2024 How To Get Upgraded At Marriott Hotels

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Secrets to Securing Marriott Hotel Upgrades

When you make a Marriott reservation, do you picture yourself in opulent suites with exceptional amenities? Are you unsure if those coveted upgrades are real or fake?

This in-depth manual will reveal the trade secrets for increasing your likelihood of receiving an upgrade. We will provide you with the tools to take advantage of everything the Marriott brand has to offer, from knowing the ins and outs of Marriott membership tiers to practical advice on how to ask for a better room.

One of the most well-known hotel incentive programs, if not the most well-known, is Marriott Bonvoy. Travelers of all stripes, particularly business travelers, spend hundreds of nights in hotels worldwide each year.

It's understandable why. Marriott boasts locations all over the world and extremely high-quality brands under its umbrella.

Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador members are eligible for room upgrades with Marriott Gold and above. A limited number of suites are available for selection at the time of check-in and will be available for the remainder of the guest's stay.

Ever wonder how frequently this occurs? We've found that it can vary a lot, and the way you request an update will also make a big difference.

Marriott Elite Tiers

Recall that Marriott offers five elite tiers, the most popular being Platinum, which is where you may begin to receive the greatest room enhancements. Premium travel credit cards frequently come with complimentary time tiers like Gold Elite.

Naturally, your chances of getting upgraded increase with your Marriott tier. When visiting a prestigious hotel in a business metropolis, a number of elite memberships are probably checking in on any given night, giving priority to upgrades.

How Members Can Get Upgrades

Marriott has an official policy on upgrades and maintain the following statement regarding offering a better room.

We’ll do our best to upgrade your room (including Select Suites), based on availability at check-in. Upgrades are subject to availability identified by each hotel and limited to your personal guest room.

The good news is that all Gold and higher members are eligible for room upgrades. The drawback is that the hotel has complete control over whether or not to provide an upgrade.

Complimentary Upgrades

Free upgrades are completely up to the hotel's decision, and several variables influence their decision. This includes the number of higher tier members checking in, the hotel's capacity, and your status level, among other things. Since a larger room will take more time to clean after check-out, some hotels also take this into account.

When visiting a resort, most customers rely on a gratis upgrade in order to preserve their points and suite night rewards for a later trip.

To increase your chances of receiving an upgrade when you check in, take into account the following advice.
A day or two before your arrival, check the hotel's capacity to see if any higher rooms are available. This will enable you to determine whether the hotel is fully booked or whether upgraded rooms are still available.
The Marriott Bonvoy App's mobile check-in feature should not be used. It is significantly more difficult to alter your accommodation after check-in since, in our experience, the hotel system assigns you a room as soon as you check in.
Use the Marriott Bonvoy App's chat feature to inquire about the hotel in advance, and always remember to be kind. Say you saw the space available and that you would like to be upgraded.
Remember to inquire nicely when you check in. If you inquire with your check-in agent about the possibility of an upgrade, they will undoubtedly investigate the system.
The final and most crucial piece of advice is to be kind! Being kind goes a long way because the check-in agent frequently has the last say over an upgrade.

Lastly, consider the number of days you are planning to stay at a particular hotel. If it is a short stay you are much more likely to get an upgrade so you are not occupying a better room for a long period of time.

Suite Night Honors

Depending on the hotel's availability, a Suite Night Award is a one-night upgrade to a basic suite or a select premium room that can be confirmed. If you reach Platinum tier or above, you can choose which of these benefits to use. The decision-making process will begin five days before check-in.

Please take note that you will no longer be eligible to obtain an upgrade to a suite night award if you are less than 24 hours from when you checked in.

Using this strategy, many Marriott Bonvoy members have experienced difficulty getting upgraded; nonetheless, we were fortunate enough to receive one of the greatest suites at the JW Marriott Istanbul Bosphorus.

You can certainly email the hotel in advance to check in, but don't always count on getting a suite night award if you really need a larger room.

Points Upgrade

Instead of paying cash for an upgrade during a paid or award stay, you can use your Marriott points. Subject to hotel availability, upgrades are priced in blocks of 5,000 points; certain properties and rooms require several upgrade blocks.

Based on our observations, this is typically offered right before check-in and is rarely offered long in advance.

Travel Agent Rate Upgrades

Particularly for advisors on travel Two programs offered by Marriott, called Marriott STARS and Marriott Luminous, provide extra benefits for stays at different Marriott-family properties.

There is a far higher likelihood of an upgrade when you make your reservation through a licensed travel agent. Regardless of your status, you can benefit from free upgrades, among other things. View our detailed analysis of Marriott hotel travel agent benefits.

Why are upgrades eligible for travel agent rates? Travel agents are considered part of a hotel's loyalty program, which incentivizes them to suggest a specific property to all of its customers.

You will still receive your perks and accrue points for the stay if you book through a travel agency, even if you have Marriott status.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I increase my chances of getting a Marriott upgrade?

To increase your chances of getting a Marriott upgrade, you can check the hotel capacity, avoid using the mobile check-in feature, ask politely upon check-in, and prioritize short stays. Complimentary upgrades are also more likely to be granted when requesting as a travel agent rate.

When are Suite Night Awards most likely to be successful?

Suite Night Awards are most likely to be successful when requested 5 days prior to check-in. It is important to consider that the availability of upgradeable rooms can vary, and therefore, Suite Night Awards may not always be guaranteed.

What are the different types of Marriott upgrades?

Three types of upgrades are available from Marriott: suite night awards, which are confirmed one-night upgrades to a standard suite or premium room, complimentary upgrades that are only given at the hotel's discretion, and points upgrades that let you use Marriott points that you've accrued from stays or other activities to upgrade.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the likelihood of receiving a Marriott upgrade is contingent upon the agent's judgment, hotel capacity, and membership status.

Your chances are much increased by having platinum or higher status, particularly if you intend to stay for a short time.

Recall to be polite and, if needed, look at possibilities like Suite Night Awards or point increases.