I am wondering if the guests or hotels are mis-reading the warning about Edition hotels not participating in the Suite Award program. It is possible that the warning refers to the SUITE NIGHT AWARDS program, which Edition and Ritz-Carlton DO NOT participate in. That would be an accurate and honest reflection of the Bonvoy program rules.

What would not be accurate is that Edition and Ritz-Carlton do not provide complimentary upgrades to available non-Club access suites for Titanium or Ambassador elites. Edition and Ritz-Carlton hotels are supposed to provide complimentary upgrades to standard entry level suites (but not with Club access at Ritz-Carlton) based on availability at check in for any and all Titanium and Ambassador guests. In practice, this seems to happen more for Ambassador guests on a pre-upgraded basis well before check in.