My family got upgraded to a club floor at the Phoenix airport Marriott in December -- the lounge was closed, but they gave us free breakfast buffet vouchers. But the hotel was only half full.

Once got a gift bag of some snacks (granola bar, bag of chips, a pack of gum) at a Fairfield Inn.

Got a coupon for a free cookie -- hey, it was a big cookie -- at the candy shop in the Springhill Suites in Lawrence, Kan.

Were any of these because I was a Silver? I have no idea. I total about 15 work-related stays a year, so I'm not Marriott's biggest customer, but I do enjoy being acknowledged.