Jul 19, 2021, 4:38 pm
JW Marriott Essex House, New York City (Manhattan) [Master Thread]
Nov 25, 2018, 10:39 am
#256
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Agreed.
The Parade obviously presents substantial challenges for the hotel's management, and they're just trying to deal with the crowds and manage guest expectations. I'm sure it's based on years of experience dealing with guests who come in with unrealistic expectations.
The Parade obviously presents substantial challenges for the hotel's management, and they're just trying to deal with the crowds and manage guest expectations. I'm sure it's based on years of experience dealing with guests who come in with unrealistic expectations.
Also, this hotel, while on the exempt list for weekend opening/1,000 points instead, still has the exec lounge open on weekends.
Cheers.
Nov 25, 2018, 12:46 pm
#257
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: Delta DM, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 18
Due to the property’s straightforward and clear email I chose to cancel and book elsewhere. That turned out to be a very good choice for me.
Nov 25, 2018, 1:16 pm
#258
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Or even the ability to eat breakfast, either on a complimentary basis by virtue of elite status or on a paid basis at the in-house restaurant.
Nov 25, 2018, 3:15 pm
#259
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 226
The lounge was closed one day. Coffee etc was available before 8:30 AM on Thursday. Bottles of water were available if you went to the front desk & asked. The lounge was open on Friday & operating on their weekend hours.
I was offered a credit to give up lounge access for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I accepted the credit because I had my wife and kids. I did not want to exclude part of my group from the lounge.
If someone was concerned about missing Thursday breakfast, I am confident that the hotel would have offered a credit for room service. The only thing is that room service order would have had to be submitted on Wednesday because of the holiday.
I was offered a credit to give up lounge access for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I accepted the credit because I had my wife and kids. I did not want to exclude part of my group from the lounge.
If someone was concerned about missing Thursday breakfast, I am confident that the hotel would have offered a credit for room service. The only thing is that room service order would have had to be submitted on Wednesday because of the holiday.
Nov 25, 2018, 6:17 pm
#260
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
The lounge was closed one day. Coffee etc was available before 8:30 AM on Thursday. Bottles of water were available if you went to the front desk & asked. The lounge was open on Friday & operating on their weekend hours.
I was offered a credit to give up lounge access for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I accepted the credit because I had my wife and kids. I did not want to exclude part of my group from the lounge.
If someone was concerned about missing Thursday breakfast, I am confident that the hotel would have offered a credit for room service. The only thing is that room service order would have had to be submitted on Wednesday because of the holiday.
I was offered a credit to give up lounge access for Friday, Saturday & Sunday. I accepted the credit because I had my wife and kids. I did not want to exclude part of my group from the lounge.
If someone was concerned about missing Thursday breakfast, I am confident that the hotel would have offered a credit for room service. The only thing is that room service order would have had to be submitted on Wednesday because of the holiday.
Nov 25, 2018, 6:31 pm
#261
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: AA Executive Platinum, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 226
The lounge was closed on Thanksgiving because the hotel sells a parade view breakfast package in the restaurant. It appears that the lounge buffet food area is the same space used by the restaurant. During normal lounge operation, the buffet area has access from both the restaurant & the lounge. For Thanksgiving, the hotel closed off lounge access so breakfast package customers are the only ones allowed. Otherwise, I would expect that some lounge guests would try to get access to inside parade viewing without paying for it.
I don’t see anything wrong with how the hotel handled Thanksgiving. In my opinion, the hotel treated Thanksgiving no differently than several of the other NYC hotels. Also, I’m confident that many NYC hotels charge a premium for New Year Ball Drop view rooms.
I don’t see anything wrong with how the hotel handled Thanksgiving. In my opinion, the hotel treated Thanksgiving no differently than several of the other NYC hotels. Also, I’m confident that many NYC hotels charge a premium for New Year Ball Drop view rooms.
Nov 25, 2018, 6:59 pm
#262
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: PHX
Programs: AS 75K; UA 1MM; Hyatt Globalist; Marriott LTP; Hilton Diamond (Aspire)
Posts: 56,452
Nov 25, 2018, 7:31 pm
#263
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Charging a premium for market demand is one thing. Restricting benefits is something altogether differently. There's nothing in Marriott's terms and conditions, which admittedly contain wiggle room, that allow for a denial or restriction of benefits because of a special event. They could have easily used a meeting room or ballroom for a makeshift lounge.
Nov 28, 2018, 1:17 am
#264
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,625
Marriott apologist? I'd like to order an omelette. room service.
Agreed.
The Parade obviously presents substantial challenges for the hotel's management, and they're just trying to deal with the crowds and manage guest expectations. I'm sure it's based on years of experience dealing with guests who come in with unrealistic expectations.
The Parade obviously presents substantial challenges for the hotel's management, and they're just trying to deal with the crowds and manage guest expectations. I'm sure it's based on years of experience dealing with guests who come in with unrealistic expectations.
Hotels are running mid 90's % occupancy and sometimes even 100% . I could not even order an omelette and the children's menu for room service was removed as an option. The knob on the bathtub fell off. underwhelmed by staff , polish etc. The room was dated and tiny.
Expectations???
I'd like to order an omelette for breakfast.
I'd like not to be condescended to with the verbiage on the printed collateral. They need it outside vendor to write their "instructions" , "edicts" and "rules" that guests must follow.
Expectations???
I do not expect to eat ala carte normal pricing at a parade view table. But why close the Executive lounge? ( It is interior space) and why not offer the standard fare on the room service menu.
