Get a free hotel upgrade by saying this one sentence, according to a hotel worker
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Love to travel? Us too! And one of the best parts about planning a getaway is booking a hotel room that you know will be comfortable and make your vacation that much more enjoyable.
However, we all know that hotel rooms can be pricey – especially if you're hoping to snag a nicer, bigger room or one with a killer view.
But there's good news! Because there’s a way that you can get free upgrades at hotels – and according to a hotel worker, all you need to do is say one simple sentence.
Edward Conway, who works in the hospitality industry, took to Quora (a social media forum) to answer people’s questions, and share advice for hotel guests looking to get a free room upgrade.
He prefaced his post by saying that the answer will vary from hotel to hotel, depending on the circumstances. But there is a general pattern he observed at the hotels he worked for.
His main advice is to be polite and notice things that can be included in a feedback survey. He explained that guests can ask for the front desk staff’s name, tell them they’ll leave feedback on their stay, and say that they’d like to include them in the review.
For hotel workers, having consistent positive feedback from guests is a ‘core goal’ in hospitality. Management and other staff members judge reviews as a key performance indicator.
Edward also said that how you ask is very important as well.
‘A polite inquiry at check-in, for example, “I have heard your property has some great suites, would it be possible to get one for this stay?” would be a good phrasing.’
In contrast, saying ‘I always get free upgrades when I stay here,’ is likely to alienate the staff according to Edward. In turn, staff are more likely to deny your demands.
‘To accommodate a request, the staff has to know. But make it an open door, rather than trying to force the issue,’ he added.
He also suggested avoiding manufacturing a false complaint or issue – because that can backfire.
‘You may get something by forcing this one time, but you will have made yourself memorable in a bad way to the staff and management,’ he continued.
Finally, he said: ‘Similarly, a bribe will often backfire, as staff who are honest will be insulted, and those who are dishonest risk discovery and firing.’
What are your thoughts on this story? Have you experienced a free hotel room upgrade before, members? Share them with us in the comments section!
However, we all know that hotel rooms can be pricey – especially if you're hoping to snag a nicer, bigger room or one with a killer view.
But there's good news! Because there’s a way that you can get free upgrades at hotels – and according to a hotel worker, all you need to do is say one simple sentence.
Edward Conway, who works in the hospitality industry, took to Quora (a social media forum) to answer people’s questions, and share advice for hotel guests looking to get a free room upgrade.
He prefaced his post by saying that the answer will vary from hotel to hotel, depending on the circumstances. But there is a general pattern he observed at the hotels he worked for.
His main advice is to be polite and notice things that can be included in a feedback survey. He explained that guests can ask for the front desk staff’s name, tell them they’ll leave feedback on their stay, and say that they’d like to include them in the review.
For hotel workers, having consistent positive feedback from guests is a ‘core goal’ in hospitality. Management and other staff members judge reviews as a key performance indicator.
Edward also said that how you ask is very important as well.
‘A polite inquiry at check-in, for example, “I have heard your property has some great suites, would it be possible to get one for this stay?” would be a good phrasing.’
In contrast, saying ‘I always get free upgrades when I stay here,’ is likely to alienate the staff according to Edward. In turn, staff are more likely to deny your demands.
‘To accommodate a request, the staff has to know. But make it an open door, rather than trying to force the issue,’ he added.
He also suggested avoiding manufacturing a false complaint or issue – because that can backfire.
‘You may get something by forcing this one time, but you will have made yourself memorable in a bad way to the staff and management,’ he continued.
Finally, he said: ‘Similarly, a bribe will often backfire, as staff who are honest will be insulted, and those who are dishonest risk discovery and firing.’
Key Takeaways
- You can get a free room upgrade by simply asking the front desk worker for their name and telling them you'll be giving positive feedback.
- Hotels that fail to meet standards can lose their brand status, so feedback is very important.
- You're less likely to get an upgrade if you’re ‘forceful’ about the issue, and might end up alienating the staff to your requests.
- Bribes and false complaints might backfire as this leaves a ‘bad memory’ for management and hotel staff.