So I drove up to Minneapolis a couple of weeks ago to start the new job. Spent the first week or two bouncing from Fairfield Inn to Courtyard to Residence Inn looking for the best place to park. Finally settled on the Fairfield Inn in Coon Rapids, MN. Close to work, and I negotiated a good rate with the Manager, who's a really nice guy.

All I expect with a deal like this is a safe place to sleep and that the heating, a/c, plumbing, and TV work.

Imagine my surprise this week when I check in and the room turns out to be a suite! OK, a suite at a Fairfield Inn is not like a suite at the Ritz-Carlton, but still ...

Big king bed (the new ones), separate seating area with couch and coffee table, two tables and chairs (desk, eating area), nice 'fridge and microwave in a neat cabinet (custom?), 70+ channels, large bathroom with mirror and counter top the whole length of the room, plenty of towels, basket of fruit, personal note from the manager, and so on. The place also has a heated indoor pool and hot tub. Two telephones and free Wi-Fi.

If this is an indication of how Marriott treats their plats, I think I'm going to enjoy spending some of these hard-earned points!

Saweeeettt

Seems you got lucky. My company negotiated a rate for hundreds of nights at a Fairfield Inn in Middleton, WI. Turns out they feel the rate is too low (regardless of total revenue) to give us any perks. Been here 16 weeks and only got an upgrade once after complaining that the room I was given had a bit of a stench.

The hotel's decent, but it would be nice to be recognized every once in a while for my company's patronage.

Good thing you avoided the Marriott in Bloomington across from the MOA, your Plat card and $1 will get you a cup of coffee. Terrible treatment there.

I was there 2 weeks ago and as a Plat was treated very well. No suite upgrade, but there was a wedding party there that night for over 400 people (and a chiropractic convention the next day) so I assume most of the upgrades went there.

I was comped full breakfast both days, Platinum status was recognized and appreciated, amenity was brought to the room in a timely manner, room service was fast and of good quality, and each and every employee acted very pleasant towards me.

Sorry your experience was not as good.

Thanks for the condolances. I stayed there quite a bit last year (roughly once a month through September) and I got "upgraded" once...to a room on the concierge floor! My profile states "high floor" and always used to write "far from elevator, corner room if available" in the comments section of the online reservation page. I can't tell you the number of times I was given a room on the 2nd floor near the elevator. The final straw was in September when I asked the front desk clerk what it took to get a room on the conceirge floor and she replied "the people on that floor paid for those rooms". I asked her how many people on the concierge floor had sent Marriott $30,000 year to date. She just had this puzzled look on her face and didn't know what to say. I went to my room, on the 2nd floor of course, called Starwood and checked out the next day. Someone from Marriott Corporate contacted me as well as the General Manager of the property. Both assured me things would be different (after 8 stays in 9 months I figured I gave them enough chances.

Glad your experiences are better. In case you, or anyone else is wondering, I still lurk here because of all the MR points I have.

And 10 points vs. 5 points at a similar room at the Residence Inn.