Starwood upgrade thread.

[ron_d]

How does the JW marriott in JL compare to the westin?

Not sure - I've not used Marriott - I'm only a silver member under the Marriott's rewards programme. The outside of the hotel does look fancier then Westin - if that's an indication of better facility.

 

[ron_d]

Thanks a lot for that! I didn't know you had to book through an affiliated site... I assume hotelclub.com is not an affiliate site

Do you think that I should call the hotel and let them know of my membership number?

Wouldn't hurt to quote them your number - I can't stress Alanslegal point - the booking must not be done through most of the online booking sites - hotelclub, wotif, lastminute etc. I say most - there are exceptions - Amex Corporate travel being one.

For future reference - make use of SPG's Best rate guarantee - where SPG promises to guarantee to match the best price of any online site out there. This way, you'll get the benefit of being SPG member and better price - including free gift, for being SPG Gold.

 

[serfty]

...
Do you think that I should call the hotel and let them know of my membership number?

You can always try; don't tell them how you booked it - some things can slip through the cracks.

Having posted that, don't be disappointed if it doesn't work - make the most of your stay anyway.

 

[Alanslegal]

Do you think that I should call the hotel and let them know of my membership number?

I wouldn't bother calling. I would just present your card at check-in, ask them to add your number "for incidental points", smile, ask "is there any chance of an upgrade/very nice room?", smile again. Hopefully that will do the trick and any benefits is a bonus, but otherwise, expect to receive no benefits as per the program for third party bookings.

For future reference - make use of SPG's Best rate guarantee - where SPG promises to guarantee to match the best price of any online site out there. This way, you'll get the benefit of being SPG member and better price - including free gift, for being SPG Gold.

I use this quite a bit so it works out for me. However do have a back-up reservation just in case you can't get a successful BRG claim through.

 

[ric_melb]

Totally agree with Alanslegal approach. But in future its good to remember that if you want to earn SPG points, and get the upgrade benefits etc of SPG Gold, its best to book on the SPG site.

 

[drron]

Currently staying at 4 points Sydney.
Booked standard king city view.
Upgraded to harbour view Balcony Suite.
Received full buffet breakfast as new plat benefit-sacrificing 250 bonus points for 4 brekkies a no brainer.

 

[AsterisK]

Currently staying at 4 points Sydney.
Booked standard king city view.
Upgraded to harbour view Balcony Suite.
Received full buffet breakfast as new plat benefit-sacrificing 250 bonus points for 4 brekkies a no brainer.

Westin Melbourne, same deal, booked standard rate room (think it was even twin single beds), and got upgraded to a City View room with King.
First timer on the platinum brekkie, and loving it.

Double bonus, I get mobile reception in this room. Westin Melbourne has TERRIBLE mobile reception in the standard rooms, as they are on the inside of the hotel and block all reception.

 

[dajop]

Sheraton Saigon, Platinum. On arrival didn't seem to have noticed my status (this seems to be a problem at hotels I have stayed before in on a lower status, but I digress), but soon corrected.

Upgraded to Suite.
Club Floor Access (good evening canapies, including good range of sushi, other savoury items and good cakes)
Breakfast in lounge or cafe (I chose lounge, as I had flight quick was best)
Pressing of several items on arrival. (didn't use)
500 pts welcome amenity

 

[Alanslegal]

Sheraton Saigon, Platinum. On arrival didn't seem to have noticed my status (this seems to be a problem at hotels I have stayed before in on a lower status, but I digress), but soon corrected.

I also stayed at the Sheraton Saigon 2-6 March 2012.

Booked standard room and was upgraded to a Club Studio which around ~45sqm.

We had the breakfast in the restaurant cafe and the spread was pretty good, definitely more than enough variety for anyone's taste.

 

[k_sheep]

Sheraton Kuala Lumpur, gold. "upgraded" to twin towers view (for those not famililar with the location, it just means you get a better view of the boring building blocking the tower view). 4pm checkout offered automatically without prompting.

 

[AsterisK]

upgraded from lowest corporate rate room, to a corner city view room at Westin Melbourne this week. not a suite room, but I'd imagine it's similar. larger room, better view, spa bath, nothing much different. was still pleased

 

[burrco]

upgraded from lowest corporate rate room, to a corner city view room at Westin Melbourne this week. not a suite room, but I'd imagine it's similar. larger room, better view, spa bath, nothing much different. was still pleased

The spa studio room is the best upgrade available at this hotel (no standard suites) - so you did well!

 

[AsterisK]

They have suites available on level 7 of the building too, are they different?? (they are actually labelled as suites, after all)

 

[burrco]

They have suites available on level 7 of the building too, are they different?? (they are actually labelled as suites, after all)

Yep on the top floor they have the 2 regent suites - these are classified as speciality suites and are not part of the standard upgrade pool.

 

[AsterisK]

Yep on the top floor they have the 2 regent suites - these are classified as speciality suites and are not part of the standard upgrade pool.

oh well I'll have to burn some of my suite nights then!!

 

[burrco]

Westin Sydney: Booked a standard room and given a no view room on the 6th floor. Request for a room on a higher floor (let alone an upgrade) was denied. The staff in the executive lounge were able to give me a heritage room instead.

 

[AsterisK]

Off to Sheraton Park Lane in London for two weeks, hopefully get a nice upgrade Just got my Platinum 75 also.

 

[Ewing]

Westin Sydney: Booked a standard room and given a no view room on the 6th floor. Request for a room on a higher floor (let alone an upgrade) was denied. The staff in the executive lounge were able to give me a heritage room instead.

I checked in there once and the front desk person very proudly said that I'd been given an upgrade to a "deluxe room".

The problem of course was that I'd booked a deluxe room.

Having said that, I'm surprised that as an SPG Plat you didn't get something decent unless the hotel was full. I used to stay there around once a month as an SPG Gold, and standard procedure was to book a standard room but I'd always get at least deluxe, and I can't remember the last time I was below the 20th floor.

 

[dajop]

Convento do Espinheiro Hotel & Spa, Evora, Portugal: (Luxury Collection), booked two standard rooms as SPG Platinum. 1 upgraded to design room, one upgraded to deluxe design room with spa bath and sitting area. This is a fantastic hotel built in and around an old convento (monastery) and royal "hotel", that underwent significant renovation when converted to hotel, and was well worth the excursion from Lisbon. Has both classically furnished and modern rooms, we were upgraded to the modern design rooms, definitely more to my liking. Also received breakfast in the restaurant, which is in the convents old wine cellar, and quite an amazing setting.

Sheraton Singapore (last day to use free night voucher, so had a "staycation" - alas didn't get chance to use again at W Bali!), booked standard room upgraded to Club Room with Lounge access. Reasonable range of F&B

 

[dfcatch]

I checked in there once and the front desk person very proudly said that I'd been given an upgrade to a "deluxe room".

The problem of course was that I'd booked a deluxe room.

Having said that, I'm surprised that as an SPG Plat you didn't get something decent unless the hotel was full. I used to stay there around once a month as an SPG Gold, and standard procedure was to book a standard room but I'd always get at least deluxe, and I can't remember the last time I was below the 20th floor.

As an SPG Gold, they would always give me a heritage room. Once I asked to stay in the tower and they insisted that the heritage rooms were nicer. Meh.