Originally Posted by laloglz

I recently learned that the Marriott Marquis in Times Square will be hosting the Cigar Afficionado's Big Smoke event on November 20th. For a hotel chain that markets itself as a smoke-free establishment this is pure hypocrisy.

I called customer service and the only explanation they could provide is that the group had gotten a special license from New York State and they were only using a ballroom at the hotel. I tried explaining to them that New York State law is irrelevant here since this is a corporate policy and not a matter of state law compliance. The staff at the Marquis (Banquet coordinator) also went to great lengths describing how they were going to clean the room after the event. Again, never addressing the point of applying their no-smoking policy inconsistently.

I choose to stay at Marriott properties and will finish out the year as Plat because of the stand they took in making all properties smoke free. If they are going to being to make "exceptions" on this policy on a whim then I think they just lost my business for good. I rather stay at a property that doesn't pretend to provide a healthy environment for its guests and has both smoking and non-smoking rooms than a corporation that will roll over at the first sign of pressure from anyone.

Anyone else feel the same way? Customer support was shocked at the event and said that the complaint would probably land at Mr. Marriott's desk, whatever that means