Courtyard was my top choice early in the brand's life (going back to the 80's when they targeted Holiday Inn, which was an absolute mess). They did a fantastic job of combining value, quality, service, consistency, location, and focus on business travelers' needs in a way that no other hotel brand achieved at first. Many other brands looked at Courtyard, borrowed the good parts of it, and found ways to differentiate that were hard for Courtyard to match financially. Courtyard became a victim of its own success, where there was a tendency to rest on their laurels and past reputation rather than invest in change and improvement. Some newer and remodeled Courtyards have made significant improvements in their look and style, but many look run-down and dated. The brand has become so much more inconsistent than when it started. It is surprising that they still get the price premiums they do in some locations and markets. There is always a segment that sticks with what they were familiar with and the tried and true, that does not seek out change. I bet the average age of a Courtyard guest is higher than most of the other Marriott Brands, as I am not sure what would attract newer and/or younger guests. Clearly the value proposition is often not as strong as in other brands, but somehow they get away with it. Personally, Courtyard's share of my business started decreasing about 10-15 years ago and has continued to decline. They are still worthy of consideration, but there are often better options as most markets are so competitive. The price/value of Courtyard is rarely competitive for me.