I'm a platinum, and at two different Ws where I've stayed recently (Atlanta and Seattle), I've had symbols after my last name on the reservation... variously, it's been asterisks or the '@' symbol. And, it's there from stay to stay, as if it's how my "permanent" record at that hotel is.

I have a hunch that it has to do with their feelings about you as a customer, as it would show up on the phone if you called the front desk, Whatever Whenever, etc., and could be a positive or negative reflection (at one of those hotels I've had excellent service and have a good reputation; at the other, well, the manager and I have spoken a couple of times about some screw-ups on their part).

Has anyone else had this experience? Have you broken the code?