Suite upgrade at Asian properties
#46
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,126

#47
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,126

How is the cocktail hour there btw? Do they offer local whisky brands (Kavalan or King Car)?

#48
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
I arrived at about 10-10:30 p.m. from the airport, but I had already checked in ahead of time through the Marriott mobile application. I booked a king-sized deluxe room with skyline view in the Tower Wing. I was told initially at check-in there were no better rooms available. I asked then about suites (I knew Marriott.com said there were suites available) and was offered a junior suite in the old wing. As I said in another thread, it was fine but I did find the old wing to be tired. Stairways as well as walls in my room needed new paint jobs, the windows had chipped and old pealing paint, the bathroom tiles needed regrouting, and some of the furniture was scratched. It was shabby chic, like one of those old English country house hotels.

#49
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 471
Does booking a room with 2 double beds decrease your chance of upgrade to a suite as most suites are only available in 1 king?

#50
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 2,465
Some hotels might provide you with an extra bed. JW Marriott KL upgraded me to a larger King room (having booked double twins). Since they provided no rollaway, housekeeping set up the sofa as 2nd bed.

#51
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Marriott Manila is very good since the new West Wing opened end of Nov2016. Lounge Angels confirmed the hotels policy is to try and upgrade both Plats + Golds t from base room to the Deluxe Suite (there are no Junior Suites in West Wing)
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.

#52

Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: BOS
Programs: BA Gold, AA Platinum, SQ Gold, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 1,314
Anyone has any experience with JW Marriott Bangalore? Do they hand out suite upgrades to Platinum members?

#54
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,126
Marriott Manila is very good since the new West Wing opened end of Nov2016. Lounge Angels confirmed the hotels policy is to try and upgrade both Plats + Golds t from base room to the Deluxe Suite (there are no Junior Suites in West Wing)
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.

#55
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,126
Got an upgrade to Governor Suite at JW Jakarta (Mega Kuningan). Suites are very good there. Service and food are not, sadly.

#56
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Yes the standard rates base room rates (10000-15000++ depending on how late one books and occupancy levels) are high compared to the many 5-8000php 4* hotels that abound in Manila, but not higher than the good(real) 5* competitor options, a very good Marriott lounge and regular suite upgrades justify that for me. (Plus I have excellent fixed rate corporate deal, so though small savings on booking well in advance, a big saving booking say day before when hotel almost full)
More recently I now stay here on 1-3 day Manila stays too, over previous Makati Central locations, due to great treatment, great lounge, and cheap transport (taxis , uber) though I take into account heavy Manila traffic if I need to go into Makati/Ermita 9am-6pm which I don't usually need to.
I'd be paying virtually same rate (within 1000php) for IHG HI Makati. where upgrade is just higher floor same size/furnished room (eg std -> Dlx) without lounge, or less inconvenient location Conrad Manilawhere unless upgraded to full suite rooms are shower only

#57
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Taiwan
Programs: IHG Spire Ambassador, Marriott Platinum, Hilton Gold, oneworld Emerald
Posts: 1,126
I initially tended to stay when transitting manila (inbound+outbound) as 1nighters based on convenience of location, starting Jan 1st 2016 when Intercontinental Manila closed. With a non Filipino foreign passport you only pay the 10% service fee of the ++ which is great for this location.
I'd be paying virtually same rate (within 1000php) for IHG HI Makati. where upgrade is just higher floor same size/furnished room (eg std -> Dlx) without lounge, or less inconvenient location Conrad Manilawhere unless upgraded to full suite rooms are shower only
I'd be paying virtually same rate (within 1000php) for IHG HI Makati. where upgrade is just higher floor same size/furnished room (eg std -> Dlx) without lounge, or less inconvenient location Conrad Manilawhere unless upgraded to full suite rooms are shower only
Aside from Grab, there are actually free shuttles from Marriott / Newport city to many locations around Metro Manila, but the problem is not price, but time. Traffic is frequently pretty heavy.
I don't know your corporate rates with Marriott, but on public rates HI Makati is about a half of Marriott's price, and HI / CP Ortigas even lower.
P. S. "With a non Filipino foreign passport you only pay the 10% service fee of the ++ which is great for this location."
Didn't get the point. Do locals pay more? Never heard taxes & fees may differ depending on nationality. How does it work?

