I was just there in July. Stayed in the encore suites . Not the tower. It seems to me that the tower has more security ie ;
Separate entrance etc for more exclusive suites. In the regular suite you just flash your key and  walk on the elevator. If I was going to have multiple visitors I would not stay in the towers.it would seem that they would pay more attention as to who was coming and going.  JMHO.

ENJOY

Ok so firstly, there is usually always a purple coat (security officer) positioned in front of the Sundries store at the Encore Resort entrance area that leads to the guest room elevators and always one positioned in front of the Encore Tower Suites doors to get into the lobby.

To answer your second question, Encore is considered an all Suite Resort so technically all rooms are suites.  There is a Resort Suite (740 sq. ft.) which you have stayed in which all of these rooms are on the Resort side and all the same.  Then there is a Tower Suites which has its only private lobby and the first room category is called a Tower Suite (740 sq. ft.) which is exactly like the Resort Suite.  Then the next category up is a 1 bedroom Parlor Suite (1,400 sq. ft.) which has a separate bedroom from the living room and also a massage room.  Then there is a 1 bedroom Salon Suite (2,200 sq. ft.) and separate bedroom from the living room and also a massage room.

Then if you are a rated casino player there are the 1 story Apartment which is 3,500 sq. ft. or the 2 story Duplex which is 5,800 sq. ft. and has an elevator in the suite and kitchen and billiard room with 3 bedrooms.

Either way you are going to have to show a room key to go up and unless you need a larger suite like the Parlor or Salon for entertaining a group of people or just trying to go all out just stay with the Resort Suite like you already had and it is a great room and very similar experience just have to wait in longer lines to check in.  Hope that helps out and if all else fails just check out the website and it clearly shows you all of the room types.