Starwood upgrade thread.

[drron]

Four Points sydney.
Booked basic City side room.
Rate-Z2R-$160.
Received-Deluxe King darling harbour view on top floor.
Newly renovated room.
No letter,no water,had to have internet taken off bill.
First 6 stays here-suite upgrade.Last 6 only 1 suite upgrade.The Monkees come to mind-

Seems the more I stay the less I get
What's the use in trying?
All you get is pain
When I needed sunshine I got rain

 

[drron]

Sheraton Carlsbad Resort.
Booked-standard king.
Rate-$US162 all up.Z3R.
Received-Sea view King on club floor.
I bottle H2O per day.

W Hollywood.
Booked standard king room.
Rate-$US329.
Received Marvellous suite.
2 bottles H2O per day.
Overbooked hotel-couple before us turned away when we checked in,another couple tonight.

 

[dajop]

Great Wall Sheraton Beijing
Booked- deluxe king
Recieved - standard suite
Club lounge access, 4+ water bottles per day

Hongta Hotel, Shanghai
Booked - Deluxe king
Received - Grand Luxe suite
Club lounge access, multiple water, 50% off minbar

Le Royal Meridien, Shanghai
Booked - Deluxe king
Received - Grande Deluxe king
Club lounge access, multiple water

Sheraton Seoul D Cube City
Booked - Deluxe king
Received - Executive suite
Club lounge access, multiple water
Welcome gift - bottle of Eaglehawk wine and a 75th anniv promo chocolate
Fantastic room(s) great view from bath overlooking Seoul from 34th floor

 

[KitKat]

Sheraton On The Park, Sydney
Booked: Hyde Park view room
Upgrade: Executive Suite

*checked in by manager, given info sheet on platinum privileges - club lounge access, platinum amenity choices, late check out
*actually my second upgrade to an Executive Suite - first was two years ago when I was SPG nuthin' (really lucky then?)
Much appreciated upgrade

 

[dajop]

Sheraton on The Park, Sydney
Booked: City King
Received: Parkview King with Exec Floor access

Westin Sydney
Booked: Superior King
Received: Premium King with Exec Floor access

Aloft Bangkok
Booked: Chic King
Received: Urban King (not sure if any difference, other than side of hotel)
As expected, minimal recognition/benefits for Aloft , but I was only at hotel to sleep (9am-6am on both nights).

Four Points Sheraton, Bangkok
Booked: Comfort King
Received: Comfort King, with welcome gift of biscuits, plus Happy Hour (free drinks) in Beer Vault, and free breakfast
Checked online night before arriving, only selling basic room type, plus bellboy mentioned they were at 100% occupancy when taking bags to room

 

[Alanslegal]

Four Points Sheraton, Bangkok
Booked: Comfort King
Received: Comfort King, with welcome gift of biscuits, plus Happy Hour (free drinks) in Beer Vault, and free breakfast
Checked online night before arriving, only selling basic room type, plus bellboy mentioned they were at 100% occupancy when taking bags to room

I was there last week 27/11 - 1/12 and the hotel was also full. My girlfriend checked under her name/booking in on 22/11 - 1/12 and as expected was assigned the room she booked as a SPG nobody. As I arrived later, the hotel kindly allowed me to enjoy the Platinum benefits during my stay which mirrors what they offered you. I have stayed at this hotel half a dozen times now and I think I am getting bored of it Next stay will be the W Bangkok when it opens. However FWIW the St Regis Bangkok is fantastic. Highly recommend a stay there if the rate is right

Aloft Bangkok
Booked: Chic King
Received: Urban King (not sure if any difference, other than side of hotel)
As expected, minimal recognition/benefits for Aloft , but I was only at hotel to sleep (9am-6am on both nights).

Generally there are no upgrades at Alofts. A while ago I stayed at the ALoft Dallas Downtown and received a suite, that was a few years ago

However this Bangkok property does offer free breakfasts to Platinums and the range is quite good. Probably close to Four Points I think.

