Originally Posted by
VegasGambler
This is complicated enough that it's likely that they screw this up, which is not necessarily a bad thing. If the error on your favor (ie, you get credit for the first night as well) you leave it alone. If the error is in their favor (you get credit only for 1 room the 2nd night, or nothing at all) you call in and have it fixed. This is what we in the gambling world call a "freeroll".
Yep! I am 1-for-1 in arriving to a room on the second night and receiving credit for the first night. I even informed the hotel I would be arriving the next day when I added one of my guests' names to the reservation. (I was green at the time and had no idea this could affect my night credits)
I also had the experience of making a booking under my wife's name when I wasn't 100% sure I would be joining her on the trip, and then later adding my own name to the reservation once I knew I would be there too...and NOT receiving credit. A 10-min call with WOH got nowhere, but an email with the hotel manager got it fixed in minutes.