catocony

During my last stay at the Ren in Boca Raton, they had a whole trailer of dressers delivered and installed in every room. They were tired of constantly moving the small number they had from room to room as just about every guest commented on the fact that there was no dresser.

After their winter makeover, they at least kept their full closets and still had a desk chair and small desk space with lamp. More of an enhanced ledge, but it was deeper than the nook under the TV that the Marriotts have been getting.

SkiAdcock

Well given some of the GMs of various properties have said they're getting lots of complaints & are looking into bringing them back or have done so, I'd say it's not universally well-received.

Cheers.

htb

I disagree. Even on a leisure trip I'd be extremely unhappy if I didn't have a desk. I take notes, open books and place my laptop on the desk when working with them. Doing this without a desk feels like trying to get things done inside a commuter train.

HTB.

DrRodneyMcKay

I've stayed in at least five different marriotts in five different states in the past six months and they all had a desk, except for the suite we booked in D.C. which had a large kitchen table, instead of a desk, I guess. I'm actually at a Marriott right now, and it's in a resort town and people are obviously here for leisure, and it still has the (small) desk under the TV. So if they're intending to get rid of desks, I haven't seen it really come into effect personally.

I must say, though, the distinction of travelling for 'business' and for 'leisure' is getting to be a fuzzy one. more and more people work from their computers - not just people who are self employed or who are writers/bloggers by profession, but even people who get 'business' work done on 'leisure' trips. So even if it's not a hotel intended for business travelers, I think a lot of people would prefer it to have a desk. I know I would - I"m an academic, so I'm kind of always working, and I need a desk and internet access wherever I am.

Good to hear they've been getting complaints about it. Hopefully I never have to see these changes myself.

soy

They have reversed course and desks are again part of standard layout

Amazing that it took so long to realize this was a dumb idea from the outset.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/desk-back...134411202.html

SkiAdcock

That's interesting & if true, yeah.

But - final paragraph:

"The redesign has been completed in more than 10,000 rooms at 25 hotels, including Marriotts in Charlotte, North Carolina, and in Brooklyn, New York, and another 25 hotels are scheduled to have renovations completed by the end of the year. A total of 108 hotels are in the pipeline."

Charlotte post-renovation doesn't have a desk.

BTW - also from the article:

"The desks in what Marriott is calling its "modern guest rooms" are on wheels so you can move them around the room to work where you want."

That only works if you've got a matching chair of the appropriate height. Some of the moving around have moved around to a sofa where the back is farther away or you have to lean forward uncomfortably. FWIW - I don't have anything against desks that move, as long as you've got a desk chair too.

Cheers.

beachfan

Great point, we need pictures or better yet, first hand reports. I used to have a full marble L shaped desk at the Boca Renaissance, perfect for working while eating while watching TV. Now it's work with my nose 10" from the wall, can't see TV, can't easily eat. Depressing for more than 10 minutes.

beachfan

Thanks for the update. I bailed on them in July after 16 years, 12 times a year.

SkiAdcock

Contact the GM & let him know why you bailed after 16/12. He needs to know it's costing him revenue.

Cheers.

beachfan

Ohh, they know.

They were supposed to put in dressers before my arrival, but that didn't happen. Plus this doesn't help with the crap desk (a ledge against the wall), the crap nightstands (no drawers), removal of full length mirror, narrower shower/no tub, etc. It was an almost inconceivable waste of money as the furniture wasn't that pad and they didn't do anything about the things that needed it (better color scheme, better TVs).

They did go to readily avialable feather pillows though, another one of my gripes, the only one fixed.

SkiAdcock

Post on TripAdvisor too if you haven't already done so (re: all the crap stuff).

Cheers.

jr1202sr

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireSto...rooms-42361356

SkiAdcock

Posted a few posts above yours & holes already posted re: the story.

Cheers.

squatch

none of this addresses my biggest beef... i get to my room after a long day, all i want to do is relax and watch a little tv... i see a nice, big HDTV, turn it on and 80% of the channels are fuzzy SD channels. plus, there is no program guide, a feature that is available on 100% of all cable and satellite systems in the world, and it takes 5 seconds to change the channel. it would be nice if these things were addressed in any remodeled hotel.

as far as the this desk situation goes, i don't think i care much. 90% of my travel is for business and i can take it or leave it. it's a bigger problem that the chairs in the rooms are uncomfortable and the furniture is often needlessly BIG. do i need a six-drawer dresser for a three-night stay? NO, and since most people stay very short-term, no one else does either.

and no, i am not a "millennial"

RogerD408

I bet a lot of hotels got bit by the digital TV transition. Those that have a CCTV system did not have to upgrade all the rooms as their system is capable to convert digital signals to analog. Just like with HSIA, you've got some very uneducated people making purchasing decisions based upon what they are told by the sales reps. I couldn't keep from laughing when a sat TV sales rep was giving a sales pitch to a property manager in the lobby.