 

[drron]

Sheraton Galleria Dallas.
Booked junior suite.
Received junior suite on executive floor.
Rate-$US143(same as basic room-was a mistake rate)
Plus 2 bottles of water,breakfast + points,exec lounge

 

[dajop]

I have stayed at this hotel half a dozen times now and I think I am getting bored of it Next stay will be the W Bangkok when it opens. However FWIW the St Regis Bangkok is fantastic. Highly recommend a stay there if the rate is right

St Regis has never had the right rate for me unfortunately. I tend to prefer the Le Meridien, had nice suite upgrades, enjoy happy hour in the bar (good drinks, some OK food supplemented by reasonably priced - pay for kebab style sticks), and pretty good breakfast (love the frozen yoghurt with berries). Unfortunately this trip the Le Meridien was full/ almost 2x 4 pts, bit difficult to justify unfortunately.

 

[drron]

Westin Tokyo
Booked basic king.
Rate Z4R-19750Y
Received larger corner king.
Plus free earthquake thrown in.

SGS Bangkok
Booked basic king.
Rate Z6R 4400 Baht.
Received Grande suite-the overture suite for the 4th time out of 10 stays.
+ brekkie,laundry,internet,water,fruit bowl,personal letter from Asst GM.

 

[cmon0005]

Westin Fiji
Booked on prepaid rate, Deluxe Garden View room
Upgraded at Checkin to Ocean Front room

 

[drron]

Sheraton On The Park,Sydney.
Booked City View king.
received Executive Suite
Rate-$270
Plus all regular bennies,breakfast in lounge.

 

[burrco]

Well my first outing for the year wasn't a success.

Sheraton on The Park - Sydney

Booked: City View King
Given: City (Alleyway/wall) View King

Given lounge access which I didn't use - also couldn't find any free water in the room.

First (and likely last stay) here - will go back to the Westin, although I find them tight with the upgrades I feel it is a better overall hotel.

 

[drron]

Well my first outing for the year wasn't a success.

Sheraton on The Park - Sydney

Booked: City View King
Given: City (Alleyway/wall) View King

Given lounge access which I didn't use - also couldn't find any free water in the room.

First (and likely last stay) here - will go back to the Westin, although I find them tight with the upgrades I feel it is a better overall hotel.

I also have found the SOTP pretty lousy with upgrades and have also had that concrete wall view room.Last time though did get a suite.
Re water-they no longer leave water out but plats are allowed 2 bottles from the minibar,I think per day.Of course they dont tell you this on checkin,only on checkout when you complain.

 

[burrco]

I also have found the SOTP pretty lousy with upgrades and have also had that concrete wall view room.Last time though did get a suite.
Re water-they no longer leave water out but plats are allowed 2 bottles from the minibar,I think per day.Of course they dont tell you this on checkin,only on checkout when you complain.

Good to know for future reference. I really hate it when Hotels pull little tricks like that.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Upgrade at Four Points Sydney last wk, moved to Harbour View booked lowest available rate, free water pointed out on check-in...
Last two times at SOTP upgraded to a suite and used conference room in the executive lounge for two hours.

 

[cmon0005]

I also have found the SOTP pretty lousy with upgrades and have also had that concrete wall view room.Last time though did get a suite.
Re water-they no longer leave water out but plats are allowed 2 bottles from the minibar,I think per day.Of course they dont tell you this on checkin,only on checkout when you complain.

Gee Australian Hotels suck in general. I am almost embarrassed for overseas visitors coming here to see coughpy old building/rooms/high prices/poor service/dirty rooms/no access to free bottled water or at best a filter tap in each room. *sigh*

 

[burrco]

Sheraton Mirage Gold Coast

5 Nights
Booked: Resort King Room (Advanced Purchase prepaid rate $270)
Given: Corner Spa Room

Hotel was sold out of all rooms, but standard suites did appear available on the website.

Extras: Note from Manager, 2 Bottles of water daily (These were replaced even when I hadn't finished the others - had quite a collection by the end of the stay), platinum breakfast amenity was the full buffet breakfast.

