Which property? Hilton London Canary Wharf
Room-type booked? Standard Double
Paid or Award? Paid
Upgrade - yes or no? Yes
Upgrade to King Hilton Executive showed in HHonors account the night before. Access to EL included and granted 2pm check-out without a problem.

Which property? DoubleTree London Westminster
Room-type booked: Queen Deluxe
Paid or Award?: Paid
Upgrade - yes or no: Yes
Upgraded to Executive King. Handwritten letter from manager left in room. Given late checkout. Breakfast served in downstairs restaurant. Was out all evening so did not get a chance to visit the EL.

And my point is a valid point. I don't expect Marriot or United to kiss up to me because I have their credit cards. A lot of times I don't get my diamond status referenced at check in, not sure why people think it's such a big deal if their status isn't acknowledged, especially if they are staying with a chain a few times a year.

To get back on topic though, if you have earned gold and don't have it through a credit card you should call ahead at properties you want the upgrades at and mention your stays. My wife has had good luck at a couple properties when she mentions her stays when calling ahead of time at a property she wants upgraded at. I know the Bentley in Miami and Checkers in LA will give upgrade preference to guests with a lot of nights.

If someone is staying a lot of nights in a property they should get priorty in upgrades (whether it's gold or diamond).

How did you manage that?

Hilton Tower Bridge
Stay = Paid on a PRxxxx rate
Booked = Basic Room
Received = 2-level upgrade to Exec Room, on Exec Level with Lounge Access.
Late Checkout = 14.00 (then Lounge until I left Hotel)
Other Useful Info=
o With lounge you can choose club breakfast or have in restaurant.
o Lounge provides beer from 12.00 noon onwards.
o Hilton-TB will always try to uphrade HH Gold to Exec Room + Lounge
o Hilton-TB comps HH-Golds Restaurant breakfast even if not given Lounge

I got gold through the Surpass and have been scoring nice upgrades everywhere. Sorry to burst your bubble

Conrad Macau - Upgraded to a 34th floor corner suite (150SM) overlooking the Venetian Hotel on a C&P resee

Which property? Hilton Heathrow Terminal 5
Room-type booked: King Guestroom
Paid or Award?: Paid (in the great getaway sale)
Upgrade - Yes to Executive King with lounge access

Which property? British Colonial Hilton Nassau
Room-type booked: Queen Bed City View Room
Paid or Award?: Paid
Upgrade - Yes to Kind Executive Harbor View with lounge access, also given nice early check in at 10am.

Conrad Hong Kong - upgraded from std mtn view to 58th floor harbor view w exec lounge access

Hilton San Francisco Union Square
Booked - king sized room
Paid or Award? - Award (standard reward, i think 50k points)
Upgrade? - Yes, upgraded at check-in to junior suite on a high floor.

Hilton Buenos Aires
Booked - King sized room
Paid or Award? Award
Upgrade - Yes, upgraded to King room on Executive floor w/ lounge access (happened to be the nicest lounge I've been to in my admittedly limited travels)

Booked partial ocean view king with points, discounted special before the devaluation. Was upgraded to full ocean view more than a week before I arrived last week.

Hilton London canary wharf

booked - king deluxe

paid or award - paid

upgrade? - yes preupgraded to a junior suite

was just at Beijing doubletree on a really cheap award stay. was upgraded to executive floor. the el was pretty good. hotel could use a refrub but I liked it a lot. really good staff makes up for out of the way location. I would go back.^

Hilton Sydney, paid booking in a basic room. No Gold perks except a free breakfast...

Hampton Inn Mexico City. Booked 2 of the cheapest rooms using points. Both rooms upgraded to suites at check in.

Hilton Slussen, Stockholm, Sweden
Booked Deluxe room
Paid
Upgrade to Jr. Suite, with lounge access
Saw the upgrade a few hours in advance when i checked my reservation details online.