There's something special about getting an unexpected upgrade, whether on a flight or at a hotel. After a long day of travel, what's better than finding out you've got a bigger room or a pile of perks to enjoy during your stay? Ahead of St. Patrick’s Day, Casino.org analyzed data from over 40,000 properties across 15 major hotel brands in the U.S. and Canada to determine "luckiest" hotel chains, i.e. the brands that are most likely to dole out free upgrades, perks and VIP treatment.
Using data scraping techniques, they scanned reviews from TripAdvisor, Booking.com and Trivago for phrases like "free upgrade," "complimentary suite" and "unexpected upgrade" to crown the winners.
Wyndham Hotels takes the top spot, with a staggering 1 in 22 guests receiving a surprise room boost. With brands like Travelodge, La Quinta and Caesars Palace Las Vegas under its belt, it’s no wonder Wyndham leads the pack—especially with Vegas in the mix.
Coming in second is Highgate Hotels (think Marriott, DoubleTree and Hard Rock Hotel & Casino), where 1 in 24 guests report landing a free upgrade. If you’re a fan of stylish stays and rockstar treatment, this might be your best bet.
But if you’re checking into a Choice Hotels International property (like Radisson), don’t hold your breath—your odds of an upgrade drop to just 1 in 250 guests.
So, if you’re feeling lucky, aim for Wyndham or Highgate on your next booking. You never know—you might just land that dream suite without spending an extra dime.
Hotel chains most likely to offer free upgrades
- Wyndham Hotel
- Highgate
- Sonesta International
- Extended Stay America
- IHG Hotels & resorts
- Marriot International
- Westmont Hospitality Group
- Hilton
- Red Roof
- Aimbridge Hospitality