Originally Posted by
SHLTP
I hope you are right... And I do like RC brand just not benefits. But if they do indeed grant suites and esp breakfast... I will stay more. I understand lounge won't be in cards as their offering expensive and step ups from normal lounges.
RC and Edition do not offer any guaranteed breakfast benefit. That being said, the RC Kyoto gave us free breakfast (buffet and ordered) on our award stay in May. RC Boston didn't offer me any breakfast benefit, and I so I ordered room service as I usually prefer.
I don't think I am conflating any issues, however. Reality is Marriott corporate is pushing for standardization and brand adherence. In many ways that is what makes them successful and profitable.
I'm sorry to say that I don't have any problem with that. I also don't mind the proportionally few LC properties eliminating lounges. LC is a soft brand of unique hotels, anyway, so there isn't any need for that to be standard. I'd expect LC properties in Asia to be more likely to offer a lounge where they cater to business clientele, and few others. Still, the Nines in Portland has a lounge. Who knew?
Meaning... LCs that once offered lounge access and have one are getting rid of it as a benefit for plats, same with resorts. Similarly hotels that used to offer breakfast and points are getting rid of it and only offering choice.
More hotel brands in the Marriott and SPG portfolios now offer breakfast benefits than did before. To me, it's just that simple. Sorry--I don't pick a luxury hotel based on whether or not it gives me a free breakfast. This is a thread for the RC luxury brand, after all.
I wonder if STR props that used to offer you your fav room service breakfast (gosh I know your habits too well) will keep doing that or if Marriott overlords will force standardization and leaving less property decision-making.
Few StR hotels allow one to order room service as part of the breakfast benefit. StR Houston did last Dec when its restaurant was damaged due to Hurricane Harvey. The StR San Francisco did for one morning in Dec because we were told the wrong time that the restaurant closed. The StR Bora Bora did, probably because I was Ambassador status. Otherwise, I have paid for my room service breakfasts at most properties.
If you like the room service breakfast benefit, you might prefer Hyatt. But so few hotels, and so few really nice hotels IMO.
In general Marriott is stamping the culture across all brands. And if LCs generally are lowering benefits then RCs won't face pressure.
The LCs I know are indeed generally sticking to brand standaeds, ie not going extra mile as they once did
I'm sorry to say that I don't agree with you at all. I think you have a view not unlike so many SPGers who bemoaned that Marriott was going to take over and ruin all that was SPG. That hasn't happened to my view.
Things change. We need to move along with the change, too. We might lose some things that we liked but we gain new things that we can enjoy, too. I lose the 3 rooms per night elite credits under new Marriott. I gain a lot of RC properties as luxury options. I lose a few perks here and there. I gain the chance to get suite upgrades at RC and Edition hotels. I lose being a big fish in small pond with SPG, but I gain that I still can be an important fish in a much bigger ocean of choices.
Regardless, I look at Hyatt and its tiny footprint and at Hilton and its lack of luxury properties--and I still am thrilled how Marriott is treating me thus far.