Why are Suite Upgrades so Important to You?
 

I ssem to be in the mood for philosophical posts this weekend, so here goes one more.

One of the benefits of top tier in hotel programs is the upgrade to a suite. [More often than no, though, it may just be a best room available and/or club/exec floor with lounge privileges.]

For me, a suite is a touch indulgence from time to time, and particularly when I am travelling with a friend [or spouse when I was so attached]. But most of the time, when I am only staying a night or two at a property, I would actually prefer the upgrade to a better room and club/exec floor lounge benefits. Size really isn't a bit issue for me. Same goes with rental cars, I actually prefer a smaller vehicle for a variety of similarly arcane reasons. Cadillacs, Lincolns and Crysler Imperials are more of a problem than benefit.

I know it is all personal, but I am curious why the hotel suite holds such a mystique for people here. Is it a reflection of status? Is it a really functional space [which I can see if I want to hold business meetings in my room]?

[And no, when it comes to flying, an upgrade to the front cabin and the extra space and amenities this offers actually means something to me, so I take a very different view of these, than I do of suites and large cars.]

With respect to the suite, if I'm not travelling alone, or am having guests over, or will be eating in the room, a suite is nice. Especially if there is a second bathroom (or 1/2 bath). More often than not though its when I'm travelling alone that I get the suite... In some hotels the suites seem to be better "tended" to in the dept of toiletries, robes, etc. I think it really does show "we appreciate your business" however, and is a no-cost item to the hotel if the room is going to go empty. There are some particular hotels where having a suite upgrade is nice because (one comes to mind) they are corner rooms on high floors with sweeping vistas in 2 directions. But really in all the years of rooms and suites I have had, and I can recall several very nice suites, only 2 stand out as truly memorable and impressive - the W (SF) and the Plaza. I could have moved in to either. I tend to agree that in a hotel with a lounge level, access to that is generally more important.

With resepct to the cars, I generally prefer a smaller car - so long as the AC works well and there's a respectable audio system in it.

Whenever I'm doing a seminar or traveling with my wife I prefer to have a suite for entertainment or when with my spouse, for the ability to not disturb her (we have very different sleeping habits - I sleep a little, she sleeps a lot http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif )

When I am traveling a lone (majority of the time) I still like to have a suite because it gives me a feeling of comfort and small touch of being home. When you have 2-3 rooms you're able to eat/work in one room, relax in another and sleep in a different room. Unfortunately when I really need a suite (for entertaining, etc.) I end up with a standard room. I have been successful in getting a suite when I have a group with me by promising the sales manager that I will order food into the room. The two largest suites that I've ever received were in Dallas and Atlanta - traveling alone. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif

When it comes to vehicles, there are certain large vehicles that I do not like. However I typically prefer a larger car. I don't drive a compact car at home and don't like to drive a compact car on the road. I rent a lot from Hertz and have gotten to know the managers at the locations I frequent. So if it's available I can usually plan on getting a luxury car or a larger SUV. I prefer the SUVs in unknown cities for the added visibility when I'm on the road.

I may be in the minority here, but I don't like suites (when traveling alone) and turn down upgrades to them when offered. They're just too darn big. I leave things all over, whatever I put down is always at the other end of the place when I want it, so is the bathroom, and I just plain don't need it.

For what it's worth to FT psychoanalysts, I also drive a compact car. It's not to save a few bucks - I can afford any car I want within reason, it's a BMW, and it's not stripped - but I like its performance, its agility and its overall sportiness.

I just got a suite at St. Francis, and was there a week. It was nice to get it, but frankly I really don't need a suite - and the better TV was in the sitting room. Since I often am not there too much until late at night, it would be more convenient to have a big TV by the bed.

I generally like a suite, but don't care all that much, so it isn't something I'm going to fight for.

As long as I am traveling alone I am very happy with a nice room and exec lounge access if available. If my wife is with me I prefer a suite because if I get up at night or early in the morning I can watch TV in the living room with out disturbing her in the bedroom. Makes for a happier trip.

I also regularly turn down hotel suites when traveling alone. Especially at hotels that know me and usually offer a suite as a matter of course (LAX Four Points as a main example).

