I recently wrote a post comparing the major hotel loyalty programs, sharing what I view as the pros and cons of each. There are various factors to consider, ranging from a hotel group’s global footprint, to elite recognition, to the points earning structure.
For many people, the single most valuable perk of hotel elite status is upgrades to suites. In this post I wanted to compare the suite upgrade policies of the “big four” hotel loyalty programs, to determine which is best.
In this post:
Comparing hotel loyalty program suite upgrade policies
Who doesn’t love a suite upgrade? I mean, it might not be necessary on a one night stay at an airport hotel when you’re traveling alone, but it sure comes in handy when you’re traveling with family on a special vacation.
Fortunately hotel loyalty programs may offer suite upgrades to their most loyal members. In this post I wanted to compare the suite upgrade policies of the four all-around most lucrative hotel loyalty programs — Hilton Honors, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, and World of Hyatt.
Let’s look at the complimentary upgrade policies of each program, and then we’ll also look at opportunities available through each program for securing suite upgrades in advance.
Below is my ranking of hotel loyalty program suite upgrade benefits, starting with the best.
World of Hyatt
World of Hyatt Globalist status sets the standard for suite upgrade policies, both when it comes to space available upgrades, as well as the ability to confirm upgrades in advance.
Hyatt Globalist members receive unlimited space available suite upgrades at check-in, subject to availability. If a standard suite is available, you should receive an upgrade to this as a Globalist member.
Furthermore, with the World of Hyatt Milestone Rewards program, Globalist members who rack up 60 elite nights in a year earn four confirmed suite upgrade awards, each of which can be used to confirm an upgrade to a standard suite at the time of booking for up to seven nights, with no capacity controls — as long as a standard suite is available for sale, you can confirm it.
You can earn further suite upgrade awards for over qualifying for status (you can choose a suite upgrade award at 70, 80, 90, or 100 elite nights), or if you’re a lifetime Globalist member. Note that even elite nights earned with credit cards count toward these thresholds.
You can’t beat the combination of unlimited suite upgrades subject to availability, plus easy to earn confirmable suite upgrades that can be used at the time of booking.
Marriott Bonvoy
Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium, and Ambassador status, offers a pretty well-rounded suite upgrade benefit.
Marriott Platinum members and above receive unlimited space available suite upgrades at check-in, subject to availability. If a standard suite is available, you should receive an upgrade to this as a Platinum member and above. Note that at Ritz-Carlton properties, suite upgrades are only offered to Titanium members and above.
Furthermore, with the Marriott Bonvoy Choice Benefits program, members can select further benefits when passing 50 or 75 elite nights in a year (even elite nights earned with credit cards count toward this). At each threshold you can select five suite night awards, each of which can be used to confirm a suite upgrade at most five days before arrival.
Ultimately I get quite a bit of value from these, but they have limitations — there are capacity controls on these, each is only valid for one night, and five days in advance isn’t that far ahead to be able to confirm an upgrade.
I’d say Marriott has a pretty well-rounded policy, between what’s tied for the best space available suite upgrade policy, and the confirmed suite upgrade policy (even if it’s the weakest one of the three that exist).
IHG One Rewards
With the launch of the IHG One Rewards program in 2022, IHG has considerably improved its suite upgrade offering. While the space available suite upgrade benefit isn’t particularly strong, I do appreciate the new confirmed suite upgrade opportunities.
IHG One Rewards Diamond members receive room upgrades subject to availability, and these upgrades may include standard suites. However, upgrades are offered at the hotel’s discretion, meaning that a hotel doesn’t have to make a suite available for an upgrade, even if it’s empty.
While the space available suite upgrade offering is weak, IHG has an impressive confirmed suite upgrade option. With the IHG One Rewards Milestone Rewards program, members can earn up to three confirmed suite upgrades per year (which would require earning 70 elite nights).
Each confirmed suite upgrade can be used to confirm a suite upgrade between one day and 14 days prior to arrival, for a stay of up to five nights. These can be used on either cash stays or award stays.
