Originally Posted by
newflya
No way, Moxy's rooms are way smaller.
I think Moxy is like a new ibis styles when I look at the rooms both size- and feature-wise. Breakfast quality is also similar.
IMO, Moxy is superior to ibis styles only with regard to the public areas. Marriott figured sexing up the public areas is a cost-effective way of improving the customer experience. Supposedly, Millennials--a key demographic for both Moxy and ibis styles--like communal work areas as well as nice bars (both cocktail bars as well as higher-quality espresso bars).
An enlarged bar/lobby area is cost-effective for two reasons. One, the space requirement is modest (much less extra space is needed for an expanded bar than for larger guest rooms). Two, an attractive bar can finance itself by generating incremental spending both from hotel guests as well as non-hotel guest bar visitors.
on my small experience, limited to 2 Moxy in Italy and all the Mercures in the same country, Moxy win easily...not only, as you correctly say, because lobby and common areas are really very nice, but also about rooms (modern, stylish, not smaller, with better amenities)
Having experienced also some Mercures in Asia or newly renovated in Europe, I can say Mercure rooms are better ...and have nothing to complain also on common areas
I have the opinion that Mercure change too much from one country/property to another, so is difficult to compare this brand in its totality, while (I can suppose) Moxys are more standardized