Marriott "Fresh Bites" Room Service
Sep 25, 2018, 8:27 pm
#241
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I tried pasting pictures of a Fresh Bites menu, and food offering, but apparently don't have enough posts to put images in yet. But, you can google them.
Short answer, some Marriotts have replaced "traditional" room service with something closer to a carry-out order. Without getting into the merits of whether this is passable, a little disappointing, or the end of service as we know it, the important thing to look out for is if the room service menu carries a "Fresh Bites" logo on it. If so, that's what you're going to get. In exchange for getting your food in plastic containers, with plastic utensils, in a sturdy paper bag, they also offer the option of picking it up yourself, to avoid a delivery fee. While it's definitely not "room service" at that point, it does make it seem less overpriced, assuming the pick up point is convenient.
Short answer, some Marriotts have replaced "traditional" room service with something closer to a carry-out order. Without getting into the merits of whether this is passable, a little disappointing, or the end of service as we know it, the important thing to look out for is if the room service menu carries a "Fresh Bites" logo on it. If so, that's what you're going to get. In exchange for getting your food in plastic containers, with plastic utensils, in a sturdy paper bag, they also offer the option of picking it up yourself, to avoid a delivery fee. While it's definitely not "room service" at that point, it does make it seem less overpriced, assuming the pick up point is convenient.
Sep 25, 2018, 9:06 pm
#242
Join Date: Dec 2001
Location: Albany, NY, USA
Programs: LT Mariott Platinum?, SPG Gold, Hilton Silver, AA Gold, Amtrak Nothing.
Posts: 104
Just amused by this thread, 800+ lifetime nights, and I can count on one hand the number of room service meals I've ordered. Sorry for the interruption, carry on. 
Sep 25, 2018, 9:21 pm
#243
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Toronto
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This was Baltimore Waterfront. Yes, shame on me for not being familiar with the boxed meal program at Marriott. It is the stupidest thing I have heard of in a while. If this is what happens to the SPG hotels, i will burn my millions of points and go elsewhere. It just makes me sad to think that a great brand will become inferior. I have been very loyal and had Ambassador service for years and now no one knows what is going on, through no fault of theirs. I am not sure how in this day and age that more than 1 month later the tech switch over has not been successful...and now boxed meals...UGH.
Sep 25, 2018, 9:40 pm
#244
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Location: Southern California, USA
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Posts: 8,764
Full service should mean a restaurant and room service.
Those full service brands work for me and those other guests like me. Limited service should mean less, and those limited service brands certainly can work for you and other guests like you—as can the full service brands that offer room service that you’ll never use.
Sep 25, 2018, 9:56 pm
#245
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FWIW - Fresh Bites came about because millinneals don't really care about the formal, traditional room service. Some of them have said (and not just millennials) they're ok w/ fresh bites. Others, like myself, say no way. I'll try to find the thread where it's been discussed (the thread is long). Some of the hotels themselves have said yeah, but other properties have said over my dead body/their guests want 'true' room service.
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 25, 2018, 10:52 pm
#246
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Somewhere in Florida
Posts: 2,622
I know the hotels went to Fresh Bites to save money, and they are -- they're saving me money. When I see that, I use SeamlessWeb/Uber Eats/etc. instead.
If I'm on a trip where I have a checked bag, I sometimes will throw my titanium spork and stemless wineglass in the bag, especially when I think I might be stuck ordering Uber Eats. Likewise, if there's a Wal-Mart nearby, I pick up a couple of stemless wine glasses for less than a pack of solo cups. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but drinking from a real glass (even if just ice water or soda) and using real utensils makes a difference to me and I find it satisfying after a long day of working on the road. Perhaps it's more like home? Either way, I prefer it. Likewise for drinks served in a glass vs. plastic cup on a flight.
Some of the aforementioned Fresh Bites threads:
Marriott Fresh Bites - horrible for adults and kids
Enhanced Room Service "Fresh Bites" from Marriott
If I'm on a trip where I have a checked bag, I sometimes will throw my titanium spork and stemless wineglass in the bag, especially when I think I might be stuck ordering Uber Eats. Likewise, if there's a Wal-Mart nearby, I pick up a couple of stemless wine glasses for less than a pack of solo cups. I'm not sure how to put it into words, but drinking from a real glass (even if just ice water or soda) and using real utensils makes a difference to me and I find it satisfying after a long day of working on the road. Perhaps it's more like home? Either way, I prefer it. Likewise for drinks served in a glass vs. plastic cup on a flight.