While IHG’s space available upgrade benefit is pretty weak, at least the confirmed upgrade perk is a great opportunity.
Hilton Honors
As much as I’ve become a big fan of Hilton Honors in general, the program’s suite upgrade benefit is the weakest of the “big four.” Not only is the space available suite upgrade benefit not particularly strong, but Hilton also doesn’t offer any opportunities for confirmed suite upgrades in advance.
Hilton Honors Diamond members receive room upgrades subject to availability, and these upgrades may include standard suites. However, upgrades are offered at the hotel’s discretion, meaning that a hotel doesn’t have to make a suite available for an upgrade, even if it’s empty.
As mentioned above, Hilton Honors also doesn’t have any sort of suite upgrade certificates that can be used to confirm an upgrade in advance.
An important suite upgrade reality check…
As anyone with hotel elite status can attest to, just because you’re entitled to a suite upgrade subject to availability doesn’t mean you’re going to get one:
- Even when hotels are fully playing by the rules, there will often be more elite members eligible for suite upgrades than available suites (just as airlines offer elite members complimentary upgrades, but that doesn’t mean there will be seats available)
- That doesn’t factor in that lots of hotels don’t play by the rules, and will do everything they can to avoid providing a suite upgrade; this comes down to the fact that most hotels are individually owned, and only have a management or franchise agreement with the major hotel group
As is the case with many aspects of elite recognition, I generally find that the further you get from the United States, the better elite recognition is. With that in mind, what has my experience been with the major hotel groups when it comes to space available suite upgrades?
- I find that Hyatts are best about trying to provide complimentary suite upgrades when available, and I tend to get them pretty regularly, especially outside the United States
- With Marriott I only very rarely get proactive suite upgrades within the United States; there’s tons of competition for upgrades, and I find that I have the best luck internationally, and also when using suite night awards
- With Hilton I don’t think I’ve ever gotten a suite upgrade within the United States, while I get them fairly regularly abroad; I’d say that in Asia and the Middle East my suite upgrade percentage is roughly the same with Marriott and Hilton
- I unfortunately don’t have any firsthand experience with IHG’s new top tier status yet, though the data points I’ve seen so far suggest that most IHG properties aren’t very good about space available suite upgrades
Anyway, that’s just my experience…
Bottom line
Suite upgrades are one of the best perks of hotel elite status, though not all suite upgrade policies are created equal. First you have the difference of how hotel loyalty programs offer space available upgrades — some offer suite upgrades subject to availability, while others offer them at the hotel’s discretion. Then you have some hotels that offer confirmed suite upgrades, but even those policies differ significantly between hotel groups.
When it comes to suite upgrades, personally I think World of Hyatt wins, followed by Marriott Bonvoy, followed by IHG One Rewards, followed by Hilton Honors. Admittedly people will have different takes, though, depending on their hotel stay patterns.
What has your experience been with elite status suite upgrades at hotels? Which program is your favorite?
When I stayed as a lowly Marriott Bonvoy Gold member at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida back in April, I received a surprising upgrade. I booked a standard room at the AAA rate. Prior to arrival, I sent a chat message simply requesting a room with a balcony, if available. When I arrived, I was greeted by an enthusiastic front desk agent who informed me I had been upgraded to a...
When I stayed as a lowly Marriott Bonvoy Gold member at the Sheraton Sand Key Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida back in April, I received a surprising upgrade. I booked a standard room at the AAA rate. Prior to arrival, I sent a chat message simply requesting a room with a balcony, if available. When I arrived, I was greeted by an enthusiastic front desk agent who informed me I had been upgraded to a suite. The fact that I was staying only one night probably helped, as she did verify the length of my stay at check-in. While the suites at this particular hotel are more like junior suites, I considered it a very nice gestuure and made my stay more enjoyable.
Suspend boycott
As expected, the post simply recycled the usual decade-old nonsense.
