Originally Posted by
SkiAdcock
Didn't realize that agreeing with you 100% was a requirement when posting on FT
There are times when I agree with you & times I don't. I post in both instances.
If your 30+ years experience was with honor bars in the US exec lounges & all of the properties allowed you to bring your own wine into the exec lounge vs. signing the drink chit (or ordering from an attendant) I might agree with you.
But those of us who reside on this side of the pond who have stayed at Marriotts for many years & who are also aware that liquor laws differ by state & that properties are not prone to allow one's own wine/booze in the exec lounge where they're selling wine/booze won't agree as much.
I would wager $$ that the ATL Marquis GM/MOD would not tell the exec lounge staff to let you bring your own wine into the lounge & open it for you, having stayed at the property previously.
Getting back to the original topic. Given the # of Marriott FS brand hotels in the US I still think it's more the exception than the norm for there to be an attendant vs. signing the honor bar chit, but there might be a move to go that way moving forward. Probably to avoid folk who have 2 drinks but mark only 1 or to cut down on usage. The issue, as noted, is that it's a bit annoying if one has to wait for the attendant to clear tables in order to get a drink.
BTW - even though the wine is free in the London Renaissance, the last time I stayed there they had switched to the wine in the lounge kitchen/the attendant bringing it to you vs. you getting it yourself.
The NY Hilton (which has a good size exec lounge) actually set up a bar in the lounge, so you can wait for the attendant or just go to the bar to order your drink/sign the drink to your room.
Cheers.
You have not agreed with anything I've written in a very long time
, but have openly disagreed often
.
But........
In an attempt to solve this issue with the Atlanta Marriott Marquis I just called them and spoke to Skyler, the front office manager. She just transferred from Miami and thought the idea that you could not bring your own wine into the lounge to be absurd, so she put me on hold and checked with her boss.
Unfortunately.....
Her boss gave no concrete answer. She said that "he did not know if there are any laws regarding this, did not think there was any hotel policy, but if someone was intoxicated the attendant would have the right to intervene"
So.............
Even the one concrete example given, is actually a toss-up
, unless one of us checks back with Skyler tomorrow
! I honestly had hoped to get a solid answer from them one way or the other. To openly admit that I was completely wrong, or to (ever so slightly) gloat that I was, most likely, correct.
Either way Sharon, laws/regs/policies aside, I can tell you with complete honesty that any time a hotel staff member has told me "no" (or my parents) on something we felt was unreasonable, management has always, always, resolved in our favor. Naturally I've never asked for drugs, or escorts or anything illegal or inappropriate, so the "no" thing would never be ok.
IMO - and my vast experience - hotel management will always find a way to ensure that I look forward to returning to their property, not suggesting I find another or creating a situation where I would not want to return.
Peace, ok? Let's shake hands and call it a draw....otherwise, tag, you're it
.