Adam,
I too would be interested in some clarrification on this question. As you know, some hotels are great about providing upgrades and services for Gold/Diamonds. Other properties seem to feel they don't have to provide these services, or it is at the hotels discretion. For example, do we have any resolution with regard to the Hilton Old Town Alexandria refusing to upgrade people to the soveirgn level (which is the properties club level). This one is my worse ever upgrade experience. Also at the Hilton Boston Back Bay they knew nothing of free breakfast, and asked me to fax in the copy from the web page. Though I have read on this board that the BOS property now has an HH floor. At other properties like the BOS Logan Airport Hilton, or Capital Hilton I have had no difficulty upgrading, and am usually pre-blocked into an upgraded exec level room.