I believe Bhrubin has acknowledged that the SPG Lightspeed system does not have any information to state that the guest is anything other than an SPG Plat, without any distinction as to how many nights or whether they have an ambassador. He believes that the only way an SPG property (whether an Element/4 Points or a St. Regis) knows that the guest has an ambassador is because "Starwood Ambassadors exert influence because they can and do contact hotels by phone/email and make requests and identify Ambassador VIP guests as appropriate."

I can't comment on the SPG program vs the MR program because I only know the MR side. I'm sure those on the SPG side who haven't lived the MR program can't comment on the MR side. That being said, my impression is that the MR ambassador program operates just as described by those in the SPG forum. I don't believe that there are any reports in the SPG forum discussing ambassadors that ambassadors are contacting properties 100 times a year to identify guests as VIPs. Instead, the ambassadors seem to be responding to and addressing requests from the members they support.

And, of course, while some decisions at SPG and MR properties are obviously made at the front desk, its not accurate to state that status at MR properties is only a function of the front desk. For example, I regularly receive notes from GM's, often am upgraded to suites before I arrive, and occasionally get unexpected welcome food/wine. And status isn't limited to expensive properties -- I stayed at a rural Courtyard recently. When I checked in, I had a handwritten note from the GM, had been upgraded to their best suite, found a basket of goodies in my room, and a voucher to their bar. But, I doubt that has anything to do with ambassador status, although its possible that some in the MR world are seeing the ambassador code.