The End of Pillow Chocolates?
 

During my most recent trip (Boston Cambridge Marriott and Seattle Ren in June) I noticed the absence of my beloved "Pillow Chocolates".:confused: You know what I'm talking about, the nice little candies left on the pillow with the turn down service. This is rather disappointing given I will likely make MR Platinum this year on my visits to these two properties alone.

I particularly missed the Seattle Chocolates at the Seattle Ren.:( Well my son missed them anyway. I save them all and give them to him on my return. Saves me a run to the airport gift shops!

Have the Marriot properties cut back on these little amenities to save money? What else have they eliminated that I've yet to notice?

I am presently in bed at the West Palm FS and can see last night's uneaten chocolates sitting on the nightstand next to me. When I left for dinner last night, there was stuff all over the bed. Rather than turn the bed down, they put the chocolates on the nightstand, where they remain now. So at least this hotel is still leaving the chocolates.

I've found that sometimes when I check in late, the chocolates aren't there.

As of last week, Houston West Loop Marriott still had chocolates. I think this was a "one-off" you encountered and not a corporate directive.

Probably would have been best to ask a manager about the chocolates while you were there. Are you saying that the turndown service was performed, but w/o chocolate? I remember a few years ago, in a misguided effort to brand differentiate, Rens began to provide turndown alternates to chocolate. One night an herbal teabag, the next night a tiny pouch of nuts, etc.

Still had them last night at the Marriott I stayed in.

Marriott Santa Clara did not have a single one last week...

Ren T Sq, EWR Marriott, Ren PHL, and GSO Marriott did not have them. I too wondered if it was to be a thing of the past....and the worst was the NYC Marquis - they used to give a whole candy bar; last stay - nada. :(

We were at the Marriott Norcross in Atlanta and we didn't even get turn down service much less chocolates. It may have been because we were there over a holiday weekend.

Hi,

Renaissance Waverly is still happily providing turn down chocolates ... even two options, although I have not figured out their algorithm:
- 2 milk chocolate squares
or
- a box with 4 bonbon type chocolates (milk and white)

I'm thinking I get the box most of the time as elite, but sometimes get the two squares instead.

Cheers,

GenevaFlyer

The chocolates have become a real hit-and-miss affair.

Some hotels you'd never expect actually do them, others are equally surprising when they don't.

These days its far more miss than hit :(

Mind you that probably makes my waistline a little (teeny) bit happier....

Marriott Charlotte Executive Park gave a full candy bar during my stay in March both nights I was there!

Boulder, CO FS would have a stack of HUGE hershey bars on the front desk for the taking the week I spent their almost 2 years ago. Great property.

But the rest is definately now hit or miss.

Last year Huntsville FS Marriott had a box of 4 gourmet truffles waiting for me on the bed. That and the location were the only real highpoints of the hotel, as the hotel appeared badly in need of an upgrade and was mold-ridden throughout.

This has been one of the least consistent policies I've noticed.

Marriott Charlotte City Centre gave them as well.

I don't know that it's a policy (though I don't know that it isn't, either); it's certainly not part of the elite program that I'm aware of, so I'm guessing it is likely up to the property as to whether or not they offer the amenity.

Brisbane Marriott tonight gave me two mints, first time that has ever happened.

Which tower were you in? I noticed the Concierge tower got them and the North tower (closer to GA parkway) did not. Not sure about the courtyard rooms.

They were still on my bed at the Newton Marriott last night. But I didn't get a folio under my door and when I stopped at the desk the clerk pulled it, already printed, from a large pile. I hope under-door folios aren't going away.

I stayed at Hollins Hall last weekend and there was no folio under my door. When I asked about it at FD I was told they don't do it at weekends any more. It seems we sleep much lighter when on leisure time, as they had complaints at the weekend from guests who heard it being slipped under :eek:

No chocolates at either of my recent stays (Marriott Peabody & Boston/Cambridge)

I was surprised to see free chocolate chip cookies at the front desk of the Boston/Cambridge hotel.

I thought how very Doubletreeish of them ;)

Good point, didn't really mean policy. Just seems to be common enough there is some internal plan or goal for this.

The Marriott South Austin provided trail mix this week. Since I was in the room when the turn down service arrived, I had my choice of three types :cool:

They don't put folios under the door at the new JW Marriott at LA Live. Really annoying :mad::td::mad::td::mad::td:

Chocolates on the pillow was made an optional service. This along with the cookies at the desk and paper delivery were made optional to help owners with the declining economy and in house totals.

The title of the thread had me worried, but the maid just dropped off the pillow chocolate!

And the source of this info is?

I was at the Marriott World Center for 5 nights last week. No turn down service and no chocolates.

With regards to the folio under the door, I read somewhere that was a "Green," initiative on Marriott's part, but you could still request a folio be provided at check-in.

Regards,

RIP...

4 chocolates every night with turndown at JW Marriott Las Vegas. I've even received a small box of chocolates on the nightstand a few nights so far!

90% of the FS properties I have stayed at this year have provided some sort of amenity on the pillow. It's usually the chocolate squares.

In D.C. this past weekend, the Renaissance Downtown didn't even provide the turndown services after I requested it specifically two nights in a row. Had to call for extra towels both nights.

Bethesda

Marriott Biscayne Bay, we received chocolates on our 2nd night :)

Got a stack of chocolate squares every night at Napa Valley Marriott. My SO ate most of them before I can get to them.

Hit or miss for me as well. Munich gave great chocolate "soccer balls" every night a few weeks ago - world cup fever? Many domestic Marriotts do nothing, (IME). Even turn down is getting rare.

Got them in Albuquerque this weekend. But wish they were dark chocolate.

Renaissance Boston has them

Been pretty random for me even during a stay the same hotel. Marriott San Jose CA has them sometimes, and sometimes they don't. Boston Copley Place has them, and so does Providence RI.

The JW Rosseau north of Toronto doesn't even have turn down service unless you request it each night and even then you don't get any pillow gifts...could be one of the reasons this place dropped from Category 6 to 5 this year. :)