I Expected a Basic Room Near Miami Airport—Here’s How I Ended Up in the Presidential Suite

For years, whenever I’ve needed an airport overnight in Miami, the Hyatt Regency Coral Gables has been my go-to. And I find myself needing that sort of stay not infrequently! Especially traveling when young children, where I try not to push them too hard with connections and with very early and very late flights.

There are plans for a new Westin attached to the Miami Airport. Estimated completion keeps getting pushed back. I might favor that property for pure convenience once it finally opens. But the staff at the Coral Gables property are great. There are little touches there, too, like Cuban coffee in the lobby and a nice pool.

Breakfast is a bit elevated for a Hyatt Regency. And they always try to upgrade Globalists – and not just to their entry-level suite.

On a recent stay, though, a staff member who has checked me in before recognized me when I came in and smiled. It was a one night stay and she knew what room they’d placed me in: the Presidential Suite. I’ve had surprisingly few Presidential suites, and I smiled, too.

I’ve only had Presidential suites a few times in my life. The one at the since-deflagged Hyatt Regency by Houston Intercontinental airport was shockingly bad and in disrepair.

Back when I was an Intercontinental Royal Ambassador I had the Presidential Suite at the Intercontinental Manila on two successive stays a week apart. Back then you could guarantee a Presidential suite upgrade –

• Many hotels in Asia interpreted ‘guaranteed suite’ as ‘two-category upgrade’ from whatever you booked, and didn’t have that many categories. It was an odd and sometimes non-compliant approach, but get a good discounted rate on something like a standard or club suite and that would guarantee whatever was two room categories above it – here, the Presidential Suite.

• I similarly had rooms like an Ambassador Suite at the Intercontinental Singapore, Diplomatic Suite at the Intercontinental Bangkok, and Terrace Suite at the Mark Hopkins overlooking the Golden Gate Bridge.

I’ve also had the Presidential Suite at the Sheraton San Diego Marina. But the only Presidential Suite I stayed in for more than one night was at the Westin Stonebriar. Single night stays are easier for the hotel to offer.

At Hyatt I love that I can confirm suites at the time of booking. But I don’t usually get upgraded beyond the standard suite that I book, and certainly not to top tier suites. That’s not surprising because a ‘Globalist’ at World of Hyatt is behind Courtesy Card members and Lifetime Globalists.

I still have about 7% to go on lifetime. When Hyatt started allowing suite upgrades on points redemptions eight years ago I starting using points on nearly all my personal stays – and that delayed earning lifetime status quite a lot.

Truth is, this wasn’t close to the most impressive suite I’ve had. The Presidential oceanfront villa with private pool at the Le Meridien Khao Lak (on a mistake rate priced in Ugandan schillings), maybe? I had a room at Bellagio with five bathrooms after tipping $100 at check-in. But there’s something about walking in and being upgraded to the Presidential Suite. In fact, hotels should probably name more of their suites presidential as I think on it..