hhoope01

I think the issue is the common thought has always been that the hotel may limit what suite "types" are in the upgrade pool, but they don't limit the number of suites in that "type" that are in the pool. So if they have put 'Oceanview Jr. Suites" in the upgrade pool, all of rooms of that type are in the upgrade pool.

I've never heard nor have a seen in the T&Cs that Marriott allows hotels to limit the number of upgradeable suites within a suite "type" before. So if that is the case, that would be new news to me. There has been a lot of discussion around whether the new Bonvoy program allows hotels to limit room inventory for awards (i.e. like the old Marriott program did) or is it now supposed to be all standard room inventory should be available for awards (i.e. like the old SPG program.) We had been told late last year by some of the Marriott/Bonvoy insiders that it is supposed to be more like the old SPG program though in practice that doesn't seem to be how, at least some, hotels are actually working with award space. But this issue has to do with award room availability not upgrade availability.

Pitero

I see, thanks for the explanation. That would make sense and would be at least a bit more transparent.

Segments

Lizie

....unless as was the case with us, reception claimed there were no upgrades although on the website there were better rooms and suite available. Receptionist's comment was ''Marriott just haven't updated the website yet'. 5 hours later rooms and suites still available.

MSPeconomist

EuropeanPete

EdofFX

As a Marriott Gold, I agree with that the general idea that Marriott Gold should not expect anything. No breakfast, no guaranteed late check out, no nothing but may be a smile That has been my experience since the Marriott /SPG merger. But this only apply to a Gold in the Marriott program, a Gold in the Hilton program gets you more benefits.

My last stay at a Courtyard, I was given a small bag which contains four candies as a welcome amenity. Four whole candies! My last stay at a Sheraton, I was upgraded to a regular room on the club floor, but without access to the club that is near my room. That is only for Plat and above.

My last stay at a Hilton as a Gold, I was given a full buffet breakfast and upgraded to a junior corner suite on a high floor. The suite was automatically assigned to me when I did OLCI at 2 pm. Granted, I would not expect a suite upgrade for my next stay, but breakfast is certain.

EuropeanPete

UA-NYC

Hilton gives away mid / top tier status via credit card to compensate for a poor / lower quality portfolio of brands + weaker benefits generally

A different model than Marriott

Lizie

Agree mostly but not sure about the upgrade position. Some hotels are not towing the party line, i.e. 'you have to give written notice by fax if you want to be considered for an upgrade'. Not in Marriott's T&C's at all. No wonder people view lack of upgrade claims with skepticism.

shimps1

Thanks for the discussion. I didn't want to make this about EDITION hotels at all, I was just using that specific tweet as an example of my question. How was he able to know "they have multiple suite types available?"

kaizen7

In my experience, if a hotel shown that all their room category is available for booking at "normal" price, then most likely the hotel will have suite available for elites.
Whether the said hotel willing to upgrade the elite to these suites is another issue.

If the hotel start showing higher than average prices for the available rooms ... and or only shown select categories are available, then higher chance that the hotel genuinely sold out.

I can guess that hotel sometimes deliberately left few category available in case someone want to book them at the last minute.
Lowest category suites usually left shown as available as it quite easy for the hotel to either upgrade the last minutes guest or just upgrade/further upgrade not yet checked in elites.

Since these suites are elites upgrade pool as well, elites have the impression that the suite is available for them.

kaizen7

It would be nice if all parties could follow programs guidelines properly and consistently.
Unfortunately there are always people on both sides who try to game the system.

From elites who demand upgrades and elite benefits for more than program allowed (demand both rooms upgraded etc) to hotel who try to limit upgrading elites.

damon88

geminidreams

Unless you can log int Marriott system and see the rooms as the hotel sees them you have no idea what is available, who is to be allocated rooms or where you sit in the queue for upgrades. Many hotels are independently owned and have some further criteria to deal with such as the owner wanting friends and family accommodated. You will never know or be told what the criteria are and so you will never know how the guidelines are being followed.