Originally Posted by BeantownFlyer
The guarantee for elite members is no different that the guarantee which I believe is offered by all hotel chains. If your confirmed reservation is not available you get a free night at another comparable hotel, a phone call home, transportation to the other hotel (and back if you are staying multiple nights). Not sure if this is a AMEX/Visa/MC requirement, just the practice which has been adopted, or whatever, but it is what is offered up when you insist.
The usual fight is over what is a "comparable" hotel.
I worked in the hotel industry for a while and you are barking up the right tree. Although it is a stretch to call it a guarantee. I would call it generally accepted practices. Most hotels do "walk" you at their expense, however, quite often there is not a "comparable" hotel available. Within reason, if you are not paying for it, or a local event dictates an overflow situation at all the hotels in the area, you may be stuck with whatever hotel is available.
Most chain hotels will offer to pick up the tab and incidentals since they would have charged you if you No Showed, and they did "guarantee" you a room for late arrival.