I agree it does depend on the hotel, I stayed at the Crowne Plaza Christchurch at Christmas just gone and was upgraded to a suite on the club floor and use of club facilities. Sadly this hotel is no longer in operation and may need to be demolished as a result of the Feb earthquake that hit the city.
I have also stayed at CP surfers a number of times, they normally give me a higher floor and a nice letter with some chocolates etc and a newspaper which is nice. I have had nothing from the HI Brisbane the two times I stayed there as a gold, about to stay at the CP near Sunshine Coast (the old Ramada Golf Resort) next week so will report back on that one.