Firstly, thank you for bothering to read my thread — it is greatly appreciated.

I just wanted to ask much more experienced FTers than I — especially where it comes to actually ensuring status benefits are realised upon arrival at your chosen hotel; mainly having had Hilton and Accor statuses until recently, then my knowledge of Marriott, especially in practice, is very limited — whether I would be fully entitled to the following at the JW Marriott Hong Kong as a Marriott Gold?

1. Lounge access
2. Free breakfast — and particularly, if I asked to take my free breakfast in the main restaurant as opposed to the lounge, whether this would likely be acquiesced to?

One of the reasons for my thread is that I at the moment I would be able to redeem (for points) on my preferred dates, but would have to pay an HK$800.00 daily supplement to access the lounge at the JW Marriott Hong Kong... but if I have Gold status and if I could be sure of lounge access anyway in advance of arriving, then this would make life better (and cheaper! )).

Again, thank you for taking the time to read this — I greatly appreciate it.