Some of the aforementioned Fresh Bites threads:
Marriott Fresh Bites - horrible for adults and kids
Enhanced Room Service "Fresh Bites" from Marriott
Last edited by KRSW; Sep 25, 2018 at 11:02 pm
Sep 25, 2018, 11:01 pm
#247
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Join Date: Feb 2004
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Seriously, I am spoiled. I have over 1000 nights in SPG and made the mistake of ordering room service in a $400 a night hotel room, to have a BOXED meal delivered with plastic ware. I asked for an unsweetened iced tea and received a bottle of tea. I pray Starwood hotels are not devalued like this. Seriously Marriott.I could have stayed at the Four Seasons, across the street,for $100 more a night. (it was sold out or I would have moved). Very disappointing.
Sep 26, 2018, 1:37 am
#248
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Beyond its brands Starwood had its own distinct brand persona world’s away from the very US corporate very Utah persona of Marriott. This is ultimately where all the “our people are better than your people” stuff comes from.
If I’m paying $300 or so for a hotel for either a business stay or a weekend break I expect the option of room service and would be put out by it arriving with plastic cutlery. I find plastic cups in a room offensive enough, and that’s a direction lower end US Starwoods have already gone down.
Sep 26, 2018, 1:51 am
#249
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Have to disagree w/ you there a bit. I'm LTPP & 98% of my stays are at full-service Marriott brands where I expect (and get) full service stuff, including exec lounges & full room service.
However, recently MAR (and let's face it SPG would have done the same thing to stay alive) has been chasing millennials who insist they don't need desks, closets or room service, so MAR has been chasing that demographic.
Cheers.
However, recently MAR (and let's face it SPG would have done the same thing to stay alive) has been chasing millennials who insist they don't need desks, closets or room service, so MAR has been chasing that demographic.
Cheers.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:06 am
#251
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
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To each their own of course but I don’t really get the outrage over the fact that the food comes in a box. As long as the food is better or less of a ripoff. But I don’t think either of those are true.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:24 am
#252
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: ORD
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Posts: 5,594
Have to disagree w/ you there a bit. I'm LTPP & 98% of my stays are at full-service Marriott brands where I expect (and get) full service stuff, including exec lounges & full room service.
However, recently MAR (and let's face it SPG would have done the same thing to stay alive) has been chasing millennials who insist they don't need desks, closets or room service, so MAR has been chasing that demographic.
Cheers.
However, recently MAR (and let's face it SPG would have done the same thing to stay alive) has been chasing millennials who insist they don't need desks, closets or room service, so MAR has been chasing that demographic.
Cheers.
Long paragraph to make the point that this is not just a millennial thing. The demand is decreasing across generations. If I'm paying $400/night, I expect some amenities, but the one I don't want is the option to pay the hotel an additional $30 for a tired old hamburger and fries served in my bedroom.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:31 am
#253
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Of course to each their own, but out of curiosity, would you say the same if you were in a restaurant and the food arrived shrink-wrapped?
Sep 26, 2018, 5:33 am
#254
Join Date: Feb 2008
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I'm far from being a millennial, and I don't need room service or a desk whether my travel is business or personal. I do like a closet though! It's interesting to me that some people still see room service as a high-end, luxury service. I do not. I can get a much better meal just about anywhere else other than from room service (usually for 25-50% less). If I order it, it's a last resort because nothing else is available. At certain luxury hotels, room service might be something special, but IMO it's really not at any of the Marriott or SPG hotels.
Long paragraph to make the point that this is not just a millennial thing. The demand is decreasing across generations. If I'm paying $400/night, I expect some amenities, but the one I don't want is the option to pay the hotel an additional $30 for a tired old hamburger and fries served in my bedroom.
Long paragraph to make the point that this is not just a millennial thing. The demand is decreasing across generations. If I'm paying $400/night, I expect some amenities, but the one I don't want is the option to pay the hotel an additional $30 for a tired old hamburger and fries served in my bedroom.
Sep 26, 2018, 5:41 am
#255
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: CLT
Programs: Marriott Plat, AA Gold
Posts: 1,076
I’ve certainly had better dining experiences in places where paper plates were used then some supposedly “upscale” establishments. I care more about the quality of the food itself than the packaging it’s served in. But again, I don’t believe Fresh Bites has improved in this regard anyway.