Hotel room upgrades are often available – if you play your cards right.
And here we reveal the critical tactics that will give you the best possible chance for a bigger and better room.
This advice comes from seasoned travelers and hospitality experts, including a luxury hotel general manager and Jane Pendlebury, CEO of the Hospitality Professionals Association.
Your promotion strategy includes avoiding certain sites when booking, submitting specific information before check-in, and checking in during the golden hour.
Here’s a look at some of the best strategies when looking for that promotion.
Reservation strategies
Book directly
Third-party apps can be very convenient—they’re a great way to explore options at each location and can speed up the booking process.
But paying directly for the room with the hotel increases your chances of getting an upgrade, because it saves the property money.
Jane Pendlebury, CEO of Hospa – Association of Hospitality Professionals – to Independent: “Booking directly with the hotel makes you a more favorable candidate for an upgrade, as the hotel avoids commission fees from third-party sites.”
He added that even if an upgrade isn’t available, booking direct can get you other free perks like breakfast or a high-end Wi-Fi connection.
Avoid peak season
If guests are not staying during peak periods, upgraded rooms will easily shower on them.
Hospa’s Jane Pendlebury revealed: “Booking at off-peak times – such as mid-week or outside of peak travel seasons – can increase your chances of an upgrade. Hotels are less likely to upgrade at peak times when they are fully booked or overbooked and know their best rooms will sell out.”
Sundays are a best kept secret
Raphael Herzog, general manager of the luxury De Vere Tortworth Court Hotel in the Cotswolds, England, says booking your stay for a Sunday can pay dividends.
He explained: Sundays are one of the best kept secrets in luxury hospitality, with fewer guests arriving, weekend guests going home and business travelers not yet arriving, the lower demand offers the most flexibility in room allocation, meaning Sunday guests are more likely to be upgraded or placed in premium rooms.
Check in before entering the hotel
A pre-stay message to the hotel politely stating your needs and the reason for your visit can go a long way, especially if it’s for a special occasion.
Alyse Race, Founder The invisible tourist Travel site, said Independent: “I email the booking manager and send a quick message where there is a special event or request for more relaxation.
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“Without asking, a little background information humanizes the reservation. I make it clear that I can wait for them to check and ask that if the table is not able to upgrade for free, a small fee will help.”
“The hotel is fine with even a $35 increase because unsold apartments lose value by the minute. Without an elite card in sight [I’ve been given] Balcony, better views, and even a tatami suite in Osaka.”
Special occasions are met with special behavior
Jane Pendlebury added: “It’s wise to mention special occasions like birthdays, anniversaries or honeymoons.” Hotels often book for these free upgrade moments to make the guest feel valued, so make this known early on during the booking process.
Georgia Fuchs, a travel influencer from Pittsburgh and consultant for Altezza Travel, emphasized that a pre-stay message should also “express your excitement about the visit,” because “it can establish positive associations with your name before your arrival and increase your chances of success.”
Martin Slack, of threeticketsanywhere.com The travel site suggested going even further and posting a video on social media the week before about your stay and tagging the hotel.
It’s a “gray tactic,” he admits, but “it highlights that you’re staying there and that you’re active on social media,” so it might get you a nicer room.
stay loyal
Georgia Fox says loyalty is as good as money in the hospitality industry, so double it.
He explained, “You can increase your chances by doubling down on loyalty. Loyalty is like a currency in the hospitality industry.
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“Sign up for customer programs and see if they have partner programs that you might be a part of. Returning customers are hotels’ number one priority, so even small gestures of commitment don’t go unnoticed.”
Do you need to reserve certain room types?
No one expert can agree on whether there’s a particular category of room that gives you a better or worse chance of an upgrade, with answers ranging from “cheapest” to “mid-range.”
Be careful when checking
The time you arrive is very important. Get in too early and the staff won’t know how many empty rooms they have left for that night.
Alan Baibkoff, managing director and travel expert at online car rental platform Economy Bookings, revealed that he tries to time his arrival for 5pm because “the main supervisor is still on duty, housekeeping is in full swing and most departures have been cleared.”
Turn on the spell
Remember, the person at the front desk holds the keys to your upgrade.
So, make the appeal clear and “treat the question about an upgrade as curiosity, not a demand,” says Lorena Basvaldo, a travel agent for Italiantourism.us. “You’d like to see if larger rooms are available,” he advises, which “feels friendly and open” and therefore “encourages staff to help when possible.”
Suzanne Catto, of travelzoo.com, emphasized that you should never be pushy because “updating, even for loyal customers, is not a given.”
He added: “Hotels only offer them if there is enough availability and they have no chance of selling those rooms. Putting pressure on the staff cannot change this basic fact. Even if you know the hotel is not full, you should not assume that those premium rooms are available.”
And never tip for a room upgrade.
“It can feel like bribery,” Susan added.
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