in 2006, i did an SLH.com Club offer booking. according to hotel, and based on all context i believe them, SLH only sent bed type and rate to hotel the day before i arrived. based on rate, hotel gave me one of their higher suites even though suite rate was higher. (i think not just about SLH but more about indirect bookings, after that i would talk to hotel after making indirect booking.)
only management companies have any real consistency, and even then there is variation. SLH, LHW, R&C are all marketing. forum could probably use a Relais & Chateaux thread.