#58
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
Thank you for reply.
Aside from Grab, there are actually free shuttles from Marriott / Newport city to many locations around Metro Manila, but the problem is not price, but time. Traffic is frequently pretty heavy.
I don't know your corporate rates with Marriott, but on public rates HI Makati is about a half of Marriott's price, and HI / CP Ortigas even lower.
P. S. "With a non Filipino foreign passport you only pay the 10% service fee of the ++ which is great for this location."
Didn't get the point. Do locals pay more? Never heard taxes & fees may differ depending on nationality. How does it work?
Aside from Grab, there are actually free shuttles from Marriott / Newport city to many locations around Metro Manila, but the problem is not price, but time. Traffic is frequently pretty heavy.
I don't know your corporate rates with Marriott, but on public rates HI Makati is about a half of Marriott's price, and HI / CP Ortigas even lower.
P. S. "With a non Filipino foreign passport you only pay the 10% service fee of the ++ which is great for this location."
Didn't get the point. Do locals pay more? Never heard taxes & fees may differ depending on nationality. How does it work?
Typically I see HI Makati circa 5700++ eg 22nd Nov midweek night is on IHG ADR YouRate 5879.70++ so costs in the end 7032.20php
(and my Corp rate is variable just discount off flex, so cancel upto 2days before)...
Corp Rate HI ends up only 80++php less than IHG ADR YourRate as 5794++ = 6930 and IHG Spire is just upgrade to next room cat , ie same room higher floor, no lounge access foc
o Have to give/show id or passport at Philippine Hotel checkins (the law like Italy + Thailand i think). If Filipino shows there ID/Passport then the extra tax is not removed during checkin, but removal is immediate+automatic for foreign passports

#59
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Chicago
Programs: AA Plat, UA Silver, Marriott Plat
Posts: 1,432
Marriott Manila is very good since the new West Wing opened end of Nov2016. Lounge Angels confirmed the hotels policy is to try and upgrade both Plats + Golds t from base room to the Deluxe Suite (there are no Junior Suites in West Wing)
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.
Have as Gold (I am a regular here, maybe 15 stays 25nights in last 15months) nearly always had Deluxe Suite upgrade, on my multiple 1/2/3 night stays even on discounted corporate rate. I have even turned down Suite upgrade in favour of Exec onclub floor if catching 6am flight so leaving hotel for NAIA airport at 4/5am etc.

#60
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Amsterdam, Asia, UK
Programs: IHG RA (Spire), HH Diamond, MR Platinum, SQ Gold, KLM Gold, BAEC Gold
Posts: 5,072
With 6am flight from mnl or 1am (QR to Doha) , I depart hotel 3am (or even 11pm) , so suite apart from bed use, is minimal, so take eroom for lounge convenience/use
Simply take club 2nd floor, so i can pop from room-lounge-room w/o waiting on one of 3x lifts to/from 2nd floor lounge, so much quicker when you want/need to rest.
p.s. If I don't get a suite upgrade and am instead offered a premium bacony golf view on non club floor, I also ask for a room on lounge floor. Although not allowed, as a regular, staff don't stop me taking 2x beers to my room to drink whilst using laptop / watch tv films. If on floor takes 2minutes v 10minutes
Simply take club 2nd floor, so i can pop from room-lounge-room w/o waiting on one of 3x lifts to/from 2nd floor lounge, so much quicker when you want/need to rest.
p.s. If I don't get a suite upgrade and am instead offered a premium bacony golf view on non club floor, I also ask for a room on lounge floor. Although not allowed, as a regular, staff don't stop me taking 2x beers to my room to drink whilst using laptop / watch tv films. If on floor takes 2minutes v 10minutes
