Last edit by: WasKnown
Expert Review (posted to Luxury Forum) from Dec 2016: 3 exceptional stays with Aman-like service and true luxury
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...ue-luxury-1716
As of September 2021:
Breakfast is served as in-room dining
Spa is closed (seemingly permanently?)
Gym is open
Bar is open weekends until 11 PM
https://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revi...ue-luxury-1716
As of September 2021:
Breakfast is served as in-room dining
Spa is closed (seemingly permanently?)
Gym is open
Bar is open weekends until 11 PM
St Regis San Francisco [Master Thread]
#271
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Avis Chairman
Posts: 1,286
sorry, but i dont agree with your take at all. available suite upgrades ARE A GUARANTEED PERK! if they want to give their properties more leeway, than dont say GUARANTEED!!! or do like hyatt, and offer suite upgrade vouchers. at first, i thought hyatts system was stupid, but considering how evasive SPG properties are (especally the cat 5-6 properties), i have come to believe that hyatt's system is better. it helps manage expectations, and prevents properties from giving the runaround. but dont say it is a guaranteed perk EXCEPT if we expect to sell the room later, because that will just give the properties another opportunity to deny a GUARANTEED PERK of spg platinum.
You bring up the customer's expectations. As a consultant, a large portion of my job is managing expectations, as I imagine might be the case in many industries. Seems SPG could use some of those consulting skills...
#272
Join Date: May 2007
Location: CA & TPE
Programs: Marriott Ambassador, Hyatt Globalist, Hertz Plat, Centurion, too many airlines
Posts: 618
I see where you're coming from, but the way that SPG has worded the platinum benefits, they create the expectation that if an upgradeable suite is available, it will be given. If reality is as you state above, SPG needs to reword it's policy to include the expectation of being able to sell the room. But of course, that would drive people away in droves which is why they don't.
You bring up the customer's expectations. As a consultant, a large portion of my job is managing expectations, as I imagine might be the case in many industries. Seems SPG could use some of those consulting skills...
You bring up the customer's expectations. As a consultant, a large portion of my job is managing expectations, as I imagine might be the case in many industries. Seems SPG could use some of those consulting skills...
#273
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Dallas, TX
Programs: AA EXP, Marriott LT Titanium, Avis Chairman
Posts: 1,286
ramalama8- i think you have misread me... i am in full agreement with what you are advocating. if an upgradeable suite is available, IT SHOULD BE GIVEN!!! not some nebulous world where, "oh, we might sell the room." that is just more BS on top of the BS they are already feeding us. spg used to be the best- they have fallen hard. eventually, like singapore air, they will learn that p**sing off their best customers will come back to bite them hard.
#274
Ah, gotcha. Glad to see we agree. And you're exactly right - angering your best customers (especially those that post on travel boards) in order to save on cleaning (the only reason I can think of to leave a suite empty while denying plat upgrades) is penny wise pound foolish.
#275
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,816
I do know that it is commonplace for hotels to leave rooms empty and dirty if guests depart late.
I just left the Blue Palace and the second-in-charge told me that if guests check out after 4 PM, housekeeping is already gone and the room is left until the next day. I was asking why I wasn't upgraded and he told me that perhaps the room wasn't clean....and then we got into a whole discussion on the matter.
I just left the Blue Palace and the second-in-charge told me that if guests check out after 4 PM, housekeeping is already gone and the room is left until the next day. I was asking why I wasn't upgraded and he told me that perhaps the room wasn't clean....and then we got into a whole discussion on the matter.
#276
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: SFOSJCOAK
Programs: AA-EXP & 1MM+, AS, MR-LTT, HH Gold
Posts: 7,581
#277
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Marin County, CA
Programs: Marriott LT-TE, United Gold
Posts: 467
Hopefully moving this thread back on topic, I had a great stay here last week with my fiancee. Booked a last minute FWN for Friday night (thanks to the ambassador line for making that happen!), arrived and was put in a nice deluxe room on the top floor (unfortunately not a corner room but not a big deal). Both of the Front Desk Agents were busy (one with other guests, one on the phone) when we arrived and had to wait a few minutes to check-in which really wasn't a big deal. However the Agent who checked us in offered us a round of drinks on her before we left for the evening for the inconvenience which was totally unnecessary but a nice touch reminding us why we love the St. Regis so much. Otherwise our stay was great, loved the amenities and the bed as always. One suggestion for food, check out Town Hall up on Howard/Fremont (easy ~3 block walk). Excellent Southern inspired food (get the Fried Okra and the Ribs).
