Newspaper Delivery Changes
#211
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan USA
Programs: Marriott lifetime Titanium, Delta Platinum
Posts: 5,472
#213
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Atlanta Metro
Programs: DL , AC, BA, Hhonors Diamond, IH Platinum, Bonvoy Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 2,354
I imagine hotels will continue to have a few papers around for us old fogies that like them. Just not worth delivering them.
#214
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Except has it ever been required to provide newspapers in the lobby?
#215
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: Treasure Coast, FL
Programs: DL Diamond, Marriott LT Plat, HH Diamond, Avis Preferred Plus, National Executive
Posts: 4,578
Certainly couldn't fathom making a hotel choice based on whether I receive a free newspaper.
#216
Moderator, Marriott Bonvoy & FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: McKinney, TX, USA
Programs: United Silver; AA Plat/2MM; Marriott LT Titanium; Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,727
I think the quote "death by a thousand cuts" pretty much implies that a free newspaper by itself isn't a deal breaker but that it along with 999 other "service cutbacks" does start affecting hotel choice.
#217
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Pittsburgh, PA, USA
Programs: MR LT Titanium, IHG Plat.,UA Premier Silver, & PA/OH Turnpike Million Miler
Posts: 2,320
OT Newspaper circulation metrics need to be adjusted to take into account digital subscriptions and digital viewing. While I mainly read news in a digital format daily, I also enjoy reading a print paper when staying at a hotel. If advertising rates are supposed to correlate to the circulation than both digital (online) and print (hardcopy) need to be accounted for to get an accurate number. My two cents....
--Jon
--Jon
#218
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/24313309-post155.html
#219
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2005
Programs: Delta Diamond, Marriott Ambassador & Lifetime Titanium, Hertz President's Circle, United Silver
Posts: 6,334
Just when does a "full-service" hotel become the hotel version of a low-cost carrier when it:
- No longer provides a newspaper.
- No longer offers in-room dining (many Marriott hotels now only offer grab-and-go, even if you order "room service" you get the food in boxes and a bag with plastic flatware).
- No longer provides slippers or a bathrobe as a brand standard.
- Doesn't have shoe shining.
- Doesn't have real bellmen.
- Doesn't have a concierge.
- Asks you to tip for housekeeping.
- Charges you for the fitness room, internet, housekeeping and pool towels, as some/many Marriott "resorts" do.
#220
Join Date: Oct 2001
Programs: LTP, PP
Posts: 8,699
As I said earlier:
Just when does a "full-service" hotel become the hotel version of a low-cost carrier when it:
- No longer provides a newspaper.
- No longer offers in-room dining (many Marriott hotels now only offer grab-and-go, even if you order "room service" you get the food in boxes and a bag with plastic flatware).
- No longer provides slippers or a bathrobe as a brand standard.
- Doesn't have shoe shining.
- Doesn't have real bellmen.
- Doesn't have a concierge.
- Asks you to tip for housekeeping.
- Charges you for the fitness room, internet, housekeeping and pool towels, as some/many Marriott "resorts" do.
Just when does a "full-service" hotel become the hotel version of a low-cost carrier when it:
- No longer provides a newspaper.
- No longer offers in-room dining (many Marriott hotels now only offer grab-and-go, even if you order "room service" you get the food in boxes and a bag with plastic flatware).
- No longer provides slippers or a bathrobe as a brand standard.
- Doesn't have shoe shining.
- Doesn't have real bellmen.
- Doesn't have a concierge.
- Asks you to tip for housekeeping.
- Charges you for the fitness room, internet, housekeeping and pool towels, as some/many Marriott "resorts" do.
#221
Join Date: Dec 2013
Programs: AA Gold; SPG PLT100; Marriott Plt; UA Silver
Posts: 7
I heard this from the GM of a Starwood FourPoints I'm staying at as well. Effective Aug 1, 2017.
#223
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: MSP
Programs: Marriott LT Titanium, UA Silver (via Marriott)
Posts: 642
You joke, but most of the limited-service brands already did this when they switched from the "fat" bottles with narrower tops to the awful cylinder-style bottles. Not only are they much smaller, but the last 1/3 of the bottle takes real work to squeeze out.
#224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
As I said earlier:
Just when does a "full-service" hotel become the hotel version of a low-cost carrier when it:
- No longer provides a newspaper.
- No longer offers in-room dining (many Marriott hotels now only offer grab-and-go, even if you order "room service" you get the food in boxes and a bag with plastic flatware).
- No longer provides slippers or a bathrobe as a brand standard.
- Doesn't have shoe shining.
- Doesn't have real bellmen.
- Doesn't have a concierge.
- Asks you to tip for housekeeping.
- Charges you for the fitness room, internet, housekeeping and pool towels, as some/many Marriott "resorts" do.
Just when does a "full-service" hotel become the hotel version of a low-cost carrier when it:
- No longer provides a newspaper.
- No longer offers in-room dining (many Marriott hotels now only offer grab-and-go, even if you order "room service" you get the food in boxes and a bag with plastic flatware).
- No longer provides slippers or a bathrobe as a brand standard.
- Doesn't have shoe shining.
- Doesn't have real bellmen.
- Doesn't have a concierge.
- Asks you to tip for housekeeping.
- Charges you for the fitness room, internet, housekeeping and pool towels, as some/many Marriott "resorts" do.
Having said that, I never got consistent delivery to my room of the newspaper to my room at FS Marriotts long before this change, even though the newspapers were generallly available somewhere downstairs, in the lounge (if any / if open), and sometimes even on each floor near the elevator. And I do have it in my online preferences (still showing as of yesterday).
#225
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: home = LAX
Posts: 25,933
Having worked in the newspaper industry I can tell you that most newspapers, national and local, practically give newspapers away to hotels because it boosts the circulation figure and allows them to charge more for advertising. I can guarantee you that the local Marriott is paying next to nothing for the 25-30 copies of the local newspaper or USA Today.
Second, what you said sounds clear in high traffic parts of big metros where these newspapers are also available on newsstands. But a Marriott property (not likely FS) on the outskirts of a small town or in a downright rural area, is it still free for them if it's a long way from the printing press (and no other newspaper customers anywhere nearby)?
Now, this wasn't Marriott properties, but I ran into an issue last week where two different properties in two different programs in the same "remote" suburban location said they didn't get an newspaper delivery that morning. I've had that problem once before at a "remote" suburban Fairfield (that usually does have newspapers in the lobby every morning). So obviously there are delivery hiccups sometimes, and perhaps more likely in "remote" places where it's not worth it (to the delivery company) to send a "replacement" delivery (like it might be in a more "clustered" hotel area with lots of delivery spots next door to each other).