Here's Hilton Honors' no-nonsense promise on elite room upgrades and its globally automated delivery on that promise:
The promise:
The Delivery:
"Confirmed" suite upgrade, with invitation to check in fully 3 days before arrival at the property:
Suspend boycott
As expected, the post simply recycled the usual decade-old nonsense.
Here's Hilton Honors' no-nonsense promise on elite room upgrades and its globally automated delivery on that promise:
The promise:
The Delivery:
"Confirmed" suite upgrade, with invitation to check in fully 3 days before arrival at the property:
Look at the above carefully because, the decade-old and recycled "big lie" notwithstanding, that is real-life experience (as opposed to the parsing and willful misinterpretation of T&Cs) of how Hilton’s new global automated upgrades work in practice, subject to availability like every type of upgrade in every hotel program.
Any questions?
Resume boycott
You don't really understand how a boycott works, do you?
@Santos: you mean you've never been on a hunger strike where you eat every once in awhile? Weird!
@DCS: I've already demonstrated how the promise at Hilton is meaningless, pointing out that my most recent Hilton visit at the W.A Monarch Beach started with them denying an upgrade on the basis of "almost sold out". I.E, they weren't sold out, and the app clearly showed several categories of rooms available UP TO a one bedroom...
@Santos: you mean you've never been on a hunger strike where you eat every once in awhile? Weird!
@DCS: I've already demonstrated how the promise at Hilton is meaningless, pointing out that my most recent Hilton visit at the W.A Monarch Beach started with them denying an upgrade on the basis of "almost sold out". I.E, they weren't sold out, and the app clearly showed several categories of rooms available UP TO a one bedroom suite. As stated on a welcome letter, Diamonds there receive upgrades of a single category, contrary to this "promise".
Some people have noted that the "promise" could be interpreted as they will give you a better room... it could be up to a suite, but doesn't have to be.
Meanwhile at Hyatt, instead of waiting until 3 days before my stay... at which point everyone out there has had opportunities to book out the rooms and suites, thus decreasing the odds I'll get an upgrade... I can, for 4 seperate stays, apply a suite upgrade award to the reservation. This ensures I will get the kind of space I want. It's something I can count on, and don't have to worry about whether the hotel I'm headed to gets sold out, or whether they play fast and loose with top-tier benefits (a problem that customers of all hotel chains have faced).
Stay boycotted. It's been better around here.
Achievement earned.
Just like you, someone just started using the same alias of me and trying to impersonate me. Obviously it's Darryl "the fake" Stewart who even left clues that he's better than Buford.
It's like Joker calling himself Batman. Hilarious.
Maybe Buford and Bo time has come.
As a Platinum/Titanium member with Marriott Bonvoy I have generally received nice upgrades (up to and including suites) in Egypt, some nice ones in Indonesia, and better rooms (corner, larger,...) even in Germany.
Element hotels appear very stingy (= essentially nothing) and in Moxies I once got a family room/suite in the UK, otherwise ... nothing.
So it appears to depend on both region and brand?
This article is pointless. The policies are what they are but ultimately it is at the property level if you actually get the suite or not. Suites are not necessarily located well, so it depends what you value. For example, recently I was offered a suite but was told I would have to change elevators to access the lounge so I opted for a standard room on the floor of the lounge. With more premium...
This article is pointless. The policies are what they are but ultimately it is at the property level if you actually get the suite or not. Suites are not necessarily located well, so it depends what you value. For example, recently I was offered a suite but was told I would have to change elevators to access the lounge so I opted for a standard room on the floor of the lounge. With more premium guests the harder it will be to get a suite. I prefer to opt for the 5 extra nights than the suite nights on Marriott due to the difficulty in using them.
Unfortunately IHG's "confirmed" suite upgrade is not. Twice I've tried to use mine, IHG phone person "confirms" then later it is revoked online. Back to phone person whi says sorry, local hotel can "not" confirm it. I still have the "confirmed" but can't actually use it.
Get a diamond specialist to help you to tell the hotel manager to shut up and accept it.
