On the "free alcoholic" stuff. Most hotel chains within North America have now been charging for drinks in their lounges for quite a while. You go back 5-10 years when a few chains had complimentary beer/wine/liquor in Canada (most notably Hilton when the CDN division was part of Hilton International) - but since then, most have harmonized their offering within N.A.
I agree with most previous posters on access to Gold Floor. I have had access twice to the Gold Floor at a Fairmont property within Canada (@Fairmont Vancouver) and the lounges are private, quiet and with a premium food offering