The Bangor ME 4PTS gives one breakfast voucher to PLAT guests upon checkin. It's good for anything on the breakfast menu in the restaurant -- no limit. I like that because the food is actually good and it's something I very much appreciate and value.

My other 4PTS experiences over the years have been quite mixed: ranging from the good to the truly dreadful (no kidding). 4PTS still has a LOT of work to do on brand consistency, although they've made appreciable progess in the past 24 months -- more than I thought possible. However, with that in mind, I'd say your property has an opportunity to be on the "high" side of expectations which will quickly set you apart.

One thing I really hate about checking in at 4 PTS hotels is that too often the staff is in street clothes and without name tags/identification. That's sloppy in the extreme and gives a terrible impression to guests. I don't want to see cheesy polyester uniforms, but there is a LOT to be said for consistency of appearance with a hotel staff that makes them immediately identifiable to the guests. I can't imagine allowing my front staff to wear casual street clothes. Yuck.

I think most front desk staff at moderate priced hotels have no idea how important quality communication is to their customers. By that, I mean speaking clearly and slowly... looking each customer in the eye and making a sincere gesture of welcome... acknowledging SPG status as appropriate ... communicating upgrade status and offering choices, where available, etc. This is what "exceeding expectations" means to me. As a road warrior, I'm totally exhausted of being met at 9:10pm by mindless 19 year old zombies working front desks with the cell phones in their left hand. I have a right to expect someone who's focused on doing their job and serving my needs upon arrival.

Again, if I were a 4PTS GM, I'd recognize that it wouldn't be too hard to work towards exceeding expectations since too much of the chain is still marginal. I really like the previous idea of offering a small gift in the rooms from a local chocolatier or another local, well known business that offers something unique to your area. Over many years, I've enjoyed little surprises like that in smaller properties and I never forget it.

I could care less about a preferred parking spot, FWIW.