How I Get FREE Hotel Upgrades Every Time (Suite Talking!)

One of the best benefits of hotel elite status is the ability to receive complimentary room and suite upgrades when you stay with a hotel.

With suite upgrades in particular, putting in a little bit of legwork on your end – also known as the art of “suite-talking” – can significantly increase your chances of securing an upgrade, while also giving you the chance to score amazing upgrades to a hotel’s biggest and best suites.

One of the best benefits of hotel elite status is the ability to receive complimentary room and suite upgrades when you stay with a hotel.

With suite upgrades in particular, putting in a little bit of legwork on your end – also known as the art of “suite-talking” – can significantly increase your chances of securing an upgrade, while also giving you the chance to score amazing upgrades to a hotel’s biggest and best suites.

0:00 Free upgrades
1:11 Start your suite talking
3:25 Key method for suite talking
5:55 Final opportunity for suite talking
8:21 One final tactic

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[joshuajamesmccann]

Being kind and respectful to the front desk customer representatives is the most important thing.

[HeronHouse]

Interesting approaches to getting a suite upgrade. Some years ago we used this approach in Beijing at the Millennium Hotel. We asked if our five day stay could be upgraded as it was our 35th anniversary. They replied when? We said today. Fingers were snapped, manager showed, fingers typed on a keyboard and we were escorted to a fantastic suite on the 27th floor. The surprise was further enhanced when the door bell rang 15 minutes later and we were presented with a fabulous "Happy Anniversary" cake. Truly first class. We dined there that night and of course had the Peking Duck. Just a simple question gave such a rewarding result.

[milespointshunter]

My favorite upgrade was at the IC Thallaso Bora Bora July 2018. I emailed the hotel twice before arrival and asked when we checked in for an upgrade to a suite. We were upgraded to the Brando suite on a FNC, points and cash booking! I felt really bad that I didnt tip the receptionist or give them a gift so I tried to tip her the next time I saw her and she refused 2x, then she said that Tahiti is a none tipping country and not to worry about it. The next day they gave us some departure gifts - a beach bag, hotel - shirt, towel, hat, some snacks to go and a hand written thank you card signed by some of the workers. It was a short 3 nights but truly an epic holiday that we will never forget!!

[LalitDevraj]

This was such a valuable and awesome idea for a video Prince, especially you delivering these dope tips- the interior designer point was something I didn't expect at all haha- mucho appreciated 😊

[EilrahcH]

I have a hotel stay coming up. My wife’s birthday. It’s will be the 1st time with no kids in 7 years so I want to treat her to very special stay!

Thank you for the great information!

[terrybrook]

Ricky - I had that exact same room at the pearle just before new years and just after the hotel opened. Fantastic room and massive patio!

[TranquilLeafYoga]

Going to Atlantic City for my birthday next weekend and I’m hoping they upgrade me! Will try out your advice! Ty!

[hugosboss]

It depends on the category you are booking though.
I worked in from 3 to 5 star superior business / wellness hotels that were part of chains or individual and summerized is to say that you get what you pay for.
The service and attitude is greatly varying; you of course will get a more accomodating reception when you are in a 5* wellness hotel, that only has 30 rooms where there is also enough staff on the contrary to a 4* business hotel were you have over 300 guests usually checking in and out every other day and you are understaffed and stressed out.

So your tips for example mentioning that it is a special occasion can go from "i don't care" to "of course sir, we make your stay very pleasent" but there are limits to it.
The room planning is usually done the day before and first you try to accomodate every booked suites of guests that actually paid for and then from there on down.
Then you go through the membership and bump them up according to their status; that said, it is never guaranteed that you get a upgrade, especially in busy times.
So they were members of the highest level that booked a normal twin room, because they got anyway bumped up two levels everytime, but you can imagine the discussion i had when there was not the bump to a higher category, because the hotel was full and then he had to stay in the twin room.
Then there is of course the gap from your original booking to what you want as you described in your example with the suite and of course every hotel (chain) will do it differently, but even when the suite is available there comes a point that the cost / performance ratio is not given anymore; how you then feel about it is then irrelevant.

Also i like to add, when you complain to much or are in general a difficult guest, there will be a internal entry on your file.

You can not imagine how much i was lied to every single day (especially in 4* city hotels) by guests, just so they can get something for free.

That said, i don't know how the service standard is in north america since i only worked in hotels in Europe, so of course my experience can be quite different of what you had.

[BK-oblo]

Didn't expect this to be so in-depth. Thanks for the tips!

[jinwoolee]

Thanks for the vid! Recently stayed at Hilton Melbourne and about a week before the stay, I asked for a king suite upgrade and they said it was subject to check in. A couple days before the stay I called again regarding the suite and they stated they put a note on file for check in again. When we checked in there was a spare king suite available which we got upgraded to. Similar to your technique in this vid. Will be using it more moving forward!

[crushmash]

Always love prince of travel, watch it all the time and yes I’ve subscribed a long time ago.

Next week I’ll be travelling to Cancun with my mom for her 75th Birthday and I will definitely let them know and ask them for some kind of upgrade to celebrate that monumental birthday!

I will let you know and see how it goes, I wear double XL. Haha

[ejtblueboy]

I have an upcoming stay in NYC. status, repeat guest, using suite upgrade and it truly is a special occasion. I do have a specific suite in mind and will let you know🤞

[crispenfernandes]

Thanks -- Prince of Travel for all your wonderful tips. I am a Titanium with Marriott

[ahbichang]

Just got our 1BR queen bed suite upgraded to the Presidential Trillium suite at the Westin Trillium Blue Mountain for valentine’s weekend! It’s legit my birthday and I found the $200 upgrade fee worth it. I’m actually using 60K in points and at rack rate minus the $200 fee I’m getting over $0.03/point in value.

[pale]

Going be staying at the fairmont pacific rim this come sept. Looking forward to the stay, and possibly getting an upgrade!!

[zrb]

I always try to suite talk my way to a better room for the past few years. Even at small non chain hotels I was able to get a slightly better room. You miss 100% of the shots you don't take!

[VirtousStoic]

1st, much love bro. Your hair looks great here. You are totally right, I literally lost a massive upgrade because I forgot to ask because I didn't notice I get a status change. Then when I discovered I asked and they offered to upgrade me but since I already spent a week in the hotel I felt bad and didn't chance the suite. But good that you are reminding people of this and the diff tactics

[justincosplay]

great video !!!! can't wait to use this for my toronto trip this summer

[Wosby]

Congratulations on your launch of shop! Hope to see some nice water bottles added to take with me on some adventures!

[Tentenguy]

I'm staying at the JW Marriott Dongdaemun Square here in Seoul for 8 nights starting tomorrow~ Wish me luck in getting a suite everyone!