The decline has been going on for a loooong time. 20 years ago I was a big fan of ES properties. Their breakfast was very good, and the evening reception was decent quality (Good enough to make for a pleasant end to the day). Fast forward 20 years and the breakfast is OK, but the reception is now an exercise in how cheaply a property can get through the evening. Now I won't book an ES unless the price is notably better than nearby HH properties.

I have kids, so I understand the value of having a large room, but the other elements of the ES value proposition have fallen off a cliff.