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I suspect that in most hotels, on most nights, the catering/event manager has a lot of say in who gets the Presidential Suite. If it's not explicitly in someone's event contract, they'll know who's doing the most spend in the hotel. I've gotten one Presidential Suite directly this way (when I organized a party), plus been to 5-6 afterparties in a suite occupied by someone else who paid for an event.
If I had to guess, I'd say the pecking order is roughly this: (1) Someone calls and offers to pay the listed rate for it. (2) Someone gets it explicitly inserted into an event/catering contract. (I guess this is really 1a...it's a commitment to the room, not an upgrade.) (3) Someone gets it as an upgrade because they're hosting a large-ish event. (4) A really valuable local guest, who's probably also a high Platinum, gets upgraded to it. (5) It stays empty. (6) I get it as a random MR Gold who's never been to the hotel before. (In other words, (5) probably prevents (6) from happening, except in really rare cases.) |
Originally Posted by samosa
(Post 26847127)
Correct me if I am wrong, but many hotels just don't give out their premium presidential suites as upgrades and only charge for them. But for many hotels they never get sold and that is fine because they don't want them to get that normal wear and tear from use, especially if they have regular rooms available. But if they are redeemed for upg certificates or paid upgrades, maybe the hotel will put them in circulation for that extra revenue.
You suggested in the post I quoted earlier that if a hotel has too few suites (fewer than two per hundred rooms), they cannot be reserved. |
Originally Posted by MSPeconomist
(Post 26847630)
You suggested in the post I quoted earlier that if a hotel has too few suites (fewer than two per hundred rooms), they cannot be reserved. |
One thing I've definitely noticed: at most hotels, even ones that I know have 1 or 2 Presidential type suites, you usually do not see them available for booking when you do a normal query for rooms.
Is that because (a) they're in really high demand and people just book them up almost all the time, (b) they're not put in the system because events/catering departments allocate them most nights, (c) some types of travel planners or travel agents can see them, but an individual Marriott Rewards member booking directly cannot, (d) some other reason? Guessing (b) and/or (c). I've stayed in Renaissance and Marriotts over both Thanksgiving and Christmas - locations where the hotels were absolutely empty except for barebones staff and a handful of guests. No business travelers, no big events, probably few if any other Golds/Plats. Yet I don't think I ever noticed bookable large suites. Starwood, by contrast, sometimes lists them all. I've LOL'ed at the $999 asking price for a Presidential Suite in an otherwise boring suburban Sheraton. :D I suspect they don't usually get that but, hey, if somebody bites... |
Originally Posted by pinniped
(Post 26842940)
Here's how Marriott could do it and make *most* people happy.
- Keep the bed/smoke guarantee as-is. If you have a King bed selected in your profile, you get it no matter what. Doesn't matter if the hotel charges $10 more for non-elites to confirm a King...or to confirm 2 Queens...or whatever. If you're Gold/Plat, you get your bed type or you get paid cash per the guarantee. - Keep the normal "we'll give you a good room" practice as is. Marriott generally does well in this regard. High floors, good views, sometimes on the concierge lounge level (but if not, within 1-2 floors). This shouldn't change for Gold/Plat. - Enable NOR-1 for junior suites and suites. Stuff we don't often get upgraded to today, but rooms I might be willing to actually pay for. Hiltons that do this right are appreciated. Hiltons that want to charge me (a Diamond) twenty bucks for a better view are not. That makes it feel like they've taken away a benefit. But I don't have a problem with the mechanics of the paid upgrade. When I've bought them in the past, I've noticed my room type is often switched to the suite within a couple days of my selecting the option. I've never had to wait until check-in to see if I got the upgrade. (Granted, I imagine if I keep doing it I'll eventually run into a failed attempt. But for now, although it's described as eStandby, it has delivered with a confirmed upgrade prior to the stay.) How about the hotels just follow the rules which means that we get our guarantees, they seek to sell rooms and suites in a way to maximize their revenue, but if they haven't sold them, then they use the available inventory in a way to recognize and incentivize loyalty. Like ... the nice email I received from an on duty manager at the J.W. Houston recently, thanking me for selecting their hotel, telling me that they were looking forward to my check-in, and that they had been able to upgrade me to a suite. I'll stay at their hotel again, even if they aren't able to upgrade me. |
No Complimentary Upgrade on Points Stay?
Staying at St. Ermin's starting tomorrow and enquired about a space available Platinum upgrade and received the following response from a reservation agent:
"As your booking was done to be paid by points, complimentary upgrade is not available." Thats a first for me I didn't think being on a points stay excluded complimentary upgrades. I was offered the upgrade for a cash price of £50/night so there is space available. Mods if a better thread exists feel free to move it. |
did you ask the hotel directly or called the std Marriott #? You sometimes get weird responses and unless the hotel itself gives such a b.s. answer I would just ignore it. Of course you are eligible for space-available upgrades on award stays.
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The person you talked with gave you wrong information. Marriott's program is not like the IHG program where upgrades (and other elite benefits) don't have to be offered on an award reservation.
I would ask again when you check-in about what upgrades might be available. If there are, you will probably be able to get something. |
This was a direct response from a St. Ermin's reservation agent (it's an @stermins... email address).
I guess I'll just press it in person at check-in and go from there. |
Completely incorrect. Pay direct or MRP's does not impact upgrade status. It would be nice if you could get a response from Marriott corporate before going. I really hate when a property misstates policies like this.
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As others here have confirmed, complimentary upgrades are a function of a member's Marriott Elite status, not of the method of payment or the room rate. Some of my best upgrades have been on Rewards stays.
The question now is if this is a case of a single misinformed employee, or if St. Ermin's has it own rogue policy. In any case, this should be brought to the attention of St. Ermin's management. It would also be good to share the email from St. Ermin's with Marriott management. |
It's been a few years since I stayed on points. On two stays, on Oahu and in Bay Harbor, MI, I was told that I needed to redeem more points if I wanted an upgraded room. It has made me hesitant to stay at full service properties using points. I have lifetime platinum status.
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I've stayed at St. Ermin's twice and received an upgrade both times. A relative (who is also Platinum) stayed there two nights ago and was upgraded.
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I emailed Marriott Corporate (no response - not surprising since it's a weekend). Just checked in and was told that they were chock full and so no upgrades. Our rates is for the Deluxe Room (3 of us traveling so only room with 2 beds).
Of course I could hear them hawking the Family Room to the people checking in next to me for 50 pounds/night on top of what they were paying and of course it's still being offered for cash the next 3 nights on the Marriott website :rolleyes: Perhaps they'll get out on a technicality and claim that I've already received an upgrade via the Points + Cash Upgrade fee they've charged for this tiny tiny Deluxe Double. |
If they don't have the same room available for your entire stay then no upgrade is due. Sometimes staff will choose the wrong words thinking you will go away quicker. No excuse to making things up. Do ask for a manager before you check in and let them know what has happened and ask them to confirm MR policy. Being a holiday weekend, it may be Tuesday or Wednesday before they get an answer from MR. If the manager is on top of their game you might score a nice upgrade, just be sure to let them know you need a room with two beds.
Good Luck. |
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