# How to Get Hotel Upgrades: What Actually Works URL: https://emptvl.vercel.app/travel-guides/how-to-get-hotel-upgrades Publisher: Empyrean Travel (https://emptvl.vercel.app/) Last reviewed: 2026-10-19 How to get hotel upgrades: elite status, Virtuoso amenities, booking channel, timing, special occasions and paid upgrade offers, and when to just book the room. **Quick answer:** Hotel upgrades go to guests the hotel recognizes and has room for. Your best odds come from elite status with the brand, booking through a Virtuoso advisor whose partner amenities typically include an upgrade when available, booking direct or through an advisor rather than discount sites, traveling when the hotel isn’t full, and asking politely before arrival. No upgrade is ever guaranteed. - Strongest levers: Elite status and advisor amenities - Weakest position: Discount and opaque third-party rates - Best timing: When the hotel isn’t full - Never guaranteed: Book the room you actually need ## Who gets hotel upgrades first? Upgrades are decided by the front office, usually the day before or the morning of arrival, when rooms are assigned. The hotel looks at who is arriving, which better rooms are empty and who it most wants to please: elite members, guests booked through valued partners, repeat guests and people celebrating something. Length of stay matters, because a suite has to be free for every night you are there. Guests on deeply discounted or opaque third-party rates usually come last, and some booking sites’ reservations don’t earn loyalty benefits at all. ## Does booking through a travel advisor help with upgrades? It can. Empyrean is affiliated with Andavo Travel, a Virtuoso member agency, so stays at Virtuoso partner hotels typically include an upgrade when available, daily breakfast for two, a property credit, early check-in or late check-out when available, and Wi-Fi. Your advisor also adds notes about the occasion, room preferences and arrival time to the reservation. Rates are generally comparable to booking direct, and the amenities are added on top. See what Virtuoso is and Virtuoso advisor vs booking direct for how it works. ## How much does hotel elite status help? A lot, at the top tiers. In the major hotel programs, the highest tiers typically promise space-available upgrades, sometimes including suites, along with late checkout and lounge access. Lower tiers mostly get points bonuses and the occasional better view. Status comes from nights stayed, some co-branded credit cards and occasional status-match offers. It is most valuable when you concentrate stays in one family of brands. For one-off luxury stays at independent hotels, advisor amenities usually do more. ## How do you ask for an upgrade without being awkward? Ask before you arrive, not at a busy desk. A short, friendly note through your advisor or the hotel’s reservations team mentioning an anniversary or a preference for a high floor reaches the people who assign rooms. At check-in, a simple “Are there any upgrades available today?” is fine; pushing or bargaining rarely helps. If the hotel offers a paid upgrade before arrival or at check-in, compare it with the price difference when you booked. These offers are often good value on longer stays. ## Should you book the room you want instead of hoping for an upgrade? For trips that matter, yes. On a honeymoon or a milestone birthday, book the category you would be disappointed not to have, such as an overwater bungalow with direct lagoon access, and treat any upgrade as a bonus. Our choosing the right hotel room guide explains what each category name really means. Be wary of run-of-house rates, which let the hotel assign any room. They are cheaper for a reason and rarely lead to upgrades. ## Hotel upgrade levers, strongest first - **Top-tier elite status** (Loyalty): Higher tiers in the major hotel programs typically include space-available room upgrades, sometimes to suites. - **Virtuoso amenities** (Advisor booking): At partner hotels, typically an upgrade when available, plus daily breakfast for two and a property credit. — https://emptvl.vercel.app/travel-guides/what-is-virtuoso - **Booking channel** (Direct or advisor): Hotels prioritize guests booked direct or through recognized advisors over discount-site rates. - **Off-peak timing** (Availability): Midweek at resorts, weekends at business hotels and shoulder seasons leave more good rooms open. - **A genuine occasion** (Goodwill): A honeymoon or milestone birthday noted in advance can tip a discretionary decision your way. - **Paid upgrade offers** (Value play): Pre-arrival or check-in offers are often priced below booking the higher category outright. ## Frequently asked questions **Q: Does booking through Virtuoso guarantee a hotel upgrade?** A: No. Virtuoso amenities at partner hotels typically include an upgrade when available, which depends on occupancy on your arrival date. What you typically do receive are the confirmed amenities, such as daily breakfast for two and a property credit. If a specific room type matters, book that category rather than counting on an upgrade. **Q: Does mentioning a honeymoon or anniversary help get an upgrade?** A: It can tip a discretionary decision in your favor, especially when noted in advance by your advisor or in the reservation, so the team assigning rooms sees it. Hotels like to make celebrations memorable, and you may receive a small amenity even without an upgrade. Keep it genuine; front office teams see a lot of claimed anniversaries. **Q: Can you get an upgrade when booking through a discount travel site?** A: It is less likely. Hotels usually prioritize guests booked direct, through recognized advisors or with elite status, and some third-party rates don’t earn loyalty benefits or recognition. You can still ask politely at check-in, but if upgrades matter to you, booking direct or through a Virtuoso advisor puts you in a stronger position. **Q: Should you tip the front desk to get an upgrade?** A: It isn’t necessary, and at many luxury hotels it can feel awkward. A friendly request, ideally made before arrival, works as well and avoids the issue. If the team goes out of its way for you, a thank-you note or mention to management is appreciated. Tipping customs vary by country, so follow local norms for service staff. **Q: When is the best time to get a hotel upgrade?** A: When the hotel has empty premium rooms. That usually means weekends at business-focused city hotels, midweek at resorts, and shoulder or low season anywhere. Upgrades are rare on sold-out nights such as major conferences, holidays and festivals. Shorter stays are also easier to upgrade, since a suite only has to be free for fewer nights. ## Sources - [Virtuoso](https://www.virtuoso.com/)