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I just joined the Marriott Rewards program and I got a huge upgrade, to the largest suite in Brussels Renaissence. I wonder if making the reservation 4 months ahead of time had anything to do with it.
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Here's my strategy :D
Me: Hi, MsSkiAdcock checking in, here's my cc & my Marriott card. Them: Here's your key. Me: Thank you. I get whatever I get. I don't get bent out of shape on stuff & just am pleasantly surprised when I get something extra. I should probably write down what you all do, but I keep forgetting (dumb me). Having said that I do like big rooms - don't necessarily need a suite. Love them when they happen but truly don't expect them - and hey, what constitutes a 'suite' varies big time by property. Since I'm Plat I assume exec lounge access, but half the time I'm traveling on weekend so it's closed. Grrr. My pet peeve is half the time on weekend stays I'm there for bizness, so get irritated w/ that M-F thing. Why am I being penalized on weekend? Cheers. |
I use the same strategy as Sharon. At check in, I hand the front desk clerk my Marriott CC and my Marriott MR Card. If they ask me questions about my preferences I respond. Otherwise, I get what I get. If I am not on the concierge level and the front desk clerk doesn't mention lounge access, I do verify I have been given access. I usually wind up with decent rooms. I occasionally get upgrades. Rarely I wind up with a crap room. I am not shy about asking for a different room and I am always polite. Different doesn’t necessarily mean upgrade. Different as in a room not sandwiched between the elevator and vending, etc. :) Life’s too short to get hung up on upgrades. YMMV…
--Jon P.S. I do enjoy big rooms and suites when I am given them. |
Originally Posted by BigLar
This bothers me a little. According to the MR T&C's (I think), you are entitled to the "best available room" excluding suites. You are also entitled to lounge access, and you say you do get that.
As a platinum, you're spending at least 75 nights a year in a Marriott property. As you say, most of them are full service properties. It boggles my mind that all of them are sold out on the Concierge level whenever you stay there. Try the "agressiveness" route. You're not looking for them to bend the rules, just to follow them. PS - Courtyards are just high class Fairfields, IMO, and they don't even give you breakfast. Today I was offered an upgrade at the Chicago Marriott from my room on the 42nd floor. It was a suite on the 44th floor. When I got there it had one of those rooms with the bed in the wall that is pulled down. I called the desk again was given a room similar to the original one on the 40th floor. I will call the day before I arrive in Provindence next week. I will try your suggestion. thanks Dennis |
Being polite almost always get me what I want
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The key word is "polite", as in politely ask for an upgrade if you want one. Then its a good idea to explain why you'd like one. If you're just travelling alone and all you really need is a room for the night, they may wonder why you're making an issue about asking for an upgrade. I wouldn't know. Under these circumstances, a regular room suits me just fine.
On the other hand, If I'm with the family, or if its a special occasion, or if I'm staying for several days and would like to "spread out", I simply explain that I'd like to know if "a platinum upgrade might be available". I also make it clear that whatever they might be able to do for me would be much appreciated. Even if another room has already been assigned, my experience is that the staff at most Marriott branded properties will go out of their way to accomodate requests like this. My success rate with this approach is probably about 80-90%. And even when I don't get the upgrade, usually there's at least an effort to find me one and an offer to "check with the front desk in the morning", if its a multi night stay. Another thing I do is when I reserve a room online and I'm looking for an upgrade is simply type in "Request Platinum Upgrade" in the comments box. I certainly would also suggest the tactics to golds or silvers. They key seems to be that they'll do what they can for their more frequent guests...especially if you're polite in making your request and give them a good reason why you're asking them to help you. Hope this helps. |
Originally Posted by cyberdad
The key word is "polite", as in politely ask for an upgrade if you want one. Then its a good idea to explain why you'd like one. If you're just travelling alone and all you really need is a room for the night, they may wonder why you're making an issue about asking for an upgrade. I wouldn't know. Under these circumstances, a regular room suits me just fine.
On the other hand, If I'm with the family, or if its a special occasion, or if I'm staying for several days and would like to "spread out", I simply explain that I'd like to know if "a platinum upgrade might be available". I also make it clear that whatever they might be able to do for me would be much appreciated. Even if another room has already been assigned, my experience is that the staff at most Marriott branded properties will go out of their way to accomodate requests like this. My success rate with this approach is probably about 80-90%. And even when I don't get the upgrade, usually there's at least an effort to find me one and an offer to "check with the front desk in the morning", if its a multi night stay. Another thing I do is when I reserve a room online and I'm looking for an upgrade is simply type in "Request Platinum Upgrade" in the comments box. I certainly would also suggest the tactics to golds or silvers. They key seems to be that they'll do what they can for their more frequent guests...especially if you're polite in making your request and give them a good reason why you're asking them to help you. Hope this helps. Merely asking for an upgrade will probably get an executive room, i.e. pool view, corner room, etc. Asking for a suite will get you a junior suite. I recommend finding out what type of suites does the hotel have and asking for it by name. I.e. Jacuzzie suite, Terrace suite, etc. More often than not, unless the desk clerk is on a power trip they will give it to you. |
Don't forget to tip your host or hostess in concierge lounge!
