FWIW, as a Gold I booked a junior suite for early this year as an award stay at Le Meridien Khao Lak, Thailand, then got upgraded to an even nicer suite upon arrival. No guarantee of this happening, of course. It probably helped that it was a down period due to the global economy compounded by the country's political problems (including a disruptive airport takeover). It conceivably helped that I wrote ahead to the hotel, asking very politely for an upgrade if possible.