Definition of Upgrade
 

From what I have seen, Marriott considers an upgrade a bump up to the concierge floor, which at many hotels, there are multiple concierge floors. I am wondering if I am the only person that is wondering why they consider that an upgrade.

I know you can get upgraded to something better if you call and ask, but it doesn't make sense that they think that being on a floor close to the one with a lounge is considered an upgrade. I have even been told by a few that the only thing that they consider an upgrade is to the concierge floor, even if they have a suite available.

Shrug. You can do a search & you'll find some threads on what's an upgrade. BTW - some FTers consider being on the exec level an upgrade & get irritated when they're not put on it. So YMMV.

Cheers.

Ofiicially an upgrade is any room more $$ than the room you paid for.

I usually don't care too much about being on the actual exec floor, but when my kids were younger we'd sometimes ask to be very near the exec lounge so we could go there, have a drink or dessert and watch tv while our kids slept, one of us would go and peek in on them during every commercial break. They were too young to stay up unitl 10 or 11 pm but old enough to know how to use mom's cell phone left by the bed to call Dad's cell phone if they did wake up- which they never did. County Hall gave us a room just a door or two down from the lounge which most people wouldn't have liked- no view at all, but was perfect for us since it let us use the wireless and hang out while the kids slept off their jet lag.

Marriott charges more for a room on the concierge lounge, so it makes sense they would consider it an upgrade. I'm usually placed on a different floor but given access to the concierge lounge. That's plenty for me, access to the concierge lounge is definitely an upgrade over the standard room I booked.

Suites are not promised as upgrades, even if they are available. You might luck out at some properties, but it is the exception. They won't put you in a suite for a 4 night stay if there is a chance they can sell it for $$ on some of the nights.

There are so many plats & golds now, hotels often have many elites staying on a particular night. It's unrealistic to expect you're going to get something better than the concierge floor.

When you are upgraded to a room on the actual Executive floor (vs. staying on another floor and having access to the floor), I think it can be a plus or minus, depending on how you look at it. If there are a lot of people accessing the Executive Lounge throughout the morning, afternoon and evening, it will be noisier than a regular floor and if you are looking for peace and quiet during your hotel stay, it probably will be a negative. However if you use the lounge often, it will save time getting to and from the lounge from your hotel room.

Here is what the Marriot's web site says:

Room Upgrade
When you check in, we’ll upgrade you to our best-available guest room at no additional charge. Not available for suites at Marriott Vacation Club International. For Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, upgrades from studio to 1- or 2-bedrooms are not guaranteed. For The Ritz-Carlton, Club Level and suites are excluded.

Terms and Conditions:

Free Room Upgrade: Suites not included; based on room availability at check-in and limited to a Member's personal guestroom. For Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites, upgrades from Studio rooms to 1- or 2-bedrooms are not guaranteed. Not available at Marriott Vacation Club.

So, both places clearly say "based on availability". From my experience if I'm upgraded I usually can see it on the web site at least 1 day before the stay. My experience again - upgrade benefit is close to be non-existent. 10% of my stays at the most.

The difference is between what "we" (FTers with Marriott Gold+ status) consider an upgrade and what Marriott considers an upgrade to the non-status hotel guest. "We" would normally get concierge lounge access anyway, and a "concierge level" room is normally the same as a regular room except maybe there's mouthwash, so we don't consider it an upgrade, unless maybe it's at least on the same floor as the lounge itself. However, for a non-status or silver-level guest, they would not normally get lounge access, so Marriott charges more for the room that gets lounge access, and thus considers it an "upgrade" when someone gets that room for the rate of a normal room. As for me personally, I do find it quite silly when they "upgrade" me to a room that's the same as the regular room I would have gotten anyway, unless it's on the same floor as the lounge.