I usually say something like, "Give it to someone else this time that might really appreciate it.

I think the front desk staff appreciate the gesture and handing the suite back to them, and this could actually help on those occasions when I really want one.

But to answer the question on the title of this thread, they are only important when traveling with my ladyfriend.

I'm the airline whore. She's the hotel whore. http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/wink.gif

David, I totally agree with you. To me it isn't really important unless I'm travelling with my husband and will be at that property for a couple of days. Generally I arrive at a hotel (when traveling on business) after 8 pm and leave at 5 or 6 am-- so the important thing to me is a nice, comfortable room -- perhaps on the club floor. If it is that important, I'll pay extra and reseve it in advance (as I will with Butler/Tower floors at Starwood).
What annoys me is when I pay for the club floor and it's closed and no one at the hotel tells me until after I've checked in http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif-
Even though I've called in advance and re-checked my reservation!

I'm the same as most of the posters - when on business I get in late, leave early. As long as it's clean and quiet it's OK. If I get the club level I'm happy.

Cars - any 4 door sedan made in the US and larger than a Taurus rented by Hertz is more of a hassle than a help unless I really need the space. The suspensions are all made for 80 year old drivers so you feel like you're piloting a boat whenever you get the car over 60 mph.

BTW - if no one here really cares about the suites why are they full all the time? http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

You must be working on my project http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif I normally spend 6 hours total per night in my room.

I couldn't agree more on the cars. Hertz used to push the Mercury Grand Marquis and I always declined that "upgrade".

SteveH

I say this only half in jest: when I get a suite, I know I've been upgraded! Many times I'm left wondering if I've been upgraded at all (of course, I could always ask, but I don't think we're supposed to have to ask).

I, too, only care about a suite in certain instances- when I'm on vacation, when I'm traveling with others (even if we have separate rooms, it's nice to have the sleeping quarters separate so I don't feel like I'm hanging out in a bedroom with co-workers when we congregate), or if it's a super-nice hotel and the suite is something to write home about.

The last few times I've been upgraded at the W LA, I've been upgraded to the same "cyber" suite- a large three room suite on the NW corner (nice views to the North and West). "Problem" is that the third room is extraneous- except that's where they have the desk and phone/data port, but no TV. so, I have to chose between computer and TV- a tough choice for someone nicknamed "multi-media man" by some of my college friends!

I'd much rather have an upgraded room that has a superior view than simply get a suite.

I find, like some of the other posters, that there's just too much room. My stuff tends to expand to fill the available space. If too much space, I run the risk of losing something when I leave.

A match made in Heaven, IMHO! http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif



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A gentleman always respects a lady's wishes.

As a female, when traveling alone, I really don't like a suite--too many extra doors to make sure are locked, etc. In fact, it can be a bit spooky, especially if adjoining rooms are rented out. Last time I was upgraded to a suite, I ended up locking the door between my room and the living room at night just to feel a bit safer.

Howdy folks,

Here's a dissenting opionon for ya'll. I generally get in late, and leave early.

But - My average hotel stay is most likely 3 nights. Generally, I get back to the room around 7pm and go to sleep around midnight.

A suite allows me to eat dinner with the Television to the channel I want, with a table and chairs to spread my work out on, followed by catching up on some reading on the couch. When I'm ready, I retire to the bed.

Having a table and chair to eat and work at, along with a full couch to relax/work on; makes my 5 hours each night more productive than when I'm cramped into a single room, with a tiny desk at best. In the morning, I brew a pot of coffee and get an hour or two of work in before I reach the client site (I generally get up at 6am).

So for me, when I'm traveling alone on business, I really appreciate the suite.

Oddly enough - when my wife travels with me, that's when I don't care about the suite. The only time I'm in the room with her is when we're in bed - breakfast is out in a resturant, or a picnic. After dinner, we do things - see the local sites, etc... Not being in the room much, I don't have the time to appreciate anemities in the room as much, so they are then of a lesser concern to me.

Keep the faith,

Pakse

I prefer lounge access to suite upgrades.

While I agree with Pakse, for me there's an even better reason to like a suite -- silence.