 

[burrco]

Some recent stays:

(All one night)
Sheraton on The Park (despite earlier vow) - Standard Room Booked upgraded to Park View, could have had a suite if I wanted to wait for the room.
Westin Sydney - Standard Room Booked - "upgraded" to room on higher floor.
Sheraton Gateway LAX - Standard Room Booked - no upgrade given, request for runway view denied.

W Union Square New York (6 Nights) - Booked Fantastic Suite - no upgrade as this is the highest suite category in the upgrade pool. Received hand written note and huge plate of cupcakes,sweets,toffee apples and two bottles of sparkling water.

Westin Grand Central New York (1 Night) Points stay, upgraded one category to "deluxe" room. Late checkout originally denied as hotel "full" (it wasn't). Showed a bit of New York Attitude and politely expressed the opinion that the Hotel's occupancy wasn't of any interest to me, that I would be using the room to 4.00pm and if they wanted me out earlier the Front Office Manager can call me and explain why his/her property doesn't follow SPG requirements. Five minutes after getting to the room, new keys with 4.00pm checkout programmed delivered.

W Union Square New York (2 Nights) Booked Studio Suite - upgraded one category to Fantastic Suite.

 

[dajop]

Some stays I've had in last few weeks as SPG Plat:

Grosvenor House, Dubai -(cash and points, 2 nights) - booked Deluxe Room, received Deluxe Suite with lounge access. This hotel had the best spread in the lounge that I've seen in any SPG or Hilton chain hotel, makes Hilton KL or BKK Hilton/Conrad look almost ordinary. Afternoon tea was really a lunchtime extravaganza. Great stay.

Four Points, Bur Dubai(cash, 1 night) - booked standard received executive room
W Chicago (cash, 1 night)- booked wonderful room, received Spectacular room. Free drink in bar to value of $15.
Sheraton Clayton Plaza, St Louis booked Cozy room, received Suite with Club access
Sheraton Westport Plaza, St Louis booked Superior, received Club Deluxe
Sheraton Brooklyn New York​, booked standard, received Club

 

[Deleted member 29185]

Status: Base cough
Property: Sheraton Mirage - Port Douglas
Date: 10 March 2013
Booked: Garden View (double double)
Received: King Lagoon View
Rate: $198

Overall, we loved this stay. The resort is certainly showing signs of age but predominantly this is due to lack of maintenance. The room was very nice (dated, but nice) and the resort was very comfortable over all.

This stay was a spur of the moment decision and whilst driving past we checked Wotif and found a rate of $169 so pulled in. We approached check-in and enquired about best rate and was told $198. Mentioned the Wotif rate and he immediately matched it (it wasn't until later I read they should have given me 2000 starpoints as well). The rate was for a double double garden view and we said we preferred a king configuration. It wasn't available at that rate but he did offer us a king garden view for $198, which we accepted (the original offer), but then informed us we'd have to wait until 3.00pm check-in time as all rooms were still occupied (which we also accepted). I let it slip (intentionally) during our ensuing conversation that we were top tier Hilton and IHG members and suddenly he suggested he found us an available king lagoon view room which he was happy to upgrade us to. My wife still chuckles about how obvious the change of tune was, but I was very happy....early check-in (about 10am) and a lagoon view king room all at base level status.

Internet was free in the office in the lobby (nice facilities), dinner was acceptable (only one restaurant choice, the other was closed) and breakfast we took over at Marina Mirage so can't comment on the hotel breakfast.

We were told they intended to renovate this resort (it does need modernising), similar to SM Gold Coast, but to be honest, this is a great property for a great rate and we're very keen to return for an extended stay. Out dated, yes, but still beats the only Hilton resort in Au (Gold Coast) by a country mile! We loved lounging around the multitude of lagoon pools, loved the swim up bar, really liked the huge foyer areas for relaxing with a book and the room was big and nicely laid out. Unpack the pressure cleaner, buy a few thousand cans of paint (some other colour than pink salmon) and change the tarnished gold fittings for nice gunmetal chrome and this resort could return to one of the best AU offers.

Lots of future potential but also currently very enjoyable.