I've been able to successfully email hotels directly and ask that they would make an exception to the rules to help me get a well-appointed stay for friends and family members. This has worked at all levels of Accor Hotels for me, from luxury to economy stays in a few different countries. It just depends on the hotel management.

In most cases, they treated my friends/family members well and gave them all the benefits my status would have given me. I even got the reward and status points as well!

Many hotels will refuse do to this but it never hurts to ask. Ultimately, they do want people staying at their hotel!