Outside the USA I've had great success with IHG Diamond upgrades. Sometimes, I have to ask, but in almost cases I did end up with suites. The rooms I received in Tel Aviv and Kuwait City were amazing.
In the US, I have been upgraded but often the hotels really do not have suites, just slightly larger rooms, especially Holiday Inn Express. Recently I stayed in Wilmington, OH, and the Holiday Inn did give...
Outside the USA I've had great success with IHG Diamond upgrades. Sometimes, I have to ask, but in almost cases I did end up with suites. The rooms I received in Tel Aviv and Kuwait City were amazing.
In the US, I have been upgraded but often the hotels really do not have suites, just slightly larger rooms, especially Holiday Inn Express. Recently I stayed in Wilmington, OH, and the Holiday Inn did give me a nice suite upgrade but I had to request it; they had not assigned the room at check-in. Needless to say, I do not ask as if I am entitled to an upgrade.
My data point with Hilton.
I don't really travel within US, and I would says that upgrade for me in US is about 50/50. It was lower before they introduced that automated thing, to email guest of an upgrade like a day prior to arrival.
As for foreign travel, I have been upgraded 90% of the time, and from those upgrade 20% were suite.
As for IHG (90% Intercontinental), I received 0 upgrades...
My data point with Hilton.
I don't really travel within US, and I would says that upgrade for me in US is about 50/50. It was lower before they introduced that automated thing, to email guest of an upgrade like a day prior to arrival.
As for foreign travel, I have been upgraded 90% of the time, and from those upgrade 20% were suite.
As for IHG (90% Intercontinental), I received 0 upgrades domestically or internationally. I had to always do paid upgrade, so I gave up on IHG.
Intercontinental refuses to give suite upgrades unless you have their status. I have not had this problem at Crowne Plazas, Holiday Inns or Holiday Inn Expresses. It is almost as if Intercon if a separate program. I did, however, get breakfast as a perk, and in Lebanon it was amazing. We stayed in a ski resort in early fall prior to the snow and there were very few guests. They brought us enough food to feed 10 people.
I might be the only one who's gotten anything decent from Marriott on this page. I regularly do get upgrades to suites (and nice ones too) although part of it might be that I tend to stay only 1-2 nights at a time.
I had perhaps my best-ever redemption earlier this month. Got upgraded to a Presidential Suite at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas for a conference I was attending using SNA. Paid a...
I might be the only one who's gotten anything decent from Marriott on this page. I regularly do get upgrades to suites (and nice ones too) although part of it might be that I tend to stay only 1-2 nights at a time.
I had perhaps my best-ever redemption earlier this month. Got upgraded to a Presidential Suite at the Gaylord Texan in Dallas for a conference I was attending using SNA. Paid a conference rate of $250 but got a $ 3,000-a-night room (might have been worth more due to it being a conference just after July 4th). That certainly made my Platinum status worth it this year.
Prepare to be astounded by the indisputable facts I'm about to reveal. Hilton Honors programme tower over the pitiful World of Hyatt one, surpassing it by an astonishing 5 to 6 times in value. It's as clear as a crystal chandelier that Hilton Honors reigns supreme, standing head and shoulders above any other hotel loyalty program out there. Your feeble attempt at ranking the elites and programs is laughable, but fret not, for I have...
Prepare to be astounded by the indisputable facts I'm about to reveal. Hilton Honors programme tower over the pitiful World of Hyatt one, surpassing it by an astonishing 5 to 6 times in value. It's as clear as a crystal chandelier that Hilton Honors reigns supreme, standing head and shoulders above any other hotel loyalty program out there. Your feeble attempt at ranking the elites and programs is laughable, but fret not, for I have arrived to rectify the situation and bestow upon you the ultimate truth.
But wait, there's more! I have generously adorned every single one of my social media profile pictures with an awe-inspiring screenshot, a radiant display of my illustrious LIFETIME DIAMOND status. Brace yourselves, reader, and allow the overwhelming brilliance of my accomplishment to wash over you, for it serves as an undeniable testament to the unmatched magnificence that is my being.
