded in advance to a beautiful 1 bedroom.
At Ritz Kyoto, we were not upgraded to a suite but did receive a large, beautiful deluxe room (bigger than what most hotels call a junior suite) with a view, and also comped full breakfast.
Last year at Ritz Dove Mountain, we were upgraded in advance to a beautiful 1 bedroom.
At Ritz Kyoto, we were not upgraded to a suite but did receive a large, beautiful deluxe room (bigger than what most hotels call a junior suite) with a view, and also comped full breakfast.
May 22, 2019, 6:15 pm
#36
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Frozen in Carbonite
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Posts: 2,878
My normal travel pattern includes at lot of RCs, but the last year has been an anomaly. My only data point in the new program so far is a one night stay at RC Philly. No upgrade beyond a better view.
I’ve been upgraded to a lot of suites at RC in the prior program as a PE/PPE. The common thread in those instances was being a repeat guest of the property.
I suspect that Titanium and Ambassador upgrades at RCs will remain challenging to get unless Marriott really pushes the issue with them.
Honestly I would just be happy if I could use my SNAs there.
I’ve been upgraded to a lot of suites at RC in the prior program as a PE/PPE. The common thread in those instances was being a repeat guest of the property.
I suspect that Titanium and Ambassador upgrades at RCs will remain challenging to get unless Marriott really pushes the issue with them.
Honestly I would just be happy if I could use my SNAs there.
May 25, 2019, 9:16 am
#37
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Thanks to all who chimed in! Based on these alone, it seems that proactive upgrades are hard to come by as Titaniums in Ritz Carltons - sounds like it's probably not worth it for me to push for those extra nights for now....
Jun 14, 2019, 7:08 pm
#38
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 352
Upgrades at the Ritz
I know that this topic has come up within multiple threads, but I thought that I would start a separate thread. I was very glad to see before arriving at the hotel that I had received a Titanium upgrade to a Suite at the Hong Kong Ritz:
I was also very pleased to see that this was a Club level room, so I thought that we might get access to the Club Lounge. I was more pleased when I looked at the description online for the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite, which stated:
I was also very pleased to see that this was a Club level room, so I thought that we might get access to the Club Lounge. I was more pleased when I looked at the description online for the Deluxe Victoria Harbour Suite, which stated:
24-HOUR CLUB LOUNGE ACCESS
We were then told at the Lounge that we were not entitled to Lounge access! The manager said that we had been upgraded to a suite, but the upgrade did not include the Lounge. This seems pretty contradictory, since it clearly states online that one amenity of the Suite is Lounge access. Having come from the Starwood system, this is particularly bizarre. It would be equivalent to being told that we received an upgrade at the St. Regis to an Astor Suite, but the butler service was not included.
Jun 14, 2019, 7:18 pm
#39
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The program rules say that no elite is entitled to lounge access at RCs (unless a club room is a reserved and the rate includes use of the club lounge).
Enjoy your suite, but don't expect lounge access. However, if you ask, the hotel should permit you to pay the surcharge to enable lounge use.
Enjoy your suite, but don't expect lounge access. However, if you ask, the hotel should permit you to pay the surcharge to enable lounge use.
Jun 14, 2019, 7:57 pm
#40
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Jun 14, 2019, 8:16 pm
#41
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Unless the property elects to upgrade the guest to club access, which it is certainly able to do, and which OP could reasonably have expected here based on the verbiage in his updated reservation.
Jul 22, 2020, 11:13 am
#42
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
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Posts: 2,506
So what do people suggest as the strategy? I'm a Titanium with a regular room booked at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay July 24-27. App check-in doesn't seem to be working. so I can't use the chat feature to ask in advance to put in a request for a suite upgrade. Do I just ask at check-in? If agent doesn't offer (either proactively or in response to my specific request), do folks tend to push it? (I am speculating, but given Covid situation, I would be surprised if all suites at this property are booked this weekend, so a statement at check-in that there are no suites available might elicit some skepticism.)
Jul 22, 2020, 11:21 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: SFO
Posts: 4,917
So what do people suggest as the strategy? I'm a Titanium with a regular room booked at the Ritz-Carlton Half Moon Bay July 24-27. App check-in doesn't seem to be working. so I can't use the chat feature to ask in advance to put in a request for a suite upgrade. Do I just ask at check-in? If agent doesn't offer (either proactively or in response to my specific request), do folks tend to push it? (I am speculating, but given Covid situation, I would be surprised if all suites at this property are booked this weekend, so a statement at check-in that there are no suites available might elicit some skepticism.)
Jul 22, 2020, 3:36 pm
#44
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I wouldn't be surprised if they're sold out. With international travel basically blocked, many of the destination properties in California are currently booking full, especially on weekends.
Jul 23, 2020, 6:29 am
#45
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: IAH/EWR-LGA/MIA
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I was finally able to get app check-in to work and requested a notation be added for a suite upgrade if available, which was acknowledged.