Complimentary room upgrades (without using NUA) are still very common in second-tier and third-tier cities in Latin America and Asia/Pacific, especially locations that are less common tourist or business destinations for North American elites. The farther off the beaten path the property is, the more "impressed" the staff are likely to be with your status.

I once stayed at a property in a smaller city in South America, and they were so impressed with my Bonvoy Titanium status that they gave me a massive suite and the General Manager was waiting to greet me at breakfast, saying "we've never had a guest with your status in my time here!"