Should I Take Up This Tempting Upgrade Offer?

March 10, 2026

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Club Upgrade Offer
Ritz Carlton Hong Kong – Club Lounge
The Pundit’s Mantra
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A few weeks back, I wrote about my upcoming trip to Hong Kong. After some amazing stays at Ritz Carlton properties over the last two years, I decided to pull the trigger and book yet another stay at the magnificent Ritz Carlton Hong Kong. Hong Kong has a lot of Marriott Bonvoy properties and I opted for the Ritz Carlton Hong Kong, booking a five night stay using my Marriott Bonvoy points, getting the fifth night free.

Club Upgrade Offer

If you have elite status above and beyond Platinum elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, then you not only get complimentary breakfast at most properties but also get lounge access at qualifying properties in their portfolio. However, like most things in the program, lounge access is also not that straightforward. At the moment, I have Platinum elite status with Marriott Bonvoy, thanks to the Amex Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card. The card gives you Platinum elite status for simply keeping your card account active.

However, not all Platinum elite benefits are applicable when you stay at Ritz Carlton properties. The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong is no different. The hotel has a fantastic club lounge, but you need to either book a club level room or upgrade to the club level. I reached out to the property about my options. The property allows you to do a paid cash upgrade to club level. As per the property’s policy, complimentary upgrades are not offered to club level even for elites. Moreover, there’s no complimentary breakfast for Platinum elite guests at the property.

The hotel came up with an offer for our stay which was as follows: HKD 1,500 + 10% surcharge total per night for two adults and one kid.

This converts to $211 per night, which amounts to $1,055 for a five night stay.

Ritz Carlton Hong Kong – Club Lounge

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For starters, there is no difference in room size at the property when you compare a standard room v/s club level rooms.

Deluxe Seaview Room with One King Bed — Image Courtesy Ritz Carlton Hong Kong/Marriott Bonvoy

Both types of rooms have a size of 538 sq.ft. However, there a a ton of benefits that you get once you upgrade to Club level, essentially covering a multitude of food and drink options all day long. The following meals are included once you upgrade to Club level:

two women sitting at a table with a large window — Image courtesy Ritz Carlton Hong Kong/Marriott Bonvoy

Breakfast:
7:00 am – 10:30 am
(Monday – Friday)
7:00 am – 11:00 am
(Saturday, Sunday & Public holidays)
Light Lunch:
12:00 pm – 2:00 pm
Afternoon Tea:
3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Hors d’Oeuvres:
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Cordials:
8:30 pm – 10:00 pm

Lounge Image — Image Courtesy Ritz Carlton Hong Kong/Marriott Bonvoy

In addition to these meals, Club level guests also enjoy the following benefits:

Complimentary pressing service of five garments per day (non-cumulative)
Dedicated Club Concierge service (from 6:30 am to 11:30 pm)
Business Centre service and complimentary Wi-Fi in the Club Lounge
Wake-up call with complimentary coffee or tea
One-hour complimentary use of meeting room at the Club Lounge per stay based on availability
Experiential Event
Complimentary in-town limousine drop-off service within Kowloon area

The Pundit’s Mantra

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Overall, this seems to be a pretty decent offer and I’m tempted to take this one up. Why? Firstly, breakfast is a major meal for me to start the day and this property only offers breakfast to club level guests. If you don’t opt for the Club level upgrade, the cost of breakfast for three people on a daily basis can be really steep. Secondly, I currently carry the Amex Platinum Card (Charles Schwab version). I have decent enough points balance in my Amex Membership Rewards account and always have the option to ‘pay’ for the upgrade using my Amex points, cashing them out at a rate of 1.1 cents per point. That works out to a total of 96,000 Amex Membership Rewards points.

Also, since we’re traveling with a kid, it always helps to have all your food options included. Based on reviews I’ve read so far, the hotel staff is extremely accommodative of dietary needs and goes out of the way to make kids and families feel comfortable and taken care of.

Have you paid to upgrade to the club level at a Ritz Carlton property? What was your experience like? Tell us in the comments section.

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