Starwood Preferred Guest - Upgraded for no particular reason at all?

I had a weird experience just last week at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket...I had a 2-night stay with my best friend (out of which only one night was paid, the other was a TG Reward Certificate) which was supposed to be in a Laguna view room (basically the 2nd tier room). Upon check-in, we were upgraded to a 2-story Villa!

While I completely appreciate this truly outstanding perk, I can't help but wonder why?? I have never stayed at a Sheraton (or indeed any other Starwood property) before, the only reason I happened to be in this one was that it was by far the nicest hotel in Phuket in which TG's upgrade certificate could be used.

Reasons I could come up with are the following:

1. I do have an SPG account and wanted it credited with the paid night, but didn't have the number handy and the clerk couldn't immediately find it in the database. Could it be that she might have thought I'm a high tier member and upgraded me, after which reversing the process might have been a PR faux-pas?

2. Low-season...but there were plenty of people in the hotel, I saw many items on the balconies of the ground-floor rooms, why us and not them?

3. Could it conceivably be my AMEX card? It's a gold-colored credit card...I know Platinum credit/charge cards come with such privileges but have never heard of a similar perk for other ones.

Any other suggestions or ideas are welcome...I'm very pleased :cool: , but also very confused :confused:

Alternatively, I guess it could just have been a certain alignment of stars on that day :D

If it were me, I would just enjoy the villa and not worry about the 'why' or 'how'.

I myself have booked 2 regular rooms for Xmas and am hoping that they would upgrade me (a Plat) to a duplex villa.

At the time, I certainly didn't worry about the why or how, but I'm an inquisitive person and was just wondering if there is any official reason why that would have happened...

Oh, and enjoy Phuket!

I've mentioned this elsewhere but I redeemed 2 nights at the Bristol Hotel in Vienna for a Penthouse Junior suite and at check-in found out we had been upgraded to the Prince of Wales Suite (the best suite in the hotel).

I was Starwood basic then, it was not even a revenue stay, but we most certainly appreciated and enjoyed the upgrade. I, too, sometimes still wonder why the hotel chose to upgrade us but I find savouring the memories to be a more enjoyable, and less headache inducing, time.

It's the hotel equivalent of the op-up. Thank them profusely and enjoy the room!

I once got upgraded at the Irvine Marriott to the nicest room with a fantastic view in the hotel. There was champagne and strawberries waiting for me - and I wasn't even a Marriott rewards member then.

It turns out it was a mix up in the reservation and they thought I was someone else. They let me keep the room and strawberries, but took back the champagne and gave me free breakfast instead. :)