#279
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Port Washington, NY
Programs: SPG Platinum, Priority Club Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 41
Least available upgrade....
Currently here for the weekend, and the front desk definitely was interested in upgrading to the minimal upgrade possible even if other non-suite and suite rooms are available. Got complete runaround, as was upgrade to the minimal room class higher, then after inquiring was preassigned into premium king 2 class higher(room being cleaned), then upon check-in down graded back to deluxe room. While standing at the desk, another platinum guest checked in and was told "due to your platinum status you've been upgraded to a suite". Was told that the customer paid for the suite when inquiring about their embarrassing situation. Paid for their complimentary upgrade?, I would only assume they paid for a higher class room to begin with. Then again, while I expect they were relatively busy, they were still selling all sorts of suites online and were clearing out their oracle conference that morning so I'd expect a bunch of availability.
Not quite the st. Regis experience expected while on a long Sheraton, Sheraton, W, W, St Regis west coast family trip. Anyways, the room is large and in decent condition. They have small bottles of remede branded toiletry, tiniest embarrassingly small tv in bathroom vanity area, nice beds, decent shower and tub for kids. Housekeeping has been outstanding, hear firetrucks loud each night, great bedding and bed, nice and efficient bellman and valet. Pool was very clean and heated to normal temperatures though I prefer warmer. Great location.
W San Francisco was much friendlier at checkin with crayons and coloring book, milk and cookies sent up, cool corner room upgrade. While the st Regis room is larger and more luxurious the overall vibe has been unremarkable and the W room was a tad more interesting with local flavor touches such has foot massager, paintings, sculptures, etc.
Not quite the st. Regis experience expected while on a long Sheraton, Sheraton, W, W, St Regis west coast family trip. Anyways, the room is large and in decent condition. They have small bottles of remede branded toiletry, tiniest embarrassingly small tv in bathroom vanity area, nice beds, decent shower and tub for kids. Housekeeping has been outstanding, hear firetrucks loud each night, great bedding and bed, nice and efficient bellman and valet. Pool was very clean and heated to normal temperatures though I prefer warmer. Great location.
W San Francisco was much friendlier at checkin with crayons and coloring book, milk and cookies sent up, cool corner room upgrade. While the st Regis room is larger and more luxurious the overall vibe has been unremarkable and the W room was a tad more interesting with local flavor touches such has foot massager, paintings, sculptures, etc.
#280
Join Date: Jul 2003
Location: CA
Programs: AA PLT / MR LTPP 1/1/19 / Hilton Diamond
Posts: 540
Was the other customer a 30 something Asian guy? If so, that's my friend and he did pay for a confirmed upgrade a few days beforehand.
Currently here for the weekend, and the front desk definitely was interested in upgrading to the minimal upgrade possible even if other non-suite and suite rooms are available. Got complete runaround, as was upgrade to the minimal room class higher, then after inquiring was preassigned into premium king 2 class higher(room being cleaned), then upon check-in down graded back to deluxe room. While standing at the desk, another platinum guest checked in and was told "due to your platinum status you've been upgraded to a suite". Was told that the customer paid for the suite when inquiring about their embarrassing situation. Paid for their complimentary upgrade?, I would only assume they paid for a higher class room to begin with. Then again, while I expect they were relatively busy, they were still selling all sorts of suites online and were clearing out their oracle conference that morning so I'd expect a bunch of availability.
#281
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: PSP
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, *wood Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, A|Club Platinum, Avis President's Club
Posts: 119
Paid Confirmed Suite Upgrades are available
#283
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: PSP
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat, *wood Platinum, Hertz President's Circle, A|Club Platinum, Avis President's Club
Posts: 119
Upsell
Upsells vary from $50-$150 per night or you can use points. Available for Astor Suites and Metropolitan Suites. Can only be arranged with the hotel directly.
#284
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 3,816
I am sure the hotel is hoping for upsells when it fails to upgrade Platinum members to the "best available room at check-in, including select suites." Clearly it is against the rules, but I assume this is (part of) their strategy.
#285
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Port Washington, NY
Programs: SPG Platinum, Priority Club Plat, Hilton Gold
Posts: 41
Not paid...
White guy not Asian, there was no paid upgrade at the point of check-in or most likely beforehand as it was complimentary upgrade at time of check-in. The paid upgrade thing was most likely just a BS answer to get out of the situation. Was given many different answers and while some may make partial sense or be possible, it is highly likely they just tried to keep the upgrade minimal instead of according to policy to the fullest extent. They even downgraded me late at night at the actual check-in after the earlier preassigned higher below suite room category agreed to at the counter when rooms weren't yet ready.