Room Upgrade question
 

Hi everyone,

I'm a Platinum member and just booked a 10 days award on Sao Paulo Renaissance Hotel.

I was wondering, How can I get that room upgrade? I stayed maybe 30+ times, about 350+ nights on 20+ hotels.
I only got upgraded once to a regular room with a view (after asking repeatedly).
Now I would like to get upgraded to a nice room, what do I need to do?

I checked the Q&A and the forum and couldn't find anything. if you can direct me to a post or answer that would be great!

Thanks

It's strange you don't get upgrades :(. Not sure how it is in the US but in Europe and Asia it is routine. I just checked that hotels website and they have junior suites in addition to full suites. If they don't upgrade you at check in, ask them to. Ask for the FOM if the check in clerk says they won't can't.

Hey, thanks for the reply.
Yeah I never got upgraded and the only time I asked they said not available.

almost 95% of my stays are within the US.
I'll make sure to ask the front desk if they have something available and if not will talk to the manager. ;)

Thanks!

One thing to note .... hotels are typically less generous with upgrades for longer stays. After all, on a 10-night stay, you only need one night where that upgrade room is sold, and they won't give it to you for the other 9 nights.

My best upgrades have come on shorter stays, during quieter periods.

What time of year are you going? Is there likely to be high occupancy during the period?

You could try to email the manager of the hotel prior to your stay to request an upgrade, but, as always, no guarantees.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Hey,
I booked it on February, for the carnival, but Sao Paulo is not much of tourist attraction, usually it's Rio and Salvador.

I'll email the hotel manager, if I'll say I'm willing to switch rooms will it make any difference?

Thanks

The longer the stay, the less likely of an upgrade as said before.

You may say you are willing to switch rooms now, but once you get settled in, you likely won't and do all you can to stay. At least that's my experience working at hotels.

Definitely request it in advance several times, it won't magically happen, remind them of your PLT status. Perhaps break your reservation first into 2 x 5 day reservations and only mention the first in your email. Once there and onsite they would be more likely to just let you stay for res #2.

I can vouch for long stays pretty much means no upgrade. Almost all my stays are 9 nights long. I don't get upgraded. But I book the minimum room I will accept and don't really care. There are exceptions, like the Marriott in Victoria Canada. Marriott and Hilton are the same in this aspect, long stay = no upgrade usually. And I don't want to change hotels mid stays just to get upgrades.

A kind phone call/email a week or two before (particularly if a special occasion) and a reminder the day before (and maybe phone call the morning of to ask how it worked out) are about all you can do, but I have had good luck.

Thanks, I'll make sure to split them and refer only to the first reservation, that's a good idea.

I am 100% ready for my regular room, I understand upgrades are not set in stone. I just wandered why I never got it, I actually taught I have some kind of vouchers or limited availability to request them.
And I agree, I only changed hotels once (that was due to a problem in Marriott which resulted in a 75K points compensation) and it's not something I would like to do. rooms on the other hand it's easier.

Oh I see, I should wait when it's more relevant? shouldn't I ask now a month before, while there are J.suites available?
Sounds good, I'll confirm with a phone call as well on the day I arrive

It's likely that they won't take action this far out, as they could still sell those rooms. Whereas if you contact them closer to your stay, they will have a better view of availability, and whether they can upgrade you or not.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

Thank you.

And guys - thank you all for the great suggestions. I'll let you know if I got upgraded or not ;)

My stays are mostly in Europe and Asia, and frankly the upgrades are next to nothing. They always said they upgraded us and the rooms we got were nothing special - maybe with a nespresso machine and a view that I don't need. We even did China for 3 nights and of course no suite upgrade as Plat.

The only exception is if you can get a hold of the GM or you are a regular guest.

In the US, we are lucky if we got upgraded to the executive level, most of the time there is no upgrade at FS. Some FFI and RI are more generous in grades.

The most ridiculous thing I think is that - we are IHG Plat and we got more upgrades and elite recognization with IHG compared to Marriott. Some hotels we stayed on points (PB= $
35/night) even apologized for not able to give us an upgrade.

90 nights, stays of 1-6 nights. I received 1 upgrade, to an opera house view room in SYD. Otherwise the rest of the rooms were mid to upper floor, typical view, no suites. I rarely received a dumpster view, but also rarely received a view at all.

Basically Marriott has very high occupancy and doesn't care much for elites.

It does feel like that for the rooms I get. I don't ask for upgrade every time I'm checking in but if Marriott would offer a voucher of some sort to get a confirmed upgrade once or twice a year that would be nice.

most of the time I don't care.

As far as not caring for the elites, I got in some really nice lounges, which for me is a nice gesture for elite members. if that's enough to keep me loyal or not... that's another question.