I stayed at the Overland Park, KS Marriott last week, a fairly pedestrian, soulless place that had a renovation since my last stay in February. I usually stay about 6 weeks a year here clustered around year end including the dead weeks around Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years. They "reward" me by jacking up the nightly rate by $60 during the week when Walmart has its annual convention at a nearby hotel. But its the only FS in town so I grin and bare it.

So I go into the renovated CL Tuesday AM and note that they have cut back on the offerings and eliminated the Styrofoam clamshell take out that used to be standard here. Well, I'm only here for 2 scoops of oatmeal and maybe 10 pieces of fruit anyway so I awkwardly stuff it into a few Styrofoam coffee cups and leave. I see others doing the same.

At work, I find a disposable Tupperware being thrown out and bring it to the lounge the next AM. Same 2 scoops of oatmeal and fruit, ignoring the eggs, salmon, breads, pastries, cereals, etc. Upon leaving, the lounge attendant, who was quite friendly in the past and remembers my past visits, stops me and tells me not to do that tomorrow. I explain that I don't have an appetite first thing in the morning nor have time for a sit down breakfast and this used to OK with their provided takeout stuff last year. She muttered something about people "abusing" in the past and I dropped the argument rather than make a scene. I'll also add that this is a few minutes before 9am, close to when they break it down and I'm scraping the bottoms of the serving dishes anyway.

So, I'm feeling slighted and a bit angry. I pay up (out of company policy) to stay here and get the benefits, justifying part of the extra $30-40 because I get a breakfast. I never get back to the hotel before the CL closes so I don't get the PM benefit. I'm sure working late and eating late causes my lack of appetite in the AM. And its not like I'm eating breakfast on site then taking out a lunch.

So, is a line to the GM in order to ask if this new "policy" is in fact true and if I should move my upcoming weeks of business because of it? Is upsetting a guest over 2 scoops of oatmeal and some fruit worth it?

PS - on Thursday (checkout day) I took 2 bowls back to my room and made the transfer to Tupperware there, creating more work for everyone. I guess Karma got me back as the tub faucet then shot off the bare pipe and I was forced to take a quick shower while trying to hold the faucet back in place with a knee. So much for the renovations!

Thanks for listening.