Originally Posted by SBT (Post 34234740)

Anyone aware of what the free "Hot" Breakfast at the Residence Inn division of Marriott is supposed to consist of? At the Residence Inn I stayed at they served a hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, etc.) on weekends and only a to go style breakfast during the week with cold Jimmy Dean egg sandwiches and the burritos you can by at the supermarket for 39 cents.
Also they added a tip jar during the week. This is a first. Anyone else ever notice the placement of a tip jar at the free breakfast area with chains similar to Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Residence Inn.

Originally Posted by SBT (Post 34234740)

Anyone aware of what the free "Hot" Breakfast at the Residence Inn division of Marriott is supposed to consist of? At the Residence Inn I stayed at they served a hot breakfast (scrambled eggs, potatoes, sausage, etc.) on weekends and only a to go style breakfast during the week with cold Jimmy Dean egg sandwiches and the burritos you can by at the supermarket for 39 cents.
Also they added a tip jar during the week. This is a first. Anyone else ever notice the placement of a tip jar at the free breakfast area with chains similar to Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express or Residence Inn.

Originally Posted by Jon Maiman (Post 34234867)

Unfortunately it is a new brand standard. Basically a cost cutting move where Marriott reduced the number of ingredients to stock and consolidate the offerings at Residence Inn, Townplace Suites, SpringHill Suites, and Fairfield. Big downgrade and greatly reduces the value prop. for RI for me. I got an earful from my wife when we were caught off guard by it at our last RI Stay a few weeks ago.

You can read more about it at:

https://news.marriott.com/news/2021/...-select-brands

Can't find it right now but there was an article for franchisees noeting stocking fewer ingredients and combining the purchase power of all four brands resulting in an estimated %20 cost reduction for breakfast offerings.

--Jon

Originally Posted by JW6130 (Post 34235400)

So the quick summary is that Residence Inn dinner is gone, and breakfast is pretty much gone as well. And for all of "mouthwatering, customizable options with an eye towards sustainability" guests still earn half of the points of other brands. Got it.

Originally Posted by JW6130 (Post 34235400)

So the quick summary is that Residence Inn dinner is gone, and breakfast is pretty much gone as well. And for all of "mouthwatering, customizable options with an eye towards sustainability" guests still earn half of the points of other brands. Got it.

Originally Posted by Tanic (Post 34234795)

Tip jar is cheesy, but probably a result of hotel employees not being paid a living wage.

Originally Posted by s0ssos (Post 34236441)

What is a living wage? Is there a definition for that?
The wage is determined by the location, as in there are places with a minimum wage of $15. I'm unclear if there is a correlation between the minimum wage and the tip jar.

Originally Posted by Adam1222 (Post 34236450)

Yes, there is a definition for a living wage. It is not the same as the minimum wage.

Originally Posted by DELee (Post 34235556)

That's the takeaway...

David

Originally Posted by s0ssos (Post 34236468)

So how do you calculate it?
There's no such thing as a "living wage". Presuming you mean what it is intended to mean. So that means if you make $15 an hour in Seattle you can buy a house and own a car?
Unless you mean "definition" in the same way that "happiness" can be defined.

Originally Posted by s0ssos (Post 34236468)

So how do you calculate it?
There's no such thing as a "living wage". Presuming you mean what it is intended to mean. So that means if you make $15 an hour in Seattle you can buy a house and own a car?
Unless you mean "definition" in the same way that "happiness" can be defined.

Originally Posted by storewanderer (Post 34236471)

Similar dilution of benefits at other brands of other chains as well. Best to just stay where you want to stay/best value for you. Loyalty is not what it was before. The industry has changed.

I've seen tip jar at various hotel breakfast set-ups of all chains. Not a fan of seeing cash around raw/exposed food; this is not sanitary. But the restaurant industry is driven by tips in the US and at these self serve hotel breakfasts this is basically the only way for that staff to solicit tips.