thegoderic

That's interesting - as a Plat I've had one stay in a Barlow room and that came with lounge access.

For all my other stays (5 and counting), I've been put in a Chambers room that had Chambers Club access with it. It also seems that if you have a Chambers room, the SOP is that reception call for a member of the Guest Relations team to come and escort you to the room.

SkiAdcock

lt's the Golds in the Barlow rooms being denied access, not Plats.

BTW - my interpretation re: outside & inside the US is the same as VickiSoCal's. I remember when the topic came up previously, some were interpreting it both ways. I meant to PM Marriott Concierge then to get clarification, but forgot to do so. Now it looks like I have 2 things to PM for clarification.

Cheers.

ohmark

The problem is that the language, like some other MR rules, is subject to more than one interpretation, and getting a reliable official interpretation from Marriott is like......(fill in metaphor). Generally, the risk of ambiguous language is on the drafter of the language, in this case Marriott. But it sure seems strange to me that the first time I've ever heard of any Marriott fs worldwide denying lounge admission to golds (allbeit offering an alternative) occurs just after MR changes the wording of the rule, and that the changed wording applies only to non-North American properties, which, of course, the St Pancras is. Coincidence??

Nordicintransit

Amex card holders get a complimentary night with every 2 night stay from now till March 2012 @ the St Pancras Renaissance!

http://www.amexnewhotels.com/uk_rena...st_pancras.php

thegoderic

Just about to have my first falling out with them.

I was there for a 4 night stay this week.

Monday night - arrive
Tues a.m. - have a shower
Weds a.m. - try to have a shower - no hot water - complain - someone promised to come up but I had to leave in 10 minutes so call at reception on the way out to make sure it got looked at.
Weds p.m. - come back to hotel late & try water - still cold - call downstrairs - they promise someone to come help who doesn't turn up but they obviously do something as the water starts running hot.
Thurs a.m. - hot shower
Fri a.m. - only cold water - have to leave to catch a train so give up and mention it at check out - was told that there was something against my stay for fixing the aircon - to add insult to injury she offered to remove the minibar charge from my account when I hadn't used the minibar.

Am about to compose a snottogram to send to them.

Melville

Recently, completed a short stay at St. Pancras and, although cannot comment on the Gold/Chambers Club situation, will add the stay was generally very good.

Similar experience as noted above with checkin commenced at the front desk and escorted to the Chambers Club room. Very warm welcome and upgrade was pre-assigned. The escort was excited about taking on this task and showing off the hotel. I found the hotel structure and design impressive.

The room has already been described above. The Chambers Club lounge is in a league by itself when compared to other international lounges encountered on my travels. It has the look and feel of a posh club. The staff was very helpful on my visits offering to make tea, cocktails and open my beer. No complaints in the service department of any kind.

The evening food offerings may be a little on the sparse side and not likely going to make a dinner for those so inclined, however, there were a couple of unique and tasty canapes and sweets. The drinks selections was good with several wines, cocktails and three types of bottled beer. Breakfast seemed to me to be pretty much the standard fare for UK hotels lounges.

As others have commented, given a good rate, I would look forward to returning.

lexdevil

Should mention that I found a bottle of Tabasco in the cabinets under the hot food station (was rifling around for a clean glass when no staff were on hand). Of course no one ever thought to set it out at any point during my five day stay. It is, however, there, so if you crave a Bloody Mary, you know what to do.

SkiAdcock

I've updated the exec lounge sticky to reflect that (currently) Golds might not get access to the lounge & instead get the cont'l brekkie, coffee, drink/snack.

Cheers.

u600213

Just checked in to Ren St. Pancras . Lots of bellman and other staff but only one person at checkin. Rewards stay, only Gold. No lounge access for me which kind of annoys me but whatever. Offered choice of water, beer, or wine and choice of cheese plate, chocolate truffles or cake as arrival welcoming amenities. Room choice was standard room on 5th floor, accessible room on 5th floor which was said to be an upgrade except for the bathroom, and also offered a 2nd floor room in the old building overlooking the station but was warned of single glazed windows and hearing train station announcements. I would have taken that but my wife is sensitive to sounds so we ar accessible which is fine except I'm sure I'll take some heat tomorrow for getting water all over the floor from the roll in shower.

lexdevil

I wonder if this has any relation to the leak in the ceiling of the Chambers Club. There are water stains (and I even caught some drops falling) in the area just in front of the television. I also overheard some Marriott employees discussing a temporary lounge closure for painting. Perhaps they are in the midst of making repairs?

thegoderic

I was over the Club in 174 which is at the staircase end so it may be the same issue.

ohmark

Did you ask for some guidance as to why you, as a gold, would not receive lounge access per the rules? Sounds to me more and more like what we thought was an improvement in the rules providing non-North American breakfast 7 days, was actually a weasel-worded change permitting non-North American properties to deny lounge access. Hope I'm wrong.

SkiAdcock

I'm hoping you're wrong too. I'm still interpreting the change re: brekkie to be int'l properties that don't have lounge access, but have PM'd Marriott Concierge for clarification.

But even with that, I'm not buying the giving you cont'l brekkie 7 days/week means you're kicked out the lounge for the entire weekend coming from that - although that's what it sounds like St. Pancras is trying to do.

We need to get clarification on that too, but I figure rather than muddy the waters w/ Marriott Concierge with two items, let's get clarification on the first, & then deal w/ the second.

If I were a Gold & staying at St. Pancras anytime soon, I'd have a printout of the Gold elite benefits where it states a Gold gets lounge access. If they balk, ask them to show where on Marriott's site for Gold benefits it says St. Pancras is excluded.

FWIW - while I thought of trying out this property, I think I'm going to stay w/ Grosvenor House.

Cheers.

wombat7

When I checked out, I asked at the desk whether the club access was only for Plats and told that was the case. I was also told that they do not view the club as an executive lounge - rather it is a club - thus the difference.

I have another couple of London trips in September but think I will stay elsehwere - though that 3rd night for free offer from Amex does look good

u600213

When I checked out the nice lady asked how my stay was. I asked if she was just asking because it was a script or if she really wanted to know. She said tell her so I did.
Basically, I told her that it was a very nice hotel, all the staff were nice, the air conditioning in the room was excellent but the elevator was very hot, they did not have enough people working check in or check out, I would not prefer an accessible room again because it was impossible to take a shower without getting the entire bathroom floor wet, and was disappointed that they did not provide lounge access for me as Gold and there was an incorrect 38 pound dinner charge on my bill left under the door. She removed the dinner charge, said she would note the room preference, and was sorry about the lounge access but that was the current policy.