Originally Posted by
Adelphos
In many US downtown areas, the newer hotels are brands like Courtyard or Hilton Garden Inn. These hotels may actually be nicer than the local Marriott, Hilton, Sheraton simply because they are newer, and therefore may rightly deserve a price premium.
Originally Posted by
hockeyinsider
The staff at many of the full-service properties in North America aren't much better. It really comes down to who works at U.S. hotels.
In Asia and much of Europe, working in a hotel is a career. You see front desk clerks who studied hotel management and they're working their way up the ladder toward eventually becoming a hotel manager or general manager.
Over here, working in a hotel -- particularly behind the front desk -- is more of a "job." The front desk clerks here are, by and large, much older and with that bring bad habits.
Yes, as someone noted, the full-service Marriott is older and more tired (though it has a lounge), than this Courtyard which is old but not as tired yet.
The staff at the Marriott is better than the Courtyard, rates are usually similar.
And I do wonder how many front desk clerks in hotels in the US actually studied hotel management. I didn't even know there was such a thing until I met people studying in Asia/Europe for that degree.
The real issue I need to get over this "loyalty" business and just stay at other properties which are better, but cannot bring myself to give up the points and perks (which may be little, like $10 breakfast credit at Courtyards).