Now that my stay is come and gone, I can share that I was upgraded on a paid stay ($559) in a one bedroom suite at the Nines in Portland to their top Nines Suite (rack rate around $4500) this past solar eclipse weekend. Please note that the hotel was sold out. The Nines Suite is the hotel's top accommodation.
Please see my review at:
http://www.flyertalk.com/hotel-revie...-beverage-2123
I was able to arrange this upgrade through my Ambassador and hotel management many months in advance of our stay--even with them knowing the hotel would be sold out due to the eclipse--because of my elite Ambassador status.
Say what you want, but my Ambassador status allowed me a massive upgrade to a truly spectacular suite that otherwise would never be available to me or most customers.
Ambassador status is totally worth it if you stay at upscale and luxury level hotels and/or enjoy suite upgrades and VIP treatment at almost any SPG hotel.