I was re-reading the terms on the Elite Gold/Platinum today and noticed this:

Has this always been this way where you will not be upgraded to a suite? Or is this something new? I always thought an upgrade was a suite lol..

I think they changed the wording last year because so many elites were complaining about not getting suites even though they were showing as available on-line.

An upgrade could be:

Room with a water view (Chicago Ren)

Corner room

C-level room

Doesn't mean you will never get a suite though. I got the Pres.Suite(size of about four regular rooms) at the downtown KC Marriott a few months ago. Last year I got the Penthouse Suite at the Des Moines Ren and a Suite at the DEN airport Marriott.

I've been given suites a few other times but I cannot remember at which properties. I get a suite about twice a year which is less than 1% of the time, pretty long odds.

I think it was a couple of years back that this was changed. It was the topic of some rather heated discussions here - check into a hotel, no upgrade, check on-line, suites available. They fixed it by eliminating suites from upgrades.

I've been SPG PLT since then...

I've gotten a suite upgrade 3 times recently....had to ask at check-in for the upgrade to get 2 of those. So I guess - ask and see if they hook you up.

Also find it's very property dependant. I've gotten quite a few as of late. I never ask, I'm ok if they give me a decent room every week.

I have found that I get upgraded to suites more frequently on award trips to Europe.

In general, I haven't seen too many upgrades in the past year- suites or otherwise. As an exception, the Wentworth by the Sea upgraded me to their best suite for several days in August. I thinks others who posted here had the same experience but that's one of the reasons we chose that property.

I got a suite this week at the Marriott Birmingham. The hotel was full and I had paid for C leverl so the suite was probably all that was left.

I love the Wentworth. I think it is one of the unsung treasures of the Marriott chain. I will return and return to this property.

We were there last fall, and there were a number of weddings in the hotel. All the suites were booked by the bridal couples.

I usually get a suite, but then, I will ask for it.

I have had a very good record getting suite upgrades at JW Mariotts--presidential suite in Rio, and "regular suites" in Tuscon, Camelback, Scottsdale and Las Vegas. Only in one instance (Camelback) did I have to ask for it.

As others have stated, Marriott added the "suites not included" text a couple of years ago. But there is nothing that stops a particular hotel from upgrading someone to a suite room should they choose to do so. I would suggest that there are some steps that one could do that might "enhance" your chances though.

First, the longer the stay, the less likely one is to get a suite upgrade. Most of the times I have been upgraded have been on less than 4 night stays, though there have been exceptions. I would also guess that the higher one's elite status is, the better the chance. So stay more nights and get the better elite level. I have found it helpful to find out the name and email address of the general manager. Send the GM an email and let them know you are coming. Almost everytime I have emailed the GM, I have received some type of upgrade (though not necessarily a suite upgrade). So that will help. When you check in, ask at the front desk. It never hurts and the worst they can say is there are none available. There have been discussions in the past about whether checking in early or late is better, but I personally haven't found any correlation with check-in time.

And finally, have a smile on your face, be personable with everyone, and don't act like you are intitled to anything. And it can be especially helpful if you can get them to smile back at you.

My view has been that once Marriott made me Plat and told me how special I was (and before they told me I was really really special as Plat Prem ), that I want to see if they treat me that way. If I ask for upgrades I have no idea whether the property has a clue what to do with Plats and Plat Prem.

The upside to this is most times they mess up, such as I put in my reservations that I want to be away from the ice machine and elevator. When I'm going to the same property they may mess up the 1st or 2nd time but by the 3rd stay they usually figure out they need to straighten up.

Wound up in the Presidential Suite in Vienna when they gave me a really bad room while I was on vacation.

Contrary to the strategy of calling the GM ahead of time, I'll train their staff to realize that they need to know who is checking into their hotel that night (i.e. formerly how many Plat's and now how many Plat Prem). Since the front desk staff many times gets sweet talked into giving out upgrades to golds that check in early in the evening (sorry I'm sitting on 141 nights so far this year so I spend more nights in Marriott beds than at home in my own bed).

I have had 100+ nights this year at FS Marriott properties. 70+ of my nights have been at one property where I have always been by DEFAULT been upgraded to a suite in advance. At other FS Marriott property where I have had about 10 nights I have always been upgraded at check in when I have mentioned that I would prefer more spacious room even if it is not on the club floor and referred to my previous stays.

As with Marriott and Hilton where suite upgrades are NOT officially part of the program I don't typically get upgraded to suites at properties where I am staying at for the first time and do not know the personnel who are working there.

I was upgraded to Suites 5 out of 6 times in 2 Renaissance in Dallas during the past 2 months as both Gold ( last month) and PLT (this month)

In the last two years, I've not received any upgrade to a suite. Hope my luck would change next year