Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman

Well, I posted in another thread the problems with sound insulation in the newly renovated rooms here, but I discovered another nagging little error.

I used the way-cool check-in kiosk to get my room key (there was a big line at the front desk but no one using the kiosks). It recognized my platinum status and asked what I wanted for my arrival amenity. I selected the 500 bonus points, declined the $9.95 communications package, told it I didn't need a parking pass, and off I went.

You guessed it: yesterday the stay credited to my account with no arrival gift bonus. Of course this has happened (rarely) when checking in the traditional way, but I would have expected the kiosk to work flawlessly. Oh, well!

Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman

I will admit that the thinning walls to fit an extra room thing sounds fishy, but it's what the front desk associate said. Given the utter lack of sound attenuation from the new walls, I would be willing to believe almost anything!

Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman

...They admitted that they have been getting TONS of complaints about noise in the new rooms and that the walls have indeed been made thinner in order to add--get this--one additional room per floor...

Originally Posted by camachinist

It is possible that walls were taken back to structure and the contractor/MAR skimped on quantity/quality of sound insulation or, perhaps, stupidly, removed isolated studwall construction, if so equipped, to add a few more inches of space per room.

Pat

Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman

My coworkers really like the LAX Marriott, so I decided to be a "team player" and stay with them this past week instead of my usual haunt which is the Renaissance a couple of blocks away. They have been raving about the decor and furnishings in the newly renovated rooms, so I decided to give them a try.

I got upgraded to an executive king room on the 5th floor, which was certainly spacious. Decor is the "standard" new Marriott stuff, which is nice but not a HUGE step up from the old standard stuff. The big problem was the sound insulation, or should I say complete lack thereof! I could seemingly hear every guest on the floor opening and closing their doors, the ice machine being dispensed, the elevators dinging, and people partying at the pool a couple levels below. I am not exaggerating when I say that I have NEVER stayed at a hotel, at any price point, that was noisier. It quite literally sounded like there were no walls around my room at all.

The next morning I mentioned it to my traveling companions, and lo and behold they all had noticed the same thing but thought they were just being oversensitive! So I went to the front desk and left a polite written note for the manager asking if other, quieter rooms were available and saying that I would check with the front desk around 6:00 PM when I returned from my business that day. When I got back and checked with the front desk, they had no record of my request but the very courteous front desk associate found me a similar room on the 14th floor facing away from the pool. It did feature tired furniture and soft goods, but was silent in comparison so I was happy with the switch.

The next morning another coworker tried the same thing but didn't leave a note--he just spoke to the front desk. They admitted that they have been getting TONS of complaints about noise in the new rooms and that the walls have indeed been made thinner in order to add--get this--one additional room per floor. They offered to pack and move all his personal items for him to a new room, which he accepted. He, too, was happier in his older but quieter room.

So while I will praise the Marriott's customer service attitude, I guess it's back to the Renaissance Montura for future stays. Their staff is also excellent, but I don't have to worry about paper-thin walls.

Originally Posted by socrates

Possible but I've never heard of anything like it before, even if someone wanted to do it I can't believe the costs would make it worth while to do for such a minimal benefits as "a few more inches"

Originally Posted by camachinist

So, from someone who likely has seen the inside of many Marriott properties, any explanations for the sudden increase in noise complaints in the renovated section?

I gave my most likely scenarios, based on my experience in the construction industry, but I only work residential, not commercial.

Adding, having watched the construction by MVCI at our resort in Newport, and having stayed in the older sections (now about 7 years old) and new sections (finished as recently as last year), I haven't noticed a substantial difference in noise (horizontally, anyway) between the new and old construction. I assume Marriott builds to similar standards with their own construction subs at their hotels (of similar construction) and MVCI properties.

Pat

Originally Posted by camachinist

I hope customers continue to bring the issue to the attention of management there so they can catch the issue before they have a hotel-full of noise complaints.