Continuing my thought from a couple of posts earlier - - -
Just got back from London. Stayed at the Marriott on Grosvenor Square, a very nice hotel. At check-in, I inquired about an upgrade. "Sorry, we can't upgrade you this time" I was told, and was given a nice, but "regular" (i.e., "de luxe") room without street view. It surprised me a bit, since they have lots of suites, and the hotel didn't seem that full.
Service was great, as usual, and access to the Executive Lounge was provided (ergo free Continental breakfast, which is worth something in London!); nonetheless the lack of an upgrade (let alone one to a suite) was troublesome. I just hope they really were out of suites, and weren't just blowing me off because I'm only a Gold.
Just got back from London. Stayed at the Marriott on Grosvenor Square, a very nice hotel. At check-in, I inquired about an upgrade. "Sorry, we can't upgrade you this time" I was told, and was given a nice, but "regular" (i.e., "de luxe") room without street view. It surprised me a bit, since they have lots of suites, and the hotel didn't seem that full.
Service was great, as usual, and access to the Executive Lounge was provided (ergo free Continental breakfast, which is worth something in London!); nonetheless the lack of an upgrade (let alone one to a suite) was troublesome. I just hope they really were out of suites, and weren't just blowing me off because I'm only a Gold.
Oh, I'm reasonably sure they had suites available. I rise early, the suites are marked, and you can see whether there are newspapers outside the door.
Remember, though, we're no longer guaranteed suite upgrades, so even if I proved to them that I knew they had suites empty that wouldn't necessarily have entitled me to one (and it may have gotten me a "PITA" rep with the management). And, the hotel was very good about service otherwise and the access to the Executive Lounge got me a nice breakfast in the morning and some snacks in the afternoon when I returned to the hotel, so I'm not complaining.
Remember, though, we're no longer guaranteed suite upgrades, so even if I proved to them that I knew they had suites empty that wouldn't necessarily have entitled me to one (and it may have gotten me a "PITA" rep with the management). And, the hotel was very good about service otherwise and the access to the Executive Lounge got me a nice breakfast in the morning and some snacks in the afternoon when I returned to the hotel, so I'm not complaining.
FWIW: I checked into the JW Miami last Tuesday and was upgraded to a suite at check-in...and I didnt even ask for it. 
FlyerTalk Evangelist
And this afternoon I was checked into the Presidential Suite at a Courtyard in DC, without my saying a word. It was prereserved for me. And they have free internet in the Business Center!
Bruce
Bruce
Upgrade
I'm posting from the "Luxury Suite" at the Renaissance-Boca, on a AAA rate, incl. bfst for two for every day of my stay and 2 drinks for 2 at the bar for every day I'm here too!..I am here for 4 nights this stay; plus they also have a lounge.
Luxury suite has a l.r , b.r, dining area and a bath w/ giant tub and seperate walk in shower.....I used the NPR code to get the AAA of $90./night, which is $1 more than the Courtyard across the street.
This is my second stay here, last month stayed for 4 nights, same deal on drinks and bfst....that stay was on the club floor in reg. room as all exc. and other upgrade rooms were being refurbished at that time.
Luxury suite has a l.r , b.r, dining area and a bath w/ giant tub and seperate walk in shower.....I used the NPR code to get the AAA of $90./night, which is $1 more than the Courtyard across the street.
This is my second stay here, last month stayed for 4 nights, same deal on drinks and bfst....that stay was on the club floor in reg. room as all exc. and other upgrade rooms were being refurbished at that time.
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Luxury suite has a l.r , b.r, dining area and a bath w/ giant tub and seperate walk in shower.....I used the NPR code to get the AAA of $90./night, which is $1 more than the Courtyard across the street.
This is my second stay here, last month stayed for 4 nights, same deal on drinks and bfst....that stay was on the club floor in reg. room as all exc. and other upgrade rooms were being refurbished at that time.
The NPR rate code still brings up something??Originally Posted by jnbinpvb
I'm posting from the "Luxury Suite" at the Renaissance-Boca, on a AAA rate, incl. bfst for two for every day of my stay and 2 drinks for 2 at the bar for every day I'm here too!..I am here for 4 nights this stay; plus they also have a lounge. Luxury suite has a l.r , b.r, dining area and a bath w/ giant tub and seperate walk in shower.....I used the NPR code to get the AAA of $90./night, which is $1 more than the Courtyard across the street.
This is my second stay here, last month stayed for 4 nights, same deal on drinks and bfst....that stay was on the club floor in reg. room as all exc. and other upgrade rooms were being refurbished at that time.
The many times that I have recently input codes for upcoming stays, the NPR rate code always draws a goose egg!
I had thought that Marriott had done away with that code disclosing just which of the Marriott properties might accept the Entertainment Rate -- acknowledging that the code also brought up other codes like the AAA rate.
So, it sometimes still does bring up a hit?
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Bruce
Originally Posted by bdschobel
NPR still works for me.Bruce
Thanks Bruce.
NJ
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I was upgraded to a very nice and really quite large suite in the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel in DC without asking. I realize that I'm on some sort of lucky streak that can't continue forever, but I just want to contradict the people who say that upgrading never happens.
Bruce
Bruce
Another datum:
Last weekend, stayed at the Renaissance Munich, and was upgraded at check-in to a suite without asking.
(Perhaps it was just that it was a weekend and there may have been lots of available suites, or maybe not. I really like this property and have always been treated very well by them.)
Last weekend, stayed at the Renaissance Munich, and was upgraded at check-in to a suite without asking.
(Perhaps it was just that it was a weekend and there may have been lots of available suites, or maybe not. I really like this property and have always been treated very well by them.)
marriott grosvenor square
stayed here last year (on points) and was given a somewhat larger room just for asking - "executive" I think was the term they used. given the size of some of the rooms in that hotel (shoeboxes) that is meaningful
the concept of staying in a suite on business (generally traveling alone) is a waste for me. who wants to walk 25 ft to go to the bathroom at night or use binoculars to watch the tv from bed?
a suite on vacation is another, but that is what they have points for
the concept of staying in a suite on business (generally traveling alone) is a waste for me. who wants to walk 25 ft to go to the bathroom at night or use binoculars to watch the tv from bed?
a suite on vacation is another, but that is what they have points for
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Bruce
Bruce, just what does a Presidential Suite look like at a Courtyard. I'm having a hard time visualizing that one.Originally Posted by bdschobel
And this afternoon I was checked into the Presidential Suite at a Courtyard in DC, without my saying a word. It was prereserved for me. And they have free internet in the Business Center!Bruce
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Bruce
Me thinks some one is taking care of our new moderator. Originally Posted by bdschobel
. I realize that I'm on some sort of lucky streak that can't continue forever, but I just want to contradict the people who say that upgrading never happens.Bruce
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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It really was very nice. A living room and a separate bedroom, small kitchen area. Not terribly fancy, but without a doubt better than the typical room at that hotel. Room number was 911!Originally Posted by longing4piedmont
Bruce, just what does a Presidential Suite look like at a Courtyard. I'm having a hard time visualizing that one.
Bruce