Thanks for posting your experience.

soccer

Thanks for posting your experience.

soccer

Just curious, how did you know you had a pre-arrival upgrade?

Well we'll see if the U.S. properties upgrade like the Asia properties. Given how quickly most embraced Marriott's closing the lounges on the weekend w/ no coupons, it wouldn't surprise me if they embraced the new upgrade terminology re: upgrades with equal enthusiasm ;).

FWIW - I do think there will be some properties who will still go above & beyond, but I also think a lot will just follow the corporate jargon.

Cheers.

You can check your reservation the day before on the website & it will show you the type of room you've got. If you've been upgraded in advance, it will show the upgraded room (ie, superior room, junior suite, etc). If you haven't been upgraded in advance, it will show what you booked.

Cheers.

the Ritz-Carlton rewards.
 

No, it is going in the direction of the Ritz-Carlton rewards:).

Costly life time members
 

Don't get into MR trap, they just want to get rid of costly LIFE TIME members :). Stay w/ MR and take advantage of your life time status.

Pre-arrival upgrade.
 

[QUOTE=Jonas36;18571256]Just curious, how did you know you had a pre-arrival upgrade?[/QUOTE
Check your detail reservation online.

Posting this from my free wifi in a CY suite. Upgraded and am on an ultra low corporate rate.

Marriott.com showed that my Hua Hin res had been upgraded to a beachfront about 3-days before arrival (and upon arrival was further upgraded to the Pres Suite as FOM thought the beach party that night might disturb me)

My (future) Nov res in Phuket was upgraded to a pool villa the day after I made it.............guess the FOM knows my name by now as we are frequent returnees, but this routinely happens in Khao Lak & Pattaya as well........... (and, last month in Seoul, likewise pre-arrival upgraded to a suite...........all w/o ever asking)

Policies Change - It's the Implementation that Counts
 

I'm sure that the legal department worked overtime to add sufficient weasel words to their policies to protect them in any instance, but it's how the properties interpret and implement the policies that counts, so I wouldn't think it will change things much.

I'm approaching lifetime Platinum with Marriott (1,000 nights) and have had good experiences and bad experiences, but many more good than bad. My standard approach is to either call the hotel in advance to let them know I would like a suite/upgrade if at all possible or just ask them when I check in "did you put me in a nice suite?". Some properties take the initiative without asking and already have me upgraded, but almost all will at least check their inventory and try to get me an upgrade if I ask for it. Some times they are already sold out of suites or have already upgraded them to others by the time I get there, so if I'm arriving late, I usually call in advance to place my request. Marriott does, at least in my experience, try to go the extra mile for elite members, but sometimes they need to be reminded of what you want.

Disappointing. I am definitely in "wait-and-see" mode with Marriott. For the most part, over the years, Marriott has done right by me. Recent trends relative to the competition have me entertaining ideas of splitting business further (which I have already started).

Too many hotels follow the letter of the law and do the bare minimum. I don't expect much, but I do expect some basic consideration of my status when assigning rooms. Not sticking an elite member with a room facing a wall, next to the ice machine on the ground floor should just be a given. But it happens, and now (in many hotels) simply putting me in a room that doesn't have an obstructed view could very well be an "upgrade" and not simply "common sense"....

As with anything, time will tell.....

I want other options available. I'm currently a LT Starwood Gold; would like to be LT Starwood Plat. That will allow me to pick and choose the best between Marriott and Starwood. I'd like to also have LT Hyatt Diamond but I don't see that as a realistic goal.

For instance, I stayed at the JW San Fran and the Marriott Fishermans Wharf. Disappointed with both locations; nothing at all special. Now with status with Starwood, I can also look at their properties in a location where Marriott falls short.

There are Marriotts that I will always consider booking such as the JW Lima (Peru), Ren Lodge at Sonoma (CA), Eden Roc Ren Miami Beach, JW Las Vegas (off strip but always given a large beautiful 2 room suite). I won't rule Marriotts out but I no longer give them my business just to get another night credit.

I no longer have to stay at a Fairfield Inn just to get my night credit for Plat status. I can have just a few annual stays at aspirational Marriotts while maintaining Plat status/treatment and use Starwood or Hyatt for the 'grind'/night credit when I just need a place to stay. And if there are properties who are skimpy on the Plat upgrades, they simply won't get my business.

I noticed a few weeks ago that the upgrade language has been changed again. Suites are no longer specifically excluded. Language as to upgrades only to next room category level is gone. This follows extensive complaining here, on Facebook, and Marriott Rewards Insiders. New language:"For Platinum Elite members the best way is up! So every time you check in, we'll do our best to upgrade you to a premium room - at no additional charge – for your entire stay. Upgrades may include rooms with desirable views, rooms on high floors, corner rooms, rooms with special amenities, rooms on Executive Floors, or suites, subject to availability identified by each hotel. See terms and conditions for details." Of course, there are still plenty of weasel words there.

https://www.marriott.com/rewards/mem...ts/platinum.mi

Basically, I'm reading it as saying that just about any room type is possible for an upgrade, but an upgrade to any specific room type is not guaranteed. IOW, they promise the world, but guarantee nothing. ;)