I was a corporate guy. I was able to get free breakfast and an appetizer at the Hilton Arden West in SMF and a few others until my Hilton Gold ran out after a year.

STL will give points. Some give stay credits, but other than that, your status will decline.

Commuter hotels is the only way I’ve been able to gain good points—some pilots go for various Hilton Honors credit cards, or like the above post put a card down when they check in.

I was able to get two free nights worth of Sheraton points like the above room cleaning deal while in training.