thats why you call the property and add the person who will be checking into the room to the reservation. in my experience the process works best if you call the property directly yourself. I have always got the benefits of status for the room, even when I dont show up to check in first - but i do also hold a wee bit more status than gold

edit: and if you dont want to have to have whoever checks in put down their own card for incidentals, use the credit card authorization form. some properties now have a web link you can use instead of the old form that needed to be signed and emailed back.