As a general rule, when I hear that a program is either (a) being "enhanced" for my "benefit", or (b) becoming more "customer focused", I get ready to.....well I won't say that...instead, I'll say that I get ready for the shaft, and I'm usually not disappointed. And this not only applies to Marriott, but also to some stuff that DL does as well. When will these companies stop using these timeworn phrases when they are about to take away a benefit? Do they think we are stupid and cannot see through the rhetoric/

Having gotten that out of my system, let me say that like many of us here I have spend tens of thousands of dollars with Marriott. We get charged ridiculous internet fees in many properties. We have concierge lounges that are often closed and at many properties don't get comped anything, breakfast or otherwise for our troubles. At many of the CY properties the coffee is removed after breakfast hours. Now there is the newspaper thing, which by itself I could maybe live with, although on the rare occasions when I can sleep late, I have found all WSJs gone from the lobby. Is Marriott in a race to join Motel 6 at the bottom? Seriously, when WILL the coin boxes be installed on the bathroom doors? I am not blind and do understand that economic times have been tough, but if, as a Platinum Premier, I am not treated any differently as someone without status, where is my incentive to continue to stay at Marriotts? This is the ideal thread for Bill, Jr. to read; if he could pull himself away from his backslapping blog. He seems to forget that many people on this board are highly intelligent folks, who control where their lodging (and flying) dollars are spent. And as such, we can influence others as to where their dollars are spent as well. Why are these things so obvious to us and not to him? And Bill, if can you do come out of the cave and read this, this PP, because of his dissatisfaction has only stayed only 7 nights this year and is seriously trying to decide if there will be a night 8.