Stayed at the Hay -Adams in Washington DC July 4 th .and I did not expect roof access for fireworks, I appreciate that "special events" priced at a premium. But except for the special pricing at the parade view dining tables, everything else was wrong. And guests were not offered a discount over non guests,
So let me get this straight
High room rates.
High occupancy.
And the executive lounge is closed for breakfast.?
seems if you wanted to streamline the non price gauging dining, put a few aluminum trays of gross eggs and some fruit and golds and higher won't tax room service.
Oh and speaking of room service , fruit juice was in tiny generic brand bottles. So much for fresh squeezed!
It was like a nice Garden Inn.
Am I a child "don't forget to bring your room key" ...
Last edited by writetorich; Nov 28, 2018 at 1:28 am
Nov 28, 2018, 1:26 am
#265
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,625
I might be wrong but I think the lounge was interior or mostly interior space
QUOTE=hockeyinsider;30465988]Charging a premium for market demand is one thing. Restricting benefits is something altogether differently. There's nothing in Marriott's terms and conditions, which admittedly contain wiggle room, that allow for a denial or restriction of benefits because of a special event. They could have easily used a meeting room or ballroom for a makeshift lounge.[/QUOTE]
Denying someone a "free" lounge " breakfast will not entice anyone to pay the breakfast parade prices.
Either you are interested in that or not. I did not begrudge the Hay Adams for charging for access to what management felt were designated "fireworks viewing areas. We simply went outside of the hotel to The Mall to watch the fireworks.
Denying someone a "free" lounge " breakfast will not entice anyone to pay the breakfast parade prices.
Either you are interested in that or not. I did not begrudge the Hay Adams for charging for access to what management felt were designated "fireworks viewing areas. We simply went outside of the hotel to The Mall to watch the fireworks.
Nov 28, 2018, 8:33 am
#266
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Plum Nelly
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy, Delta Sky Miles, and S&H Green Stamps
Posts: 636
We had a recent rewards stay (Nov. 15-20) at the Essex House. Were given a park view room (lower floor) and the Executive Lounge was available to us every time/every day we checked (for coffee, breakfast, snacks/drinks, and cocktails). We used the $25 destination fee to offset our bar bill (hotel bar) every night. Worked for us.
This is an iconic hotel in the best location. We did need to interact with the day manager once and he was very helpful. And the Concierge emailed me a day earlier asking if we wanted to attend (free) the NY POPs dress rehearsal at Carnegie Hall (we didn't).
This is an iconic hotel in the best location. We did need to interact with the day manager once and he was very helpful. And the Concierge emailed me a day earlier asking if we wanted to attend (free) the NY POPs dress rehearsal at Carnegie Hall (we didn't).
Jan 1, 2019, 10:36 am
#268
Join Date: Mar 2012
Programs: Mileage Plus 1K; Marriott Platinum; Hilton Gold
Posts: 6,355
the bottom line on the destination fee
Essex House destination fee guide
I'm just wrapping up a week long stay (travel package) and can now share the definitive guide to their destination fee. It is available on request from the front desk. Make sure that you store this documentation out of sight in your room, because if you leave it on the desk the housecleaning staff will remove it! Also make sure to ask for daily laundry bags and forms, otherwise these will not be replaced by the cleaning staff and you won't be able to make full use of the laundry benefit.
The hotel barmen will try and pass of their pre-mixed Manhattan as "the best Manhattan in Manhattan". It isn't, and if you stand your ground and demand that it be mixed in front of you with Woodford, then you will have one (and only one) decent drink per night covered at the bar.
Jan 1, 2019, 10:45 am
#269
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Essex House destination fee guide
I'm just wrapping up a week long stay (travel package) and can now share the definitive guide to their destination fee. It is available on request from the front desk. Make sure that you store this documentation out of sight in your room, because if you leave it on the desk the housecleaning staff will remove it! Also make sure to ask for daily laundry bags and forms, otherwise these will not be replaced by the cleaning staff and you won't be able to make full use of the laundry benefit.
The hotel barmen will try and pass of their pre-mixed Manhattan as "the best Manhattan in Manhattan". It isn't, and if you stand your ground and demand that it be mixed in front of you with Woodford, then you will have one (and only one) decent drink per night covered at the bar.
I was going to book a similarly sized event at the Ritz-Carlton in Orlando, but they refused to waive the destination/resort fee. They wouldn't even deduct say $10 a day for the internet and telephone calls, both of which are complimentary by virtue of elite status. As a result, they lost my business.
Jan 6, 2019, 11:21 pm
#270
Join Date: Jan 2016
Programs: UA 1K; *G, AA Plat
Posts: 1,700
Scanned the threads today and noticed that everyone recommends the St. Regis over the JW Marriott Essex House / Ritz New York. However, the St. Regis isn't taking points redemptions for my nights in May =/ So I'm left with JW Marriott vs. Ritz New York. This is a trip for my parents and I just want them to be comfortable (they're scared of big cities; ironic that they're going to New York, but they want to see a couple broadway shows) so I'll be using points for them so they have a little bigger room in these properties than what's normal in New York hotel rooms.
Things they appreciate:
1. The lounge (weekday trip so I expect lounges to be open vs. closed on weekends)
2. Views (Mom's a big view person)
3. Space
Based on this thread, leaning toward the JW Marriott Essex House. Should I be looking at the Ritz instead?
Things they appreciate:
1. The lounge (weekday trip so I expect lounges to be open vs. closed on weekends)
2. Views (Mom's a big view person)
3. Space
Based on this thread, leaning toward the JW Marriott Essex House. Should I be looking at the Ritz instead?