The Ren brand allowed Marriott to offer a similar level of service as a FS Marriott while allowing the hotel to include different decor and/or local flavor. Of course there are some clunkers and some average hotels, but there are also some spectacular hotels which you appear to have missed out on.

Let's start in Mobile AL of all places, where the Battle House Ren is one of the finest hotels in North America. The building is historical and the rooms and service are great. A block away in the sleek Riverview Ren which is a very different type of hotel but also very nice. BTW the newer Ren in Atlanta's Midtown is also an incredible hotel. As long as we are in the South, add the Charleston Ren to this list.

The Pittsburgh Ren is like a stage set with deep red curtains throughout. Both Des Moines and St Louis Downtown have great Rens. The Orlando Airport Ren is nice for an airport hotel, same with the ORD Ren Suites.

These are off the top of my head. There are some clunkers like the truly awful Asheville NC Ren, but if you have not seen many great Rens you have not seen much of the brand.