The Great 'Hotel staff, tell us how to get upgraded' Hunt

Confsales

My tip is more about cost than upgrade. I work for a large hotel organisation within the Uk. If you are BOOKING a hotel room through laterooms, lastminute, booking.com the they get commission from the hotel! If you ring the hotel directly or use there own website you WILL get a better deal!
For example if you have a room at £150 on laterooms you could ring the hotel and save approx 10% -15% off your room bill at get it for £137.50
P.S Always ask about throwing in breakfast for FREE!

maximus0983

Hello all - an interesting read certainly.

I consult to a hotel "wholesale" company and have done for the last few years. Its amazing the myriad of rates that hotels operate with. We get a wholesale rate which is between 20 - 35% off the "Rack Rate" (RR is generally the most expensive). This is then sold onto to travel companies like lastminute, BA Holidays, Expedia, etc plus other travel agents. Basically anyone that deals with the public.

They then have a selection of rates on their websites such as Best Available Rates, Advance Purchase, Special Offers. These are there for the independant traveller who books online.

As most people don't have access to wholesalers (companies like these are not allowed to sell their rates to consumers), the cheapest bet is the internet.

Priceline.com have a "Name your rate" service
Lastminute.com being cheap and good deals generally are not the lowest around
Hotels.com have quite good deals.

For upgrades, its always wise to be polite. Join the hotels loyalty clubs and if you are not a member ask AT the desk. A good trick is to say "Can I fill it out in my room?". Most standard rooms dont have writing desks but a lot have them in Exec Rooms which will get you a comped upgrade.

Knowing people helps aswell. Needless to say that I work in the industry I generally dont have to worry about upgrades!

Hope this helps.

feesh

Slightly off topic, but I have already contributed my tuppence worth on page 1
When is the best time to book to get the best rates? Months in advance or leave it until the week before for a last minute rate? I need 2 nights in a 4* or 5* hotel in Newcastle over a weekend in May 2010.

ocalllo

Mark_Hewitt wrote: »

Does mentioning that you are on your honeymoon help? Next April I will be!

Yes this can definitely help. email the hotel direct if possible, or get your travel agent to mention it everywhere.

We got some lovely rooms on our honeymoon. We traveled to NZ, OZ and HK and played the loved up couple oh so well at reception just to remind them

Only 1 place we did not find accommadating and unfortunately that happened to be the one we stayed in on the wedding day - a simple request to have breakfast in the room rather then the restuarant was blankly refussed even tho they knew it was our wedding day.....very disappointed.

aitchmars

6. If you are an important guest, you are likely to be upgraded at no extra charge.

Pray tell, what constitutes being an 'important guest'?

Surely, everyone should be treated the same irrespective of their social or professional standing?

Doc_N

Having the magic abbreviation 'MP' after your name used to work wonders.....................not so sure now, though.

kittykat100

As previously posted by want2bedebtfree I wholly agree, I have worked in res and reception for over 10 years in independent 4 star hotels. A lot of the time it would depend on my mood when guests are checking in!! I would always look after the regular guests who stayed all year round, as well as conference and event organisers (always got the best room available), bride and grooms who were getting married at the hotel always got a comp suite anyway.
If guests were stroppy with me or upset another member of staff previousy you can guarantee that they would be in the room next to the lift and the air con unit as one rule in most hotels is BE NICE to the staff. Check in staff have the power to put you where they want, if you are lovely and polite and friendly and had a chat with me whilst checking in - if I have the availablity you would be upgraded. The 'do you know who I am' characters never did it for me and even if the hotel was empty I would apologise sweetly and say 'I am terribly sorry Sir I only have a club double available'.- overlooking the bins!
I have many stories I could tell like the time I was DM and had to take a room service order up to the gentlemen I had just checked in only to find him in full make up and a see through nighty!! omg... anyway I digress... and happy hunting!

want2Bdebtfree

feesh wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but I have already contributed my tuppence worth on page 1
When is the best time to book to get the best rates? Months in advance or leave it until the week before for a last minute rate? I need 2 nights in a 4* or 5* hotel in Newcastle over a weekend in May 2010.

Generally last minute is cheaper. We do not reduce prices until a month before when we are aware of any special events taking place at the hotel or within the area and know if we are likely to sell rooms at a higher price. However, if there are a lot of rooms unsold, prices reduce a month in advance. There are further reductions a week in advance. If rooms are still not full on the day final reductions are made in the morning, or when a guest walks in.

But if you know where you want to stay and you require a set date - (esp weekends from May - Oct) book in advance so you know you have a room. You can always check availability a month, or the day before and ask the hotel to match the discounted price if they have rooms available. Or simply cancel your room and rebook (Subject to your cancellation policy) - but as mentioned in other posts guests paying a higher price may get upgraded.

maniacpony

If you're a couple, turn in in a smart suit and wedding dress - almost guarantees an upgrade!
As an aside, we spent a couple of nights in a posh spa hotel straight after our wedding. The missus had got changed out of her dress before we turned up though. They had got the booking dates wrong, but managed to get us the last room as someone else had not turned up (as there was a wedding on in the hotel). The manager asked us if we had a copy of our reservation, and you should have seen the horrifed look on her face when we said "No, we'd come straight from our own wedding reception!". The next two nights we were moved into the enormous Honeymoon suite costing £400 a night instead of our paid for £140! It was worth it for the stress and hassle of hanging round for 45 minutes in the middle of nowhere wondering if we were going to have to take a 40 mile taxi ride back home!

gbatey

feesh wrote: »

Slightly off topic, but I have already contributed my tuppence worth on page 1
When is the best time to book to get the best rates? Months in advance or leave it until the week before for a last minute rate? I need 2 nights in a 4* or 5* hotel in Newcastle over a weekend in May 2010.

Hi Feesh,

I work in a four star in Ncle; we have advance purchase rates out there for dates so may be worth looking on the net for them. To be honest, with our Hotel, our prices are cheaper further out (if there's nothing special going on) and tend to be more expensive closer to the time (I'm in Reservations btw and best way to get a free upgrade is not to ask outright and to be nice!)