2026 has been very different, especially since I made Ambassador (before it's always Titanium). In the past my upgrade rate would literally be 90%, but in 2026 as Ambassador it's ZERO. 0 for 7 in various East Asian cities (Shanghai, Macao, Xi'an, Beijing, Hong Kong). In one establishment that I frequent, the lounge manager immediately apologizes and changed me into a pretty big suite (with a kitchen and dining room, overkill for me but appreciate the gesture) and said she'll put a note into my record for future stays that I will get a guaranteed suite upgrade. Out of curiosity I asked what's change? She told me, "We were told to stop upgrading Platinum/above to suites." I asked if she knows is it just them or a nationwide policy. She said it's individual property decision but "we are learning from one another." I asked, "oh, to save cost?" She replied: "that but also to attract new customers. We know the elites will keep coming back, and we want the people that usually don't' stay with us to be surprised upgrade to a suite if we are overbooked in a room type, in the hope that they will be repeat customers." Me: "wow, that's going to upset elites don't you think?" She smiled back at me: "which we won't admit, besides, the policy is to upgrade to better room not guaranteed suite"

Well, here it is. Not saying all properties will be like this, but in case you're like me that's wondering why upgrades are harder to come by in 2026. Personally, I think elites will be more annoyed and switch properties, and the casual stays are price conscious and unlikely to repeat simply because they got a suite upgrade. But I'm not in the industry so maybe they know something I don't.