I’ve got to disagree with you.

Since the Marriott takeover in 2016, I’ve stayed at the StR Bora Bora once, the StR Rome once, the StR Florence once, the StR New York once, the Hotel Imperial once, the Prince de Galles Paris once, the StR Atlanta once, the Suiran Kyoto once, the RC Kyoto once, the StR Osaka once, the Prince Gallery Tokyo once, the StR Bal Harbour once, and the StR Bahia Beach once. Not to mention the RC Coconut Grove once, the RC Boston just last weekend for only the 2nd time, and the RC Washington DC once a few weeks ago.

I was upgraded at all of those; at all but the StR Osaka and RC Washington I was upgraded to suites. At the StR Bora Bora, RC Kyoto, tStR Bal Harbour, Hotel Imperial Vienna, Prince de Galles Paris, and RC Coconut Grove, I actually was upgraded into specialty suites!

I certainly won’t be returning to any of those any time soon—except for the Prince de Galles this Oct. I doubt I’ll ever return to Bora Bora or Osaka.

I visited all of those hotels while avoiding any special events, festivals, or holidays that often preclude the likelihood of major upgrades.

I’m sorry to say that my Ambassador status and my Ambassador were helpful in getting so many upgrades. But it’s also obvious that my timing was probably helpful. And I’m sure I might have been lucky. But that seems awfully lucky for so many different hotels for only the single visit ever.

Of course! But there is a $200 value limit to whatever one may do or send, FWIW. I sent my Ambassador a $250 Amazon gift card for XMas last year but had to cancel it and send one for $200.