Hola John,

there is a note by the end of the lesson saying that the use of these suffixes change from one region to another. There is no specific rule for using one or the other. I may use more the suffix -azo ( I am from the south) while people from other areas may tend to use more the suffix -ote. For example, with the word hotel, just to take an example, I would use "un hotelazo" but somebody else may prefer to say "un hotelote" or "un hotelón"; but we would all understand what we mean by using the noun with the suffix (whichever it is). These suffixes are quite flexible. 

You sometimes find maps on the internet showing which areas use one diminutive suffix or another (-ico, -illo, -iño) but I have never seen any map showing this with the augmentative suffixes... 

Saludos

Inma