Why is it that Marriott cannot offer a decent cable channel lineup in most of their hotels? I travel constantly and it never fails that when I stay at Marriott, I'll turn on the TV and get maybe 8 broadcast channels. Usually, CNN Headline News is offered, but no CNN. If you want financial news or coverage of a breaking story, forget it!

There is no reason why the property can't offer CNN, CNBC or MSNBC if they can offer CNN Headline - other than they are cheap and don't want to pay the extra fee to carry these channels. Marriott's rates are NOT cheap, however.

I've called corporate and complained, but basically got some assistant who let me vent and that was basically it. This issue does affect my decision to stay at Marriotts.

Marriott....are you listening?


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Traveler113

Hmmm. All Marriott properties that I have been to have CNN.....

Do you work for Starwood?

the JW Marriott in Bangkok did even show the SuperBowl game last weekend on two different channels: ESPN and ??? (starting local time in Bangkok: Monday, 6AM) - I (and Gisela) stayed there during the day (arriving from Melbourne early in the morning, departing for Frankfurt after midnight).

this is a very valid issue - and i would like to support you on this by writing a letter to Corporate. does anyone know who i should write to?

i would tend to agree that the channel selection could be significantly enhanced in most locations.

FWIW, I'm not real fond of TV and somewhat indifferent, but I was able to watch MLB and see the Yankees play (strangely at breakfast) at the JW Marriott, Bangkok in April/May of '98. And it sure is nice to be able to just flip on the TV and get some news!

I don't really think this is the hotels fault unless they have satalite. Hotels sre suject to the whims of the cable co. just like we are in out homes. If the cable does not carry CNN, or even the Wheather Channel, there is not much we can do excepet call and demand they provide these channels with their service, or ask the hotels to ask.

I'm currently at a Courtyard. They have CNN but not CNN_Headline_News. Among the movie channels they have HBO.

I also stayed at a Hilton Garden Inn in the area and the Hilton had more channels - two movie channels and both CNN and Headline News. Hilton had appx. 30 channels versus appx. 10 channels at the Courtyard. Both places had 25" TV screens.

There is some lack of consistency in channels; most, but not all Marriott hotels I've stayed have had both CNN and Headline News, but a noticable amount have one and not the other.

I stayed at a Bestwestern once when the Courtyard was sold out that night. It had every basic cable channel; just like watching my home TV. It even had most of the other channels barely scrambled However, I never stayed there again. The hotel was scummy, even though it was half price of the Courtyard.

If I'm staying at a hotel I hope to spend a minimum amount of time watching TV there

All "W" Hotels have the 27" Web-TVs. I can watch what ever I want when ever I want to watch it or I can go on line to read the news at any time from my feather bed.

It could be that they do not want to lose the revenue stream from the in room movies. With the