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Originally Posted by clarkef
Politeness is absolutely the first step. The second is to know what you want. Hotels often have more elite guests than suites. Thus they have allocate them in the most efficient manner, which means figuring out what is the smallest upgrade that will satisfy the guest.
Merely asking for an upgrade will probably get an executive room, i.e. pool view, corner room, etc. Asking for a suite will get you a junior suite. I recommend finding out what type of suites does the hotel have and asking for it by name. I.e. Jacuzzie suite, Terrace suite, etc. More often than not, unless the desk clerk is on a power trip they will give it to you. Doesn't always work that way. Sometimes the front desk clerk is really powerless when it comes to putting an elite into anything other than a quality or concierge level room. On a recent stay at the Marriott Atlanta (Alpharetta) the hotel was fully booked due to large group. The desk clerk was frantically searching for a non-smoking king so as to avoid paying the elite benefit guarantee. I pleasantly informed him that room 832 (a suite on the concierge level) would be a nice alternative. He looked and said it was available but he had to get approval from the Front Desk Manager or above to book me into it. The FDM was standing right there and with a few key strokes I had the suite. The first "real" upgrade I have received at Marriott in a long, long time. RIP... |
That's cool, but how did you know that 832 was available?
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I know 832 was a suite. The Front Desk Clerk told me it was available for the three nights I was staying, but only the Front Desk Manager or above could authorize my assignment to that room which he did.
RIP... |
I always offer my Marriott Platinum Elite card at check in as I approach the desk and give my name. I feel like it kind of reinforces the status in a subtle way.
When booking on the web, I always try and put a Platinum upgrade request in the Comments box on the reservation page. Trouble is, though the box is large, it only fits 45 characters and "Returning Platinum guest; Upgrade requested please; Thank you" is more than 45 characters, so it usually ends up looking like "Retg Plat Guest,u/g req/TYou". I also keep a list of the room numbers that I have been upgraded to in previous visits. That way, I can go in and say "last time I was in room 1015 and it was wonderful. Is it available tonight?" or something similar. |
I agree with taking a more aggressive approach. Some may not agree because they say why put in so much effort when an upgarde is "supposed" to happen anyway. But here's what has worked for me and it has resulted in upgrades to suites most of time when it's available despite the T&Cs.
On the day of arrival call the front desk and ask what kind of upgrades they have available for Platinum members. If you call before the day of arrival the typical response is it's based on availability and they don't know for sure until the day of arrival. If they offer the typical "we have upgraded you to the concierge floor" response, ask to see if they have anything better. Being on the concierge floor is no big deal, you have access to the lounge anyway, what's important is the size and location of the room. Ask for a larger room, corner room, room with a view, whatever your heart desires. If something better is available they will typically give it to you. They may give you a few types of rooms to choose from. If you are really set on getting a suite, ask for it. You'll be surprised at the response when there is availability. If they say nothing better is available, ask to speak to a front desk supervisor. They may be able to "unlock" certain rooms that a clerk cannot access. I got upgrades to Hospitality suites and Presidential suites this way. It also helps if you're a repeat or regular customer at a particular property. Get to know the management and they will take care of you. Please note this applies to the full service Marriotts, Rens, and some Courtyards. Good luck. |
Originally Posted by free_miles
I agree with taking a more aggressive approach. Some may not agree because they say why put in so much effort when an upgarde is "supposed" to happen anyway. But here's what has worked for me and it has resulted in upgrades to suites most of time when it's available despite the T&Cs.
On the day of arrival call the front desk and ask what kind of upgrades they have available for Platinum members. If you call before the day of arrival the typical response is it's based on availability and they don't know for sure until the day of arrival. If they offer the typical "we have upgraded you to the concierge floor" response, ask to see if they have anything better. Being on the concierge floor is no big deal, you have access to the lounge anyway, what's important is the size and location of the room. Ask for a larger room, corner room, room with a view, whatever your heart desires. If something better is available they will typically give it to you. They may give you a few types of rooms to choose from. If you are really set on getting a suite, ask for it. You'll be surprised at the response when there is availability. If they say nothing better is available, ask to speak to a front desk supervisor. They may be able to "unlock" certain rooms that a clerk cannot access. I got upgrades to Hospitality suites and Presidential suites this way. It also helps if you're a repeat or regular customer at a particular property. Get to know the management and they will take care of you. Please note this applies to the full service Marriotts, Rens, and some Courtyards. Good luck. While I certainly agree with your comments on the regular customer, the fact remains that to get to Marriott Platinum, you need 75 or more butt-in-bed nights. They don't have any shortcuts that I'm aware of. So, when you show up with that shiny platinum card, they know that you are a good Marriott customer. |
Originally Posted by BigLar
I'm taking my very first Marriott award stay in a couple of months at the Parc 55 in SFO. I will definitely use this approach and see what happens.
. In any event, you definitely want an upper floor corner room, concierge floor or not. Be prepared for some jaw-dropping views. ^ |
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