As you say, it affects everyone. As I've commented elsewhere in FT, we're believers in tipping well (not extravagantly) on vacation: we'd feel terrible about budgeting $1000 for a few days in a hotel for a weekend, and trying to make it up by stiffing the parking people/maids/etc. And we're more than repaid. We're always surprised how the staff remembers us: a lot of people must be on the low side.

But the staff was trying really hard at the Casa, the management just seems to have decided to go in another direction. No more minibar, no omelets at the breakfast buffet. Rack rate is still high, but there were two conferences while we were there. They seem to be going for quantity, not quality: by cutting corners, they can offer lots of deals. I'm not saying they shouldn't do it, it just isn't what I want when I'm on vacation. I'd be delighted to go there for a conference.