A guest at Grand Hyatt Baha Mar shares that an employee at the check-in desk tried to shake them down for $500 for an upgrade. When the guest balked, they got the upgrade for free.

Checked in today and was offered a room upgrade for the week. After some number crunching on the computer, the total was $500 and I agreed. Then the staff walked me to my room, showed me around and mentioned the upgrade fee doesn’t need to be on my statement and they asked me to directly pay them in cash.

Was I too stupid to realize she was doing me a favor under the table? I was flabbergasted and refused. I asked to go back to my booked room and they said it was ok and they would just let me have this room we were standing in.

The agent upgraded the guest, and then tried to pocket an upgrade fee in cash. But since the guest was already upgraded, and they wouldn’t want them complaining to management, the guest kept the room they were already in. It seems clear to me that the agent processed the upgrade (whether they were supposed to or not) angling to line their own pockets. And the solicitation to pay in cash is always a giveaway.

One Marriott asks you to tip the front desk clerk – but there it isn’t even in exchange for anything (other than the hotel’s ability to pay less to attract staff if guests supplement their wages).

Tipping for a room upgrade is common in Las Vegas – and, apparently, at the Grand Hyatt Baha Mar because several social media commenters immediately guessed the property when the guest didn’t lead with the hotel name.

More than one Marriott has also solicited guests to prepay their rooms outside of Marriott channels, even claiming not to have received the money when they comply.

It’s important to understand how proper hotel procedures work – and stick to them – rather than letting a local employee on property bully you into giving up extra cash that’s hard to track. If you want to be sure what the money is really for, make sure there’s a proper trail for the transaction. On the other hand if the deal you’re being offered in cash is a good one, leave to your own discretion whether to comply.