Starwood upgrade thread.

[Febs]

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

I've actually been meaning to ask - where do the new "Suite Night Rewards" land at Westin Melbourne? Do they apply for the suites up on lvl 7, or do they only get you a corner spa studio?

I spent ~6 months at Westin Melbourne last year and got a corner spa studio probably 2 out of every 3 weeks (was doing the Mon-Fri thing). Nice room (heck even their standard rooms are nice), but I wouldn't waste my 10 suite night rewards on it.

I did just use my first 2 suite night rewards for Sheraton Singapore, checking in later tonight. It's gone thhrough, so I'm keen to see what the room's are like. I often get suite upgrades in Asia anyway, but figured it's only 2 nights so I'll still have 8 left!

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Saji]

The sheraton S'pore is actually not among my favourite list of sheratons...its actually a very very old property. As an SPG plat they normally upgrade you to a room with a balcony which I think is on level 5. Nothing special at all. However, after a few visits, I kind of politely (read sacastically) told them I would happily forego my SPG Plat 'downgrade' . They then put me in a real suite...the suites are themed and that upgrade was fantastic. So do remember to ask them for something else if they give you an upgraded room on level 5.

 

[Ewing]

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.

That's odd.

I've never had a heritage room. Do you book heritage to begin with?

I've also had a suite upgrade once at Westin, but I suspect that was service recovery as I lodged a lengthy complaint with the GM on my previous stay. The bottle of champagne on ice was a welcome surprise when I got back to my room after attending a concert

Not an issue for me as I'm based in Sydney now. Of course that also meant I lost SPG Gold this year after having it since ~2007 as my regular stays in Sydney (Westin and Four Points) were what maintained it.

On that note - Four Points always treated me very well as a Gold (either that, or it's because of my regular stays there). I'd always book a city side room, but my reservation would *always* change to harbour side a day or two before my arrival. In recent years I also started getting a harbour suite ~50% of the time.

 

[Febs]

The sheraton S'pore is actually not among my favourite list of sheratons...its actually a very very old property. As an SPG plat they normally upgrade you to a room with a balcony which I think is on level 5. Nothing special at all. However, after a few visits, I kind of politely (read sacastically) told them I would happily forego my SPG Plat 'downgrade' . They then put me in a real suite...the suites are themed and that upgrade was fantastic. So do remember to ask them for something else if they give you an upgraded room on level 5.

Got a suite (one of the named ones, 4 poster bed etc) on lvl 19. Its nice, but obviously just 2 rooms joined together with a connecting door. Certainly not complaining, but I've had better suite upgrades at SPG properties in Asia (usually Westins).

It's not a young property, but as far as Sheratons go I think it's aged pretty well. I can think of many worse ones!!

 

[dfcatch]

That's odd.

I've never had a heritage room. Do you book heritage to begin with?

I've also had a suite upgrade once at Westin, but I suspect that was service recovery as I lodged a lengthy complaint with the GM on my previous stay. The bottle of champagne on ice was a welcome surprise when I got back to my room after attending a concert

Not an issue for me as I'm based in Sydney now. Of course that also meant I lost SPG Gold this year after having it since ~2007 as my regular stays in Sydney (Westin and Four Points) were what maintained it.

On that note - Four Points always treated me very well as a Gold (either that, or it's because of my regular stays there). I'd always book a city side room, but my reservation would *always* change to harbour side a day or two before my arrival. In recent years I also started getting a harbour suite ~50% of the time.

I would always book a standard tower guest room.

Always ended up with a Gold upgrade to Heritage.

Not Gold anymore though, and with Hilton Diamond it's hard to justify SPG again for the moment.

 

[AsterisK]

Upgraded to a suite room at Sheraton Park Lane in London. Shame the place smells funky.

Not as nice as my Westin room in Melbourne but oh well.

 

[AsterisK]

Upgraded to a suite room at Sheraton Park Lane in London. Shame the place smells funky.

Not as nice as my Westin room in Melbourne but oh well.

Had two bookings for this hotel, intending to go for a drive on the weekend in Germany, but cancelled those plans - asked at reception what the best way to change the booking is, and the staff member was extremely helpful - so much so, that I'm staying in the same upgraded suite room the whole way through

 

[burrco]

1 Night stay at Westin Melbourne - Cash & Points booking - upgraded to Deluxe City View Room. Couple of Crown Lagers (on ice) and nuts etc and card from GM waiting in room. I don't drink beer (please don't deport me) but the gesture was appreciated.

 

[AsterisK]

wtf burrco, I stay there every week, I'm an SPG Platinum 75, and never ONCE had the beer & nuts treatment. I'm gonna have to hit them up when I get in tonight!

