mlad1101

You've yet to address that you are a person of your word and benefited from something you are against, regardless of status. Being that your status didn't get you this room, a tip did, and you still didn't ask to be downgraded knowing it was a practice you don't agree with, and the only reason you got your room.(So I take it even if you don't agree with something you'll still use it if it can "bring you where you want." Stand up thing to do.)

SPG is a program, they don't own all of these hotels and at the end of the day the hotels can do whatever they want. Could it possibly be against they "spirit of the program," absolutely, but if SPG was to enforce it and cut off hotels that don't adhere to everything they would be left with almost no hotels in their program rendering the program useless.

As for your understanding of business practices, unless you were born yesterday you should know that business is RARELY fair. You may not like how the world turns but the reality of it is, money gets you places, someone with more money than you and who is more generous than you will receive more and better service than you and better perks. Fair or unfair it is a fact of life. (As you complaining to corporate and getting nowhere and nothing being changed should prove to you.)

taipeiflyer

sorry, but this is pretty twisted. that's like going and hiring illegals and then calling INS when it is time to pay out. you purposefully tried to reap the benefits of the tip, and then turned around and ratted the person out for giving you the benefit. and you want to talk about unfair business practices? look in the mirror buddy.

mahasamatman

It's basically a "sting". If someone is willing to take a bribe, they should be willing to accept the consequences.

taipeiflyer

sorry, but that should be left to law enforcement officials... and in a real sting, you dont keep the item you are negotiating for. NARC agents dont personally keep the drugs they acquire in a sting... big difference.

mahasamatman

That's one opinion, but if it's not a felony, they're not going to care.

I like the idea of reporting the desk agent to the IRS, too, just in case he's not reporting the additional income.

chanp

I've stayed here a handful of times with plt status every time. No upgrades ever.

Zurich Flyer

Always ask you if there is realy no complimentary suite upgrade for the status customer "available" and try the "trick with the tip". You will see, it can do wonders and "no availability" can turn into "oh sorry, Sir, I just found some nice upgrade in the system"

PS: Another bad habit of some US ho(s)tels, including the Westin Las Vegas, is that they (want to) charge you "resort fees". Do it as I do: Simply refuse to pay that. Period. It can save you lots of bucks.

sc flier

But the NARC agents aren't already owed the drugs. In this case, the hotel was supposed to give the upgrade to the Plat member without any runaround. I don't see how this is much different than those who, immediately after checking in without an upgrade, go online to check for availability at a suite and then call the front desk to demand it.

I've stayed at this hotel about a half dozen times. Most of the time, they were 1-night stays. I've never seen a suite there. Once when at the front desk for check-in, I asked if any suites were available. The clerk said, yes, but were not renting it tonight because the owner is coming tomorrow. That's technically within their right, but I'd have rather he just said, no, none are available tonight. I haven't stayed there again since they introduced their "service fee."

I just noticed this addition to their Announcements page:


This property is owned by Columbia Sussex, and they have a history of pushing the line with SPG. They own the following SPG hotels as well as hotels with most of the other major brands (especially Marriott):
Sheraton Baltimore - City Center
Sheraton Hotel Newark
Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
Westin Casuarina, Las Vegas
Westin St. Maarten
Westin Bristol Place, Toronto
Westin Casuarina, Grand Cayman
Westin Chicago Northwest
Westin New Orleans
Westin San Diego
Westin Tampa Harbour Island
Westin Washington DC

Westin Casuarina, Grand Cayman:
Westin St Maarten, Dawn Beach:
Westin Chicago Northwest:
There's a reason that Grand Cayman and St Maarten have not been high on my list of places to go with SPG!

OP, unless you're just staying there for the elite stay credit or got a really phenomenal rate, I would recommend that you stay somewhere else altogether. There are much better places to stay in Las Vegas. And you're more likely to get a random upgrade elsewhere -- even without status.

controller1

It would appear, based on the following, that the mods should change the title of the thread to include the answer: NO.

What's even more interesting is the following from their home page (emphasis added): In a city known for glitz and glamour, our 826 guest rooms and suites offer understated style and the utmost elegance.

However, I checked approximately 30 dates from tomorrow through June 2011 and no suites show as available for renting.

unavaca

What's up with the contempt for the $20 thing here? I regularly do the $20 (or sometimes $40 if I'm going to be there a few nights) in Vegas. It's more or less expected in Vegas. Nicely folded between your credit card and ID and you're good to go.

http://www.thetwentydollartrick.com/Hotels/

Also, I still can not justify staying at the Westin when Wynn, Encore, Venetian, Palazzo are significantly nicer, in most cases the same price if not cheaper, and on the strip.

It's generally accepted that if he can't/won't upgrade you, you'll get your $20 back. There are some bad apples there, but for the most part, they'll give you your money back.

mahasamatman

First-world countries are supposed to be beyond the bribery stage.

KSA_USA

maybe suites are not available because they are all leased for a long term? or maybe because of renovation?

last year I got a 2 room suite as an upgrade. it was a very basic Westin Suite.



I am not worried about the $20

i was just thinking to do what Zurich flyer did.

Exactly, once this cancer spread in a society then i guess we have to welcome you to our Third world.

Zurich Flyer

Are the USA still "first world"?

unavaca

Ehh, Vegas isn't really like anything else in this country. They use our currency and allow US citizens to enter without passports, but the that's about it. To me, it's perfectly acceptable in Vegas. I'm not going to be trying it at the Intercontinental Mark Hopkins, but it's fair game at the Wynn.

Keyser

same here....stayed here twice since becoming plat....no suites for me either....