We keep Platinum status with Bonvoy and IHG. In addition pony up for the $200 to get IHG Ambassador. Every time staying at an Intercontinental hotel we get upgraded. In Bordeaux we were upgraded to a suite for a week. I think that alone was probably worth $1000 or more. Around half the time we get something from Bonvoy. Using the Amex FHR in combination is unbeatable.
Definitely IHG leading the show, I gotten 60%+, while I know someone who got 90%+
Hilton Lifetime Diamond and Hyatt Globalist here. Upgrade successes from past 2 weeks;
Conrad Bangalore - standard king room -> lake view for first 2 nights, then after speaking with the manager upgraded to suite for last 2 nights
Park Hyatt Suzhou - standard king room -> lake view. No suite upgrade even though they were available but standard rooms are HUGE anyway
Grand Hyatt Macau - standard suite -> standard suite with...
Hilton Lifetime Diamond and Hyatt Globalist here. Upgrade successes from past 2 weeks;
Conrad Bangalore - standard king room -> lake view for first 2 nights, then after speaking with the manager upgraded to suite for last 2 nights
Park Hyatt Suzhou - standard king room -> lake view. No suite upgrade even though they were available but standard rooms are HUGE anyway
Grand Hyatt Macau - standard suite -> standard suite with fountain view. Interestingly got a better suite last time I was here as just a lowly explorist
Conrad HK - king deluxe -> harbour executive suite
HR HK TST - king -> regency suite
If I was visiting the US I'm pretty sure my upgrade success rate would be lower at Hyatt and much much lower at Hilton
Hmm... it must be a slow start to the week. I was expecting to see a long-winded comment about how Hilton treats their lifetime Diamonds like gods and upgrades them to their best and most special presidential suite. Oh, don't forget the excessive rambling and the denigrating of @Ben and any other user who says otherwise. :-p
On a serious note, I've gotten suite upgrades at most of the chains as a mid-tier. Never expected,...
Hmm... it must be a slow start to the week. I was expecting to see a long-winded comment about how Hilton treats their lifetime Diamonds like gods and upgrades them to their best and most special presidential suite. Oh, don't forget the excessive rambling and the denigrating of @Ben and any other user who says otherwise. :-p
On a serious note, I've gotten suite upgrades at most of the chains as a mid-tier. Never expected, of course, but always appreciated. I think the best was a named suite at a Westin or Sheraton without any status. Definitely a one-off.
Re:
“…was expecting to see a long-winded comment about how Hilton treats their lifetime Diamonds like gods and upgrades them to their best and most special presidential suite. Oh, don't forget the excessive rambling and the denigrating of @Ben and any other user who says otherwise.”
Amen to that; she is truly tedious.
Generally concur. Though suites are a motivating factor for me in chasing loyalty, Marriott has done enough that I'll avoid them whenever possible. Would rather not get a suite at Hilton than stay there.
Of my next 18 bookings with Hyatt, 4 are in standard rooms, 1 is in a standard suite booked with points, 3 are in standard suites with SUAs, and 10 are in Premium Suites booked with the points upgrade rate. No contest.
I've only been upgraded a few times to a suite at Hiltons in Asia. And, almost always upgraded to at least a "better" room. Never been upgraded in any way at a Bonvoy property - despite showing plentiful availability of suites and better rooms on their app at time of check in - except once, at the St. Regis in Florence (to a better room). Never been upgraded to anything by IHG but, unlike Bonvoy,...
