yurtripper

Thanks. I won't be there on Friday so I'll take my chances. I spent two weeks in Tokyo having to transfer at Shinjuku there and back from the suburbs each day. Shinjuku turned out to be the part of Tokyo I enjoyed the most! I also spent 6 months in China so have a pretty good idea of how crazy crowds can get around public transport connections.

theOtherHolmes

Is cash and point ie $10K points and 180USD here a good deal? We like that the base room is 40 sq. m. Which is impressive for HK.

Never stayed at W before.

We know our way in HK as this is our 3rd time.

bgriff

Depends on your valuation of SPG points. If you value them at 2˘ or more each, as I and many others do, then cash & points is a better deal than using all points. However at that valuation cash rates can also often end up being a better “deal” than cash & points or all points, especially if you’re willing to book a nonrefundable cash rate. Do check all the various taxes on each rate when making the assessment though. Ultimately it’s an expensive hotel.

lost_in_translation

So just wrapped up a quick stay here which was very good overall, but I think this hotel has become a little bit too careful with upgrades for its own good!

Booked a Cool Corner Room on a Luxury Privileges rate for one night (Sunday-Monday). Given the Cool Corner Room is one category below suites I figured that probably gave me a pretty good shot at an upgrade. Had a look at availability online just before I was due to check in and every room category was available for sale online with a single Fantastic Suite moving in and out of availability (at least 8 Marvelous Suites, plus the Wow Suites and Extreme Wow Suite still available for sale online).

At check in I was given no indication I was being upgraded, just a 'so you've chosen a Cool Corner Room?'. As a returning guest, Platinum, booking the category below suites on the most expensive flexible rate that includes a space available upgrade and also a one night stay starting Sunday on top of that I can't imagine there were many (any?) people in the queue for upgrades ahead of me, but didn't seem to be getting an upgrade. So, for the first time ever I politely asked whether an upgrade might be available given the rate I'd booked. Check in attendant had a look and very kindly moved me into a Marvelous Suite, which I really appreciated and it was a great room. Checked online again at about 9pm and there were still at least 8 Marvelous Suites available for sale, so it's not like they were giving them to someone else.

What gives - are they frightened of damage to the rooms? Who knows.

yurtripper

I also just got back from here and had minimal expectations of any real upgrade at checkin. Sure enough, I got.... a Wonderful room. Although the GM did come out to greet me personally.

As I was travelling alone I didn't bother pushing for anything.

Zacnlinc

I arrived here this past Monday and to my surprise I was upgraded.

Booked a Fantastic suite and was upgraded to a slightly larger version of the same room. They've come to know me as I'm here at least every 6-8 weeks since Oct-2017. Getting either a corner room or Fantastic suite is what I'm bound to book as I like the space and the option of setting up an office in the room as I'm usually here 7-10 days at a time.

Think now they see my trend and are willing to upgrade me. Will be interesting to see what happens when I return as Plat come Aug./Sept. as I'm unexpectedly will be making that status this year.

Cerberus

Hi guys, looks like I'll be visiting this hotel for about 10 days in mid-August. I got booked into a Wonderful room with a king bed - city view. I'm a SPG Platinum with Ambassador -- any idea if I will get an upgrade potentially to a suite? Already closing in on another 100 nights this year (sigh)...

lagunas2k

Anybody have any general guesses on Suite availability Sun-Tues? Are most of the suites booked on the weekends or during the week?

I'm hoping arrival on a Sunday means a lot of folks checking out, and gives me a good shot at a suite upgrade. Going in a few weeks and still see 15 fantastic suites for sale.

joelfreak

New GM is incoming. Peter left for Park Hyatt in Shenzhen. Big Loss.

Zacnlinc

Anyone have a recent stay at this property? It's been my go-to spot each time I'm there in HKG. Was looking to explore elsewhere, but just cannot shake the very good customer service I've received there for the past 12 stays in 2 years.

DMSFCA

Yes - was just there two weeks ago. It's exactly as you remember, which is a good thing.

Every time I go to HK I think if I should try somewhere else but I love that the W is so easy to the airport, that mall has a good grocery store and train options and I really like the views of the bay from the rooms. I don't think as platinum I've ever gotten a comp upgrade better than a "view" room but I don't mind. I like the breakfast there, too. Those almond croissants are the first thing I grab.

I even like the smell of that place. I commented on it once to the F&B director and they gave me a room scent bottle to take home. They said it isn't available to the public normally but now my room at home smells like the W HK. Love it.

Zacnlinc

Sammy and Lavin are great member of the F&B team indeed.

Lavin struck up a conversation with me at the bar once after noticing I was waiting for a long time to order a drink. Since then, when I check-in, there's a "martini kit" in my room. I will have to take note of the scent of the place next time I am there. I never really noticed it myself.

It's these kinds of little neat things about the place that keep me returning indeed.

asf-07

This property is changing from Cat 7 to Cat 8 [70,000 off-peak ;; 85,000 standard ;; 100,000 peak]. I like this hotel, but I really don't see it as on-par with some of the top/most luxurious properties in the system.

bgriff

Agreed. I already often found it a stretch to justify burning points here (vs. the prevailing cash rate) at 60K Marriot / 20K SPG points; I'm sure sometimes its cash rates get high enough that 85K points would make sense, but I can't imagine that's often the case. Especially once the St. Regis opens and will presumably cost the same number of points, since it can't get any higher (for now at least); the Ritz-Carlton next door might also be tempting if one were going to burn that many points, though the weak elite benefits at R-C would weigh against that.

nexusCFX

Absolutely baffled at the change to Cat8. The Ritz-Carlton is right next door and the St. Regis is opening soon.