Given that most hotels regularly train their housekeeping and other staff in the best way to slam a door, how to set walkie-talkie volume to maximum, and how to scream a conversation from one end of the hallway to the other, having an additional layer of "soundproofing" between the public areas and the sleeping area typically makes the the bedroom a great deal quieter. But I'd rather have a quieter standard room than a noisier suite.

'Course, if I really had my 'druthers, I'd like to see a prefect or hall monitor with an electric cattle prod.

[This message has been edited by Ken hAAmer (edited 06-10-2002).]

I've never asked for a suite upgrade - and I'm still waiting for my first suite upgrade (~200 nights per year in a hotel). I've the same working pattern as described by the most posters above: arrive late in the room (~19:00), leave early in the morning (~06:30, after breakfast). So I also prefer that suites are given to guests who stay longer and/or work in the room. More important for me is a room on the non-smoking floor.
During holiday I often stay longer in the room or come back several times a day to relax. A bigger room may be a plus but superior would be a room with a nice view (and late check-out if necessary). Breakfast is always (leisure or business trip) very important; I rarely book a room without breakfast included. Lounge access during leisure trips would be nice.

I rarely rent a car (I prefer public transport + cabs). Car rental has become quite expensive in recent years. Though the upgrade of the car is free of charge, there are other higher costs as a result of the upgrade e.g. gas (gas in Germany is expensive).

I agree with PremEx. Suites are only important for me when I share the room with a lady, else I would rather get other perks.

I can give up all the other amenities of a hotel (restaurant, fitness center, meeting rooms, etc.) for more space. When I'm travelling with colleagues, it's nice because we can just get some beverages from the corner mini-mart and talk without having to go find a bar. When I'm alone, I still like the abilty to pace (especially when there's a cordless phone in the room) and to spread out and order room service.

I prefer a room with club/executive floor privileges. I generally arrive late in the evening and leave early the next morning.

When traveling with family or friends however, that is a different matter. I love the extra space to spread out all the junk (the Pupster does not travel light http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/frown.gif) and its a really nice feeling when the family/friends ooh and ahh about how nice our accomodations are compared to theirs.

So where's the problem here?

If you want club level benefits, ask to be upgraded to the club level. If you want a suite, ask for one. Obviously there are instances where one type of upgrade is going to be more important for you than the other.

But, I don't see a problem with the current system. Someone, in another forum, was suggesting that hotels limit the number of suite upgrades they give out. Where's the logic in that?

d

folks, arriving at 19:00 is NOT late http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

I would love to get back to hotel at 7PM. As with most opinions here, I prefer lounge benefits etc over a suite except when traveling with someone else or on vacation.

Someone asked above, if we all prefer non-suites, why are they always full? I'd like to know hte reasoning too.

Yep! As David and others note, usually the Ex Lounge, not a suite, is my personal "perk of choice!" http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by doc (edited 06-10-2002).]

Even when traveling with someone, the lounge is the benefit of choice.

Suites would be important for me if I was sharing the room with a lady, but even more important if I was sharing with another man. In fact, a 2-bedroom suite would be preferable.

Come to think of it, if I was sharing the room with a lady, I might well prefer a studio, with a small bed. A single small bed.

Unless of course, that lady was my wife.

(That's no lady...)

Ken,

Nice one, you made my whole office laugh then!

Lounge access is more important to me, as well but I appreciate the extra room of the suite when offered. Often when I'm on the road, my preference is to spend a few hours working from my hotel room at night rather than staying at the office really late.

As for cars, I still remember the first time when I had an economy reservation when they gave me a 'complimentary' upgrade to a cadillac because it was the only car they had, and wasn't it great I was getting this bargain. I absolutely hated that thing, it drove like a tank. I ate in the hotel every night that trip because the car was just too much, a bear to drive and a worse one to park.

Well, call me crazy, but I like big cars and hotel rooms.

I stay in hotels mostly on weekends when club lounges are closed anyway.

The only hotels in which I'd choose the club level over a suite are Ritz Carltons, because their club lounges, food and beverages are actually worthwhile, as opposed to a lot of other places that charge you for everything.

d