The New York Times carried a piece today on hotel presidential suites.

They have expensive sticker prices but most people staying in them don’t pay sticker price — they’re upgrades from lesser rooms or comped rooms to meeting planners or other VIPs bringing the hotel significant business.

I remember the very first hotel event I booked, they put me in their very best suite. Of course, it was a Best Western and it was their only suite. But it was my first year of work and I was impressed. Had folks over for the jacuzzi, too.

I’ve never stayed in a true presidential suite, the kind they have at the Waldorf Towers in New York. It a matter of luck and I’ve never asked for one either. But I do have an Ambassador Suite booked at the Intercontinental Bagkok in a couple weeks and a Terrace Suite booked at the Mark Hopkins after that. And anyone with a pulse (and a Starwood Platinum card) can score a nice corner suite at the Westin Diplomat (where I’ll be returning shortly as well).

Sometimes that nice presidential suite can even be booked as an award.