I had a weird experience just last week at the Sheraton Grande Laguna Phuket...I had a 2-night stay with my best friend (out of which only one night was paid, the other was a TG Reward Certificate) which was supposed to be in a Laguna view room (basically the 2nd tier room). Upon check-in, we were upgraded to a 2-story Villa!

While I completely appreciate this truly outstanding perk, I can't help but wonder why?? I have never stayed at a Sheraton (or indeed any other Starwood property) before, the only reason I happened to be in this one was that it was by far the nicest hotel in Phuket in which TG's upgrade certificate could be used.

Reasons I could come up with are the following:

1. I do have an SPG account and wanted it credited with the paid night, but didn't have the number handy and the clerk couldn't immediately find it in the database. Could it be that she might have thought I'm a high tier member and upgraded me, after which reversing the process might have been a PR faux-pas?

2. Low-season...but there were plenty of people in the hotel, I saw many items on the balconies of the ground-floor rooms, why us and not them?

3. Could it conceivably be my AMEX card? It's a gold-colored credit card...I know Platinum credit/charge cards come with such privileges but have never heard of a similar perk for other ones.

Any other suggestions or ideas are welcome...I'm very pleased , but also very confused

Alternatively, I guess it could just have been a certain alignment of stars on that day