As noted in the rules, it is entirely up to the hotel, but expecting to be upgraded to a 2 BR suite is pushing it to say it mildly.

One's expectations should not be so grand, it does happen, but one should not view it as an entitlement.

If your company routinely books two employees to a room then expects you to try to wheedle the hotel into getting a second bedroom for free or be stuck with no privacy or dignity during business travel, I'd be complaining to them, not Marriott.

I was thinking the same thing.

Note that it does take me way, way back to my first job right out of college. On my very first "business" trip there were 4 of us traveling, 3 male/1 female. At the time, I figured that the female would get her own room, but I wasn't sure if the other 3 would have to share a room or not. (Actually, I figured that at best they wouldn't force us to share beds, thus 2 would be in one room and 1 would get his own room.

I was very surprised that they said everyone gets their own room. (Note in college I was used to sharing rooms with upwards of 4/5/6 or even more in a room.)

Sounds like some sort of a party!

It's really up to the property. I know in the past suites are not included but I have been staying in the same property for a few months now and have been upgraded to a suite several times in the past.

I got lucky in grad school- travelling to APS (American Physical Society) conference I was the only female grad student presenting a paper from my university and no female profs in the chem department attended APS, so I got my own room. Male grad students had to share.

But in the business world- IMO no way should associates be required to share a room.

guys - thanks for all the help here and understand this may be pushing it a bit. Will try but without expectations. I've tried to change the corporate policy but to no avail. Without releasing the name here, it's even in the fortune 100 - sucks but we're trained to suck it up for the time being or dole out cash

I've worked for a few companies that have tried this approach for sales conferences and the like. It usually only lasted once. In one case, it was suggested, then retracted about 8 hours later.

Amazing what a bunch of phone calls to HR can accomplish before/after the fact. One of my colleagues got stuck with a nudist, one got stuck with a partier from a timezone 2 hours west, and a few even had to book another room at the conference when their roommate "ordered-in" companionship.

All it takes is relating a few of these stories and settlements, and that sharing room thing drifts away....

lol I didn't think of that angle - you've placed few strategies in my mind

1. As I have posted in too many threads: the rules changed last year so that SUITES are NOW INCLUDED in the program.
2. As I have posted in too many threads, the rule limiting room upgrades to one level up, was eliminated last year.

Agreed but for some reason I thought one bedroom to two bedroom at RI and FI were still excluded or treated differently.

I'm with you. My understanding is that an upgrade to a 2BR is optional and at the hotel's discretion.

I know times are tough....but a $35 rate difference between what you reserved and what you want..divided by 2...$17 each. I'd pay that all day/night long, especially if your colleague snores.

Been Gold at a minimum since 2000 and Plat for most of the past 7-8 years. I have never received an upgrade to a two-bedroom suite at any Marriott brand. Many hundreds of nights...lots of Residence Inns...never got this upgrade. When I want a 2-bedroom suite at an RI, which I do at least three or four times a year, I confirm it in advance.

Maybe the property is BS'ing you, maybe not. Reality is that I see this room type sold out a lot so I can't really fault the hotel for not giving them away.

Even moreso at a Fairfield Inn. The very nature of the motel brands is such that people book them as walk-ups, even late into the evening. If the hotel has one left, why should they give it to you for free a couple days ahead of time when they might be able to sell it to someone who really needs it and is willing to pay for it? It's a bit different than a large downtown hotel where their data models tell them they can start upgrading elites a day or so before arrival.

I'm staying in a 2-bedroom RI suite starting tomorrow night. I notice that it is already sold out because I went to add one for another family and they are gone. Most properties don't have a lot of these suites...

If we're going to trash Marriott's upgrade stinginess, I'll keep it focused on the rarity of junior suite or standard 1-bedroom suite upgrades at hotels I know happen to have more than a few to give. Starwood blows Marriott away in this regard.

You beat me to it--exactly what I was going to say!