 

[burrco]

wtf burrco, I stay there every week, I'm an SPG Platinum 75, and never ONCE had the beer & nuts treatment. I'm gonna have to hit them up when I get in tonight!

If you stay every week - have you introduced yourself to the GM, Debra? Just a quick note saying you're a regular guest and would love a quick chat if she has a moment - I'm sure she'd look after you going forward. She is very pro-active and one of the better Starwood GMs.

 

[burrco]

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.

Apparently very full. I was somewhat surprised/disappointed that they hadn't at least pre-booked me something with a better view - even if no real upgrade could be given. I also mentioned in the guest survey about the front entrance being completely unmanned at my departure - they told me that they reviewed the CCTV footage of my departure - and apologised. No big issue (it was early in the morning) but I'm not sure if I find them digging up footage of me departing as highly efficient or somewhat creepy/stalkerish - I didn't even know they knew who I was or what I looked like!

(sorry about double post - can't edit figure out how to combine)

 

[Febs]

If you stay every week - have you introduced yourself to the GM, Debra? Just a quick note saying you're a regular guest and would love a quick chat if she has a moment - I'm sure she'd look after you going forward. She is very pro-active and one of the better Starwood GMs.

Yep Debra is great. Long history with Westins too. Met her a few times when staying there for 40 nights last year.

Still no beer and nuts, but often a corner spa room.

 

[AsterisK]

Yep Debra is great. Long history with Westins too. Met her a few times when staying there for 40 nights last year.

Still no beer and nuts, but often a corner spa room.

I obviously haven't met Deb!! All the other staff know me by name, might be related to my very late check ins

 

[burrco]

Yep Debra is great. Long history with Westins too. Met her a few times when staying there for 40 nights last year.

Still no beer and nuts, but often a corner spa room.

That normally appears to be the tradeoff. Except for one time when I got a corner room and an awesome plate of macaroons, normally I get a corner room and no little gift or one of the other rooms and an occasional little gift - certainly not every stay, just enough to feel welcome but without creating a sense of expectation.

Also I don't stay 40 nights a year, normally have 6 - 8 leisure stays every year (probably since they opened) - so that help keeps the cost down! If you want to trade I'd be happy to exchange anything I get in return for a corporate rate at the hotel (esp. if it includes Valet Parking).

I obviously haven't met Deb!! All the other staff know me by name, might be related to my very late check ins

Other than Ian - I don't know any of the staff. Other than basically saying my name and getting my key (and getting my car brought up) , I don't think I've ever had any face to face interaction with any of them.

 

[drron]

Mixed results from using the new SPG suite nights award.has worked perfectly for the Sheraton amman-5 days out and now in an executive suite-booked cheapest pre paid rate.
But a total disaster with the Sheraton Atakoy,Istanbul.As soon as i aplied my upgrade award the booking was cancelled-spg techs couldn't get it to happen.however 3 emails from hotel saying they couldn't access internet reservations and i would have to book again.However after the first one I looked online and it showed no availability.Think I know how it happened but have no proof.so instead switching to the DT Old town even with alanslegal's report of small rooms.

 

[drron]

Have now checked in to the Sheraton Amman Al Nabil.
Impressed.Booked deluxe room on prepaid rate.
Got Executive suite-using suite night awards.
Arrived 0800 and was given a standard room to use until suite was available.
Complimentary brekkie in lounge or restaurant + normal amenity points-though mrsdrron wanted the local amenity-Dead Sea products.
4 bottles H2O,plate of choccies + a plate of local sweets.
Hand written welcome letter from GM.

 

[Alanslegal]

so instead switching to the DT Old town even with alanslegal's report of small rooms.

The Sheraton is wayyyyyy too far from all the tourist-y attractions so if that's what you are in IST for, so it's a good choice to move to the Doubletree where its walkable to most of the things people head to Istanbul for [if not, jump on the efficient tram line and you'll be around in no time].

 

[AFY]

Hi
Given Gold by Amex but never book any starwood.
Does gold holder have the lounge access or just free breakfast?
Any other benefits as Gold?
Thanks

 

[dajop]

Hi
Given Gold by Amex but never book any starwood.
Does gold holder have the lounge access or just free breakfast?
Any other benefits as Gold?
Thanks

Breakfast and lounge are not benefits of gold. The benefits are bonus starpoints (extra point per $ spent), late checkout 4pm, chance of a slightly better room (very maybe, subject to availability), and a welcome gift - several options).

 

[k3nnis]

I think there is free internet in the room for SPG Gold.