I am Lifetime Titanium and was Lifetime Platinum for years before that in the previous MR program. Upgrades are highly variable. Some properties are more conscious of elite status and granting upgrades proactively. Others are not and rarely tend to upgrade any guest. At many properties, how often you stay or how much business your company gives them as a whole is a stronger factor than your status for getting upgrades. Upgrades also appear to be cyclical. There are periods of time when Marriott appears to be encouraging proactive elite upgrades throughout the system. Other times not so much. Personally, I'd say we're in a period of not so much currently.

Also note, at highly desirable resort or big city locations, elite upgrades are also less likely to happen. Since these properties get lots of elite guests (including Titanium and Ambassador) all of the time, there aren't enough upgrades to go around. It never hurts to ask at the front desk if an upgrade is available. Sometimes that will work. If it doesn't don't be disappointed.

FInally, while some folks go down the path of trying to prove an upgrade is available after being turned down at check in, I do not. If an upgraded room is that important to you for a particular stay, then you should book that room type. I have at times done just that and booked a premium view room or some other upgrade for a family vacation when it was important to us. For most business stays, as long as the basics are good (clean, quiet, good bed, HVAC and bathroom in good working order, and Wireless Internet working properly with reasonable speeds), I am fine. An upgrade to a suite or a bigger room is a nice bonus and gives me more room to stretch out; however, the basic room in good order is all I really need as one person. That said properties who tend to proactively upgrade elites does factor in to how I choose where to stay. When I use to go to Philadelphia regularly for work, there was one property in particular that upgraded me a lot. Prices were similar for the MR properties in the area I needed to stay, so that property was always my first choice. Each to their own and YMMV....

--Jon