twitter = IM broadcast.

D/L smartphone app, and you too can clutter up the world with useless data on your morning haiku (guilty of that), dining choices (way guilty of that), and snarky comments (why else have a Twitter account?)

Twice in a row at an Orlando CY location, I've asked about an upgrade at check-in. Both times I've been told that they were sold out for at least part of my stay. At that point I politely ask them to recheck as I've found upgradad rooms available at Marriott.com prior to walking in. "Seems odd that I could book as many as three 1 BR suites for the length of my stay, isn't it? Is overbooking like that typical?" A few clicks later, a suite magically opens up.

Brilliant analysis IMO and why its a just game of promises...

http://boardingarea.com/blogs/viewfr...tus-cards-are/

Front Desk agents are a crap shoot. GMs are not.
If I care about a stay (such as vacation with family), I reach out to GM.

Usually can do it by email. Sometimes I will ask the virtual concierge to have the GM contact me.

100% on upgrades this way.

It has honestly never crossed my mind to tweet an upgrade request.

I've never tweeted anything actually, but I suppose I could figure it out quickly enough.

A good read. Of course, the front desk agent is as guilty as the DYKWIA types with all the whining and sterotyping, but hey, the hotel industry isn't for everyone.

The golden rule applies in all human interactions. And we all hate it when it isn't observed, and when we can't call someone out on that bad behavior (I do understand an FD agent would fall under that category from time to time).

Next time someone in front of you is being a DYKWIA snob and whining, pull out your cell phone and start recording. This has tremendous entertainment value, and usually affects the observed behavior in one way or another.

I rarely have any luck getting a suite when requesting upgrades by email, though sometimes they will pre-assign a nicer room. And it is almost impossible for me (and many others) to call mid-day as I am usually in the air.

However I do find I get better rooms by asking directly at checkin. Still no suites (like SPG and Hyatt) but usually something better than average.

Only recently made Gold (had been silver for a few years prior).

Twice (within the past month)--I had been upgraded to the concierge level at the Dayton Marriott without asking.

Last night I stayed at a Courtyard. When I made my reservation online, the only rooms available were rooms with two double beds or suites (with one king). When I checked in, I asked if it would be possible to get a room with a king bed. The front desk agent said no. I guess I specifically should have asked about the possibility of an upgrade.

I had assumed that it wouldn't be too difficult to get an upgrade on a Friday night at a Courtyard in Beavercreek, OH. I was only staying for one night--so it wasn't a problem that I didn't get an upgrade. On the website--for that night, they were still selling "King Suites".

Reporting success!! I used Twitter and the telephone to get GM email addresses for my next 2 stays - next month at FFI & Suites and one this week at a Courtyard. I emailed both GMs and heard back from FFI that they have upgraded me to a king suite. I never heard from the Courtyard but i just checked in and I am in a double suite which is larger than my first apartment. Who knew there were this nice of rooms in Courtyards? Thanks for the suggestions!!

Emailed Internet Customer Care last week to upgrade my room to a suite. As usual they replied a request has been noted...

Checked in last night at midnight and a luxury suite was waiting for me. Three times the size of a standard room; living large...

I think it depends on how important the upgrade is to you.

If it's for a vacation, I'd call the Executive Office of the hotel. You'd be surprised how far you can get with the Assistant to the GM and the Rooms Exec. At a better resort, I'd contact the FOM.

If it's a one-nighter for business, I'd ask at check-in.