I’ve harped quite a bit about the lack of benefits for Hyatt elites at Hyatt Place properties, especially now that the program has eliminated check-in amenities. The program doesn’t allow top tier elites to confirm suites at Hyatt Place hotels. Breakfast is for everyone, or at least for program members booking direct going forward.

Since I rarely want a late check-out at a Hyatt Place the only benefit I experience is bottled water.

And since I’ve given these shortcomings a bunch of play recently it struck me this week when I saw the inside of a suite at a Hyatt Place property for the very first time.

Checking in late for a one night stay at the Hyatt Place Arlington Courthouse I was told at check-in I had been assigned to a suite. The standard Hyatt Place room is set up like a junior suite, with a divider between the bed area and the sofa. But this put the sofa in a separate room, and there was a separate bar area.

While it occurred to me that Hyatt could have done that on purpose to show me there are elite benefits at Hyatt Place hotels. Although I doubt it. That would take a whole level of organization they’ve never shown before. And as I say it was a late check-in for a one night stay, exactly the scenario where hotels tend to offer upgrades as they entail the least risk of tradeoff for the room.

Besides every time I check into this hotel they think they know something about me and it’s wrong every time. On this stay they told me, “I see you requested extra towels.” Huh? I didn’t, I was staying on my own, their standard three is more than the one I’d be using. On my last stay at this property they remarked, “I see you really like our wine.” I’ve never had a glass of wine at a Hyatt Place.

Of course to the extent there are suites, and they’re not that different from a standard room, it’s unclear why members shouldn’t be able to confirm upgrades.