Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: San Francisco, CA
Programs: Mucci (for services to Gin), VS Au, SPG Plat, Hilton Diamond, Avis Pref+, Hertz 5*
Posts: 980
As a lowly Gold slated to make Plat in about 2 months time I'm looking forward to a noticeable difference in "upgrades". I know I shouldn't expect upgrades and really I don't but I am intrigued to know what benefits you extend to your gold members.
I've had various experiences with regards to upgrades and currently I stay every other week at a single SPG property and never get an upgrade. I ask, politely and am told that I'm being put on a high floor (which is usually specified in the room type I select at booking anyway) and that constitutes an upgrade.
Once I had someone bring water to my room for free and another time I received a tube of minty Bliss lip balm. Those seem to be the extent of my upgrades as a gold member.