I've recently had contrasting experiences at ICH properties in Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo.
The Rio IC is somewhat inconveniently located in Sao Conrado but otherwise a fine building with a shopping mall right around the corner. As an Amb I was upgraded to a junior suite, and received the usual bottles of water, fruit, letter and business card from the manager, coupon for free pressing, and two free drink coupons (valid 6-8 pm only). The TV didn't work at first and I had to ask twice to get it fixed. I also received a free gift of a large samba-themed coffee-table book (on sale for nearly US$60 in the hotel gift shop), but unfortunately it was so bulky and heavy I had to leave it behind. The staff were great and room service was extremely prompt even though the hotel was fairly busy.

At the Sao Paulo IC, which is well located one block off Av. Paulista, I was also upgraded to a junior suite on a low floor, but got none of the above-mentioned frills or gifts apart from the bowl of fruit and a single bottle of water, which appeared on my bill at check-out time (I complained about that but nothing else).

So it seems Amb recognition can be rather patchy in Brazil. Both properties are up to the usual IC standard, though.
The Sao Paulo Crowne Plaza, where I also stayed a for one night a week or so earlier, is half a block off Paulista, but an older building with rather cramped rooms. The Plat upgrade was to a room with 2 complimentary bottles of mineral water, but otherwise it was identical to a standard room (or so a receptionist told me). This property could do with some refurbishment and I don't regret switching to the IC when I returned to SP a few days later.