I've been P since August of last year. Since then I have had 36 nights at FS and/or Ren. Not once in 36 nights have I found myself the recipient of an upgrade or even a room on the Concierge level. How can this be? I've removed all preferences from my profile and even requested the level at booking, and still I find myself with "access" to the lounge, but never on the floor of the lounge.

Any ideas? I know it really doesn't matter, it just seems weird. Ironically as Silver there were 2x that I found myself in a suite... but never as G or P.

That's a pretty poor batting average.

I always call the hotel and politely ask about the possiblity of an upgrade. Would never rely on requests online. Try to talk with the right person, get the name and send a thank you afterwards. I've been lucky. Last week got a suite in sold-out FS Santa Ynez in Southern California and conceirge level the following four nights at FS Marina del Rey. I also ask about free buffets on weekends.

If I am going to a large city, I might call several Marriotts.

I've been fortunate helping my kids when they travel -- in Mexico and Arizona. I called ahead and see if they can do something. They did and it increased my loyalty. In the Mexico case, I traded friendly e-mails with the manager after striking out with the concierge desk.

I don't think it is unusual for you not to have recevied a "suite" upgrade - Marriott rarely offers those - and many of us with years at Plat have only received a few.

Also remember that almost all hotels have more than 1 CL floor - so you may be on a CL floor but not be on the same floor as the lounge - happens to me quite often, especailly in hotels such as NYC, EWR, etc.

The day of week that you check in & how many nights you stay can affect which room you get. If you check in on Sunday or Monday and only stay for 1 or 2 nights, you are competing with the other elites that are staying for the entire week.
The best upgrades I usually get are when I stay for one night on a Thursday -- most of the business travellers are leaving, and the vacation travellers haven't arrived.

If you only count CL floor as upgrades then my strike rate is pretty poor. In 2010 I think I ended up with about half a dozen suites but only 1 CL!!!

My experience is thus that suites are more prevalent as upgrades, but in reality in my view I am almost always upgraded, single to double, double to queen, queen to king, larger rooms, corner rooms...

As always, YMMV, but perceiving upgrades by CL floor is pretty single dimensional. I prefer nicer rooms with more character rather than a souless box close to the CL.

Two weeks ago at Orlando Airport Marriot the clerk told me that they reserved a room with a view for me. Got me surprised since that hotel has no view. Once got on the floor I found the room was right next to the really loud ice/vending machines (835). I went back to the clerk and he really quickly found a corner room on the lounge floor. Made me guessing which one was the actual upgrade.
My upgrade percentage is very low as well and it is probably because I usually do not complain/ask. I guess I need to start doing that.

Exactly. Don't count on the "automatic" room blocking that is supposed to take place or the kindess of the disinterested FD clerk at check-in. Making some noise pre and at check in is what only seems to work for me.

I used to be a FD clerk (though not disinterested). "Noise" pre and at check in might have worked if it was polite noise. Impolite noise at my FD put you in room 319...

Actually, my bad here. "Noise", not meaning the verbal kind but meaning emails, comments, calls and politely asking at check-in. And at FS or above, I find a fairly high % of FD willing to help. But I stand with my disinterest at comment at levels below FD with maybe the exception at RI's.

Maybe you can tell us how room selection works in real practice (as opposed to the "automatic" way they want us to believe it happens)?

I make comments at reservation about my preferences and PLT status, make comments in virtual concierge, book my reservation way in advance and let my preferences known in person to the properties I stay at time and time again, yet I find myself doing the "did you honor my CL request" dance at check in. What is the secret? What did you do as a FD agent in these circumstances?

Thanks!

What's this? The "Enter a comment of 45 characters or less" spot when making reservations? Fill me in, please!

Not consistently received but a 2+ year old "feature" where Marriott sends you a reminder email about 5 days in advance telling you about the property and weather and the chance to pre-order some expensive arrival snacks for your room. And within is a spot to make some comments about your arrival, i.e time and preferences. This is where I usually make (again) a request for an upgrade or CL room - the first being the 45 character box. You reply and get auto generated return message and in rarer cases will get an actual response from a person (presumed to be the hotel's concierge?). And the message is no more than them saying the will do their best to honor.

But, the seem to come only if you reserved way out (say 2 or more weeks) and at FS or REN's. And again, not consistently.

And 50-50 sucess without more begging at checkin...

the 2 items you are asking about appear in different places.

joshua362 is correct in his explanation of Virtual Concierge.

However, the "enter a comment of 45 characters or less" area appears every time if you reserve on line. You will see it at the bottom of the page (beneath the block for credit card information) during Step 5 of 6 when making your reservation.

And 45 characters encourages brevity...........

I know it's been mentioned in other threads, but if it is a special stay, make sure you send a direct email to the hotel. You can find these in the forum by searching for it or you can get it from the reservation hotline.

OK, thanks. 99% of my stays are at CY and now FI and I do get these reminder mails each time, but since I know I'm coming I've never opened the E-mail. I'll remember to try that next time I'm at an FS property, as the 2-3 times I've been at one I'm not thrilled at what they consider an "upgrade".

It's unlikely you will ever be thrilled. The best available room (not suite) is usually exactly like all the other rooms except for abetter view or location (concierge floor). It's pretty rare that any room is signifigantly better than another such that it is goign to WOW you.