No umbrellas... but we'll rent you one.
Mar 5, 2024, 5:10 am
#48
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Mar 5, 2024, 5:35 am
#49
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Most Marriotts in the UK are all owned by the same company. They have tried do things like standardise the food menu across all hotels and also reduce the number of GMs (one GM across multiple properties).
Therefore I'm not surprised this is across a lot of the UK properties.
T
Therefore I'm not surprised this is across a lot of the UK properties.
T
Last edited by toothy; Mar 8, 2024 at 1:53 pm
Mar 5, 2024, 6:31 am
#50
Moderator: British Airways Executive Club, Marriott Bonvoy
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If you consider the costs involved in buying, maintaining and operating this contraption and its umbrellas, they must surely be more than the revenue from the occasional £2 rental. *Someone* is paying for this. Let's guess who ....
Mar 5, 2024, 6:45 am
#51
Join Date: Feb 2008
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Probably a VC company who thought it would be a good idea to back an "umbrella as a service" company.
Mar 5, 2024, 6:55 am
#52
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Mar 5, 2024, 9:48 am
#53
Join Date: Sep 2010
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If it was really VC backed, it’d cost them $5 to rent out the umbrella, they’d charge $0.99 to rent it, and SoftBank would give them $300 million to scale it. If it doesn’t implode, once they corner the UAAS market, they’ll start charging $20 for an hour’s rental.
Mar 5, 2024, 10:05 am
#54
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I can't be the only one who packs a small collapsible umbrella. There are many things to complain about as regards declining customer service, but free umbrellas is pretty low on my list, though to be fair, I might expect it at a luxury hotel. Not sure Marriott in Manchester quite reaches that lofty height.
Mar 5, 2024, 11:18 am
#55
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,754
I think this is the company providing the umbrellas: https://www.dripdrop.io/hotel-umbrellas
I guess they offer the service free to hotels, making money from the rental and non-return charges. Their case study is a hotel in London with 1019 rooms generating 145 rentals per week (from 3 stands).
I guess they offer the service free to hotels, making money from the rental and non-return charges. Their case study is a hotel in London with 1019 rooms generating 145 rentals per week (from 3 stands).
Mar 5, 2024, 11:29 am
#56
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They should put those machines in tube stations and allow returns at any other location.
Mar 5, 2024, 11:37 am
#57
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I think this is the company providing the umbrellas: https://www.dripdrop.io/hotel-umbrellas
I guess they offer the service free to hotels, making money from the rental and non-return charges. Their case study is a hotel in London with 1019 rooms generating 145 rentals per week (from 3 stands).
I guess they offer the service free to hotels, making money from the rental and non-return charges. Their case study is a hotel in London with 1019 rooms generating 145 rentals per week (from 3 stands).
Mar 5, 2024, 3:24 pm
#58
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I'd take that math - assume it was in the US: $40/day = $14600/yr...how many umbrella's in the stand? 10? 20? What's the average cost of the umbrella bought in bulk - $10? Assume the non-return fee is at lease the cost of the Umbrella, so that's a wash. Cost of the stand with built in POS capability - $1k? Service cost $100/month = $1200 - split it 50/50 with the property...why would they not be in, and why would I not want to do this?
Seems like pretty easy money to me.