Originally Posted by cordelli

The upgrades, if you get one and what type, depends on the property, your status, if you stayed with them before, if they have space they want to use, etc.

I probably run just over 50% now on upgrades, but a good reason it's as low as that is many of my stays are in places that don't have any rooms that would be considered an upgrade.

Upgrades can be any of the following:

To a larger room, sometimes a huge room
To a room with a better view, a jaccuzzi, whatever makes it a higher priced room
To a suite, not sure where you heard you can't be upgraded to a suite
In a place like Homewoods to a two bedroom room, which is pretty funny if you are traveling along, two bedrooms, two double beds in each, and a double pull out couch, sleeping space for 10.

There can be other benefits, free bottle of water, free breakfast, internet, parking, pair of drinks, etc. Don't get overly excited though, it's usually one of those per stay.

The executive lounge is a room or suite they have converted to a lounge, a place you can go to have a drink, watch some TV, maybe coffee and pastry in the morning, again totally depends on the property.