MikeFly

Just called direct to the hotel and spoke to someone at the front desk. The reason for the call was to find out what the cutoff was for low and high season. She informed me that last year it was Sept. 15 no idea what it will be this year. Fine I'll play with the dates and see what I come up with.

The most surprising, IRRATATING thing that came out of the conversation was that she has been an employee for two months and just had her training and was proud to inform me that Platinums at BEST are only upgraded to Club Level - NO SUITES! I asked why not, as it is a program benefit. She said that she was simply told not to do it and it was not allowed.

Comments from anyone? William?

How can all the suites at this property not be considered for upgrades?

[This message has been edited by MikeFly (edited 07-17-2002).]

Eastbay1K

I stayed there in April, May and June. All weekend stays. April - originally a small room with broken door. Desk clerk apologized and gave me big 2 room corner suite. Breakfast coupons because lounge closed on weekend (well, its open, unserviced). May - Corner room (not suite) with great view no more breakfast. June - standard room on high floor, no upgraded accomodation available, no breakfast. Club floor is not a real upgrade on the weekend.

The staff is very new. The first visit this year the "experienced" desk person had been there 4 days. I was patient as could be, and finally someone came out from the back office to help re: the problem room and the explanation of the 500 plat points (the desk clerk didn't know what I was talking about.)

All in all, for Anchorage it is a decent property, and if they would only once again either have the club lounge open on the weekend, or offer the breakfast coupon if it isn't, I'd give the hotel more points again. Also the front desk staff (mostly very nice) given the newness of most of them (each visit had very new staff) needs a day or 2 more training before being put on the firing line, especially during peak season.

I have to say as someone who has probably been there 20 or more times over the years (and 3 times in 3 months), I was disappointed with the June visit.

[This message has been edited by Eastbay1K (edited 07-17-2002).]

ajnaro

I was there once, in May, and was first given an upgrade to a standard room on the club level. After a little negotiation I was offered a junior suite on a non-club floor, but with access to the club lounge. No breakfast coupons on the weekend.

RTWSTARALLIANCE

I was there in June 2002 (high season) and
called the Hotel prior to my arrival. After
leaving a message for the reservations
manager and receiving no return call I called
the GMs office. GM was on vacation. Spoke
with director of rooms. Reached an
understanding. Reservations manager did not
call me back. Finally just before my
departure from US called and left a message
for director of rooms again. Upon arrival
upgraded to non-Club floor room. Room was
large and they call a "suite" just off the
elevators. It looks by the floor map that
they have two of these next to eachother.
The person who checked me in was new but
accomodating. Room was better than I thought
it would be. After checking in I did call
down to the front desk and got someone who
was more experienced. Asked to breakfast
voucher which was granted. Breakfest was a
buffet. In consideration that this was a
free Friday and I was granted the late check
out that I needed it was a great value. The
front desk was packed. Airline crews come
and go. There is nothing immediate around
the Hotel to do. Get a room on the back side
of the Hotel as the front is the final
resting place of many. FYI

Eastbay1K

If the weather is good, you are a 10 minute walk from the heart of shopping and food. If the weather is not good, you are a 2 minute drive.

Starwood Lurker

I've forwarded this thread to the hotel coordinators. They will remind the hotel of what is expected regarding Platinum members.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

GeneCMH

I was just there this weekend too, on a 3 night award stay. Checked in Friday afternoon, was told no suites or junior suites available then ENTIRE weekend due to an event(ball). Since this was the frond desk manager that checked me in...I reluctantly accepted and did not put up a fight. She did put me on the club level and gave me breakfast coupons for each day.

Overall the hotel was ok, however, I often have a hard time believing that every single suite or specialty room is sold out. But I suppose it is possible....

Gene

ExMo

I stayed there one weekday in May as an award night. I did get an "upgrade" to the Club floor but nothing else. Room was well worn. Front desk clerk seemed pretty green.

raydog9379

I was there this weekend as well. I thought the hotel was just fine. It wasn't like I was there much though...just to sleep basically. Overall I thought it was pretty nice for being all the way up there. They had no lounge on the weekends, but many of the other hotels I've stayed at don't seem to either. I think we must have had a renovated room, because it seemed fairly new.

It was pretty funny about the rates being high for everyone else. Our rate came at roughly $49 a night when we checked out. Don't know how it was so cheap, but we aren't complaining.

[This message has been edited by raydog9379 (edited 09-04-2002).]

Luvs2snowbordbut1kSEA

Maybe Lurker can help with this...

I have been staying at the Sheraton Anchorage for 3 years now. Sometimes paying the crazy summer rates of almost $300 per night. I checked in tonight. I reserved a junior suite online with a great rate. Thinking it was the middle of winter I might FINALLY get an upgraded room (never have before), Well, not only was I not upgraded( and the hotel is less than 1/2 full)... I was not offered a Plat. amenity, and was given a room on the 4th floor. The hotel has 15 floors. I asked for a higher floor and was told that I would have to be DOWNGRADED at the same rate. If I wanted to be on the club floor I would have to take a standard room- at my rate. I asked why I could not be upgraded and was told that the suites are not occupied but not available for upgrade. I was, also, told that if I chose my Junior suite I had reserved that I would NOT be entitled to club lounge access. This Sheraton is driving me nuts... I have prompted associates to stay here and have posted in the Hilton forum recommending the Sheraton over the Hilton. I stayed here 10 times in 2002, and 5 times in 2000 and 2001. You think they could at least recognize me as a returning guest!

Eastbay1K

I have been staying at that hotel from time to time since it was new. Last year, I stayed there 3 times (April, May, June). Each trip the "decline" in SPG benefit was obvious. From April - a large suite (after problems with a dingy standard room) and breakfast because the club lounge closed on the weekend, to June - a basic room on the club floor with a closed lounge - meaning essentially no platinum benefit.

fly co to see the yanks

i stayed there this past summer and thought the hotel was kind of a dive. the front desk people were nice, albeit pretty incompetent (i wasn't offered a platinum amenity card--had to ask for it). the only thing i remember was how expensive it was per night for rather pedestrian accommodations.

Starwood Lurker

From my point of view, it helps to know who you are and how long you are staying; however, I can confirm that this hotel does not have any suites attached to the SPG3SU rate plan. This means that the suites are outside the standard suite category, which are used for Platinum elite upgrades.

The best you can do here as far as room type is the Deluxe room category. These appear to be junior suites. For what it's worth, changing to a club level room would definitely be a downgrade in room type from what I can tell.

I have a problem with your being denied club lounge access, however. I suggest this: Go back to the front desk. Ask them for your Platinum amenity of choice card. While you are filling it out, ask them again for club lounge access. If they refuse, tell them that they will be hearing from Hotel Customer Service tomorrow if they don't give it to you. Then let me know what they say to that.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Luvs2snowbordbut1kSEA

Lurker (and others),

Thanks for your quick response!

I took the club room at check-in, as I wanted club access... and I asked for the plat. amenity card which they gave me with no questions. I guess my issue really is that for someone who has stayed here many times that they really do not seem to care. I like Starwood because of that. All Westin stays are typically good- my stay last week at the Toronto Gateway hotel was awesome.

Just seems like some credit should be given for a returning guest... especially when the hotel is so empty. Winter is clearly a slow time for Alaska and is a great opportunity to truly IMPRESS a guest, not just barely meet expectations.

Again, thanks for the prompt feedback and suggestions.

bworrell

I guess I just don't understand how this works. If you're platinum and the suites are empty, why aren't they giving it to you? Is a hotel with suites allowed to designate all of them as not being available for upgrades?