I've only been upgraded a few times to a suite at Hiltons in Asia. And, almost always upgraded to at least a "better" room. Never been upgraded in any way at a Bonvoy property - despite showing plentiful availability of suites and better rooms on their app at time of check in - except once, at the St. Regis in Florence (to a better room). Never been upgraded to anything by IHG but, unlike Bonvoy, they didn't promise anything at that time. I've occasionally gotten upgraded to "better" rooms at Hyatt but never upgraded to a suite. However, as only a lowly Discoverist, it was never expected. So, from my experience - excluding Hyatt since have no experience as a top tier - I would rank them:
1) Hilton - gives you way more than promised, and does so consistently
2) IHG - gives you exactly what is promised, which is nothing
3) Bonvoy - gives you way way less than promised, and does so consistently
Imagine if airlines followed the same scheme that hotels do; where a specific "American Airlines" plane is actually owned/operated by "Joe's Aviation LLC". Joe's Aviation LLC would be doing the exact same tricks that these hotel chains do.
That's why chasing elite status is a fool's errand. Either the status falls into your lap, and you're grateful for what you can get, or you consider the *guaranteed* benefits to be worth justifying.
Great comparison and very true.
“Joe’s Aviation LLC” = LMAO
I am just happy to have a clean room. I always say, if you wanted it you should have bought it. Just like airline upgrades, sure its perk, but you want first class buy it
AKA hotels can market whatever they want in order to get people to stay and be loyal, but have no obligation to honour what they marketed after they've already monetarily benefitted from it? Do you also feel bait-and-switch is fine as well?
Then you stick to your "clean room" Todd while others try to get an upgrade. Talk about fighting for your principles without reason.
Besides - if you are entitled to suite upgrades, you'd be a fool not to try to get it.
The real point is that even if one is entitled to an upgrade via tier status, the properties won't give them to you. Even with a SNA. Even if you fight for it. Why should one have to fight for it? And, the Ambassador team won't lift a finger. The real point is that tier status is hollow. It's a joke on all who expect something.
I’d much rather be standing in a check-in line behind Todd versus some Karen who’s “fighting” with the front desk to get a suite they think they’re “entitled” to because of elite status that they likely got with a credit card.
With Bonvoy, it's also worth noting that beyond just capacity controls, not all properties "participate" in the Suite Night Awards program. I'm not sure how properties can get themselves excluded from the list, but I've run into a number of ones that do. For example - the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho doesn't do Suite Night Awards any more (I have previously used them to get into the Designer's Suite, which is very nice!). I've also...
With Bonvoy, it's also worth noting that beyond just capacity controls, not all properties "participate" in the Suite Night Awards program. I'm not sure how properties can get themselves excluded from the list, but I've run into a number of ones that do. For example - the Prince Gallery Tokyo Kioicho doesn't do Suite Night Awards any more (I have previously used them to get into the Designer's Suite, which is very nice!). I've also run into stuff like a random Sheraton in downtown Raleigh, NC that didn't allow them either (which was particularly annoying, as neither the hotel nor the suites are anything to get excited about).
But yes, much better luck with them outside the US. Several years ago, I got a fantastic suite using SNAs at the JW Marriot Phu Quoc, Vietnam. Have also used them to great success in Kuala Lumpur, Shanghai, Singapore, Hong Kong, and probably others I'm forgetting.
In general, I agree with your assessment, Ben. However, I find Marriott increasingly difficult if longer stays (e.g., an entire weekend) are concerned. In contrast, I lucked out several times with Hilton in such occasions. Also Marriott does not necessarily respect the bed choice, i.e. you may get a twin suite when upgrading a king room.
In spite of top-tier Marriott status and abundant "regular" suite availability, I could pay for an upgrade but "We're simply not going to give you a suite." This scenario played out countless times, including in Europe. After multiple years of this and the chipping away of other benefits, it was clear that the only reliable benefit of tier status was the points multiplier. Years ago, I became a free agent and haven't looked back. Wake up.
Your experience with Hilton mirrors mine in that when I travel overseas I'm almost always upgraded, domestically about 1/4 of the time, but the domestic definition of an upgraded room is pretty weak. When staying in LA, my 'upgraded' room was the same as the standard room I booked, only instead of a view of the parking lot it was a partial city view. Since there was no balcony, the view was pretty much meaningless to begin with.