Most luxury hotel programs offer upgrades, but usually only subject to availability at check-in. That means you may not know what room you are getting until you arrive. A small number of preferred partner programs can confirm an upgrade before your stay. In some cases, it is guaranteed when you book. In others, the hotel confirms it shortly after the reservation is made.
The Peninsula Hotels: PenClub
Peninsula PenClub is one of the best programs for confirmed upgrades. On eligible bookings, you can receive a guaranteed one-category upgrade at the time of booking, as long as the eligible upgraded category is available. For example, if you book a Deluxe Room and the next eligible category is a Premier Room, that upgrade can be confirmed before you travel.
PenClub benefits can also include daily breakfast for two, hotel credit, Peninsula Time flexible arrival and departure, and additional hotel amenities. There are some category restrictions, so we always check the exact upgrade path before booking.
Oetker Collection: Pearl Partner
Oetker Collection's Pearl Partner program can offer a confirmed one-category upgrade at booking at selected hotels and on eligible rates. This can apply at hotels such as Le Bristol Paris, Hôtel du Cap-Eden-Roc, The Lanesborough, Eden Rock St Barths, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa and Palácio Tangará. Upgrade rules vary by hotel and room category, so it is not automatic on every booking. Pearl Partner benefits can also include breakfast for two, hotel credit, early check-in and late checkout subject to availability, and additional hotel recognition.
Dorchester Collection: Diamond Club
Dorchester Diamond Club offers one of the clearest upgrade benefits. On eligible guestroom bookings, you can receive a guaranteed one-category upgrade at the time of booking, generally up to the Junior Suite category. The guarantee usually applies to guestrooms rather than suites, so if you are already booking a Junior Suite or higher, the upgrade rules can be different. Diamond Club benefits can also include breakfast for two, hotel credit and additional benefits for suite bookings.
Shangri-La: Luxury Circle
Shangri-La Luxury Circle can provide an upgrade to the next eligible room category at the time of booking, provided that category is available. There are restrictions on which categories can upgrade into which. Luxury Circle benefits can also include breakfast for two, hotel credit, a welcome amenity, and early check-in and late checkout subject to availability.
Hyatt Privé
Hyatt Privé works slightly differently, but it is still one of the best programs if you want an upgrade confirmed before arrival. At many participating Hyatt hotels, we can request the upgrade when the reservation is made. The hotel then reviews expected occupancy and can often confirm the upgraded room within 24 hours. It is not an automatic guarantee in the same way as Peninsula or Dorchester, but once the hotel approves it, you know your upgraded room before you travel. Hyatt Privé can also include breakfast for two, a USD 100 property credit at many hotels, a welcome amenity, and early check-in or late checkout where available. It is available at participating hotels across brands including Park Hyatt, Andaz, Alila, Thompson and Grand Hyatt.
Four Seasons Preferred Partner
Four Seasons Preferred Partner normally includes an upgrade subject to availability, but some Four Seasons hotels also run guaranteed upgrade promotions. With these offers, the upgraded room category can be confirmed at the time of booking rather than waiting until check-in. The offers vary by hotel and dates, and they can often still include the normal Four Seasons Preferred Partner benefits, including breakfast for two, hotel credit and other benefits. This is why it is always worth checking with us before booking a Four Seasons stay. We can see whether the hotel you want has a guaranteed upgrade offer available for your dates, as well as any other Preferred Partner promotions.
Which programs should you check?
Peninsula PenClub: guaranteed upgrade at booking on eligible categories. Oetker Pearl Partner: confirmed upgrade at booking at selected hotels and rates. Dorchester Diamond Club: guaranteed one-category upgrade on eligible guestrooms. Shangri-La Luxury Circle: next eligible room-category upgrade confirmed at booking when available. Hyatt Privé: upgrade can often be confirmed shortly after booking, usually within 24 hours of the request. Four Seasons Preferred Partner: the standard upgrade is subject to availability, but individual hotels frequently have promotions that can guarantee the upgrade at the time of booking.
What about other luxury hotel programs?
Programs such as Rosewood Elite, Marriott STARS and Luminous, Mandarin Oriental Fan Club, Belmond Bellini Club, Hilton for Luxury, IHG Destined and Rocco Forte Knights generally offer upgrades subject to availability, rather than a brand-wide guaranteed upgrade. These programs can still produce very good upgrades, particularly when your travel advisor has a relationship with the hotel. Individual hotels can also run their own guaranteed upgrade promotions, so it is always worth checking the exact hotel and dates rather than assuming the standard program rules are the only option.
How to get a confirmed hotel upgrade
Programs such as PenClub, Pearl Partner, Diamond Club, Luxury Circle and Hyatt Privé are available through selected luxury travel advisors. Clements Travel has access to these programs. Send us your hotel, dates and preferred room category, and we can check the direct rate, preferred partner benefits, the upgrade path and whether the upgraded category can be confirmed before you book. For Four Seasons, we can also check whether your chosen hotel is currently running a guaranteed upgrade promotion for your dates. There are no Clements Travel booking fees, and on eligible reservations you pay the hotel directly.
