I just returned from a conference in Portland, where I stayed at the Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center. I’ll have a full review coming up in the next few days, but wanted to share something that happened while I was there, where I was “upgraded” to a “view room”. I know that this type of fake upgrade happens all the time, but it is mildly annoying when it does.
Checking in on a Guest of Honor Award
I have had top-tier status with Hyatt before, but currently am a mere Discoverist (from having the Hyatt credit card). However, a friend had posted on a Facebook group that I am in that he had some Guest of Honor certificates available if anyone wanted one, so I took one and applied it to this stay.
A Guest of Honor award means that, for all intents and purposes, I was considered as a top-tier Globalist for this stay.
When I checked in, I asked if there were any suite upgrades. I was told that there were not any suites available but I had been upgraded to a “View Room”.
I said “Hmm that is interesting that you don’t have any suites available, since when I was on your website this morning, you were still selling suites?”
I mean I wasn’t expecting the Maurice Lucas Foundation Suite, but they were still selling Corner Suites. The front desk attendant said that they were still selling suites for cash, but they were oversold. I wondered but did not ask what they would do if someone bought one of these suites?
He “checked with his manager” to see if there were any suite upgrades, but whaddayaknow, there weren’t any.
Amazed by my “View Room”
I didn’t really push it because a) I know that I’m not REALLY a Globalist, b) with a big conference next door I’m sure they were pretty full, c) the front desk guy was actually pretty chill about it and d) it was just me traveling so I didn’t really NEED a suite anyways. I did sarcastically ask what my “view” was of, and the front desk guy said “the river” with somewhat of a question in his voice?
On Hyatt’s site, it says that the view rooms have “south-facing city, river and mountain views”.
So I made my trek up to the 11th floor to check out my view room. It was indeed facing south, where I had an AMAZING view of the solar panels on the roof of the convention center across the street.
I guess you can sort of see the Willamette River in the background?
Here is also where I feel I should point out that Hyatt sells rooms with this view above for ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY DOLLARS PER NIGHT (plus tax) more than a standard room.
What a complete and total ripoff!
Final Thoughts
Despite still selling suites on their website, somehow magically a suite upgrade was not available for me staying on a Hyatt Guest of Honor award. Instead, I was “upgraded” to a “view room” which…. looks exactly like the view you would get from anywhere else in the hotel. I guess I should be glad I didn’t pay $130 for the privilege.
Ever had an underwhelming upgrade? Leave your story in the comments below
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Dan Miller travels with his wife and 6 (SIX!) children. He loves to help families travel for free / cheap, especially larger families. If you are looking for help, drop him an email at
Doesn’t a roof view count as a view? Good thing the dumpster view room was taken, eh?
At least it was better than nothing. I recently stayed at Andaz Maui and had a lovely “partial” ocean view from the second floor, right in front of the adult pool. I could catch a glimpse of the ocean – just a “small” portion compared to the river view you had.
BTW, welcome to Portland.
Sadly Hyatt corporate is dropping the ball. So many properties now magically disappear standard suites for elite updates, but if you pay cash they are available.
Right. That is one reason I wanted to call them out on it