After reading 94 posts, I've come to the sad realization that it's not all about us frequent, elite travelers. What I've realized is Marriott can have a brand that runs profitably without catering to us. It's sobering. It's scary. It's an ego hit.

While we have issues with the CY, it seems to be chugging along just fine. Maybe it's not the hotel for business travelers it was in the late eighties, but is seems to be a relatively upscale choice for the budget minded. Maybe all that was missing from that niche was a close-to full serve restaurant that served alcohol and food throughout the day. Maybe Marriott got it right, and we just don't realize or cannot accept that right for Marriott isn't right for us.

It seems Marriott is trying to get us away from CYs and into SHS and FI. Maybe by doing that, they get our business and the business of those less frequent travelers who may think of SHS and FI as being more downscale than CY. Most Plats will go towards the SHS for the free breakfast and points, while I would guess many who don't care about points and perks would go to the CY for it's more upscale surroundings.

In other words, the problem may not be Marriott. The problem may be us. We just don't get that every brand doesn't have to be catered to us in order to succeed. Ouch.