How this is all handled depends on the individual hotel policy. My son asked me to make a reservation for him for a wedding he was attending, figuring that with my platinum status maybe he could get late check out even though I was not going (he was not looking for any platinum benefits outside of this). I called the hotel and asked the concierge if it was possible for me to prepay (lower rate) and reserve the room in his name but I would not be coming. The concierge told me that he would put the room in both our names and this way I would get the credit for the stay as well as the points. When my son arrived he was treated like a platinum member with all the upgrades, free bfast, late checkout etc. so kudos to the hotel. My son is now a SPG convert and the hotel is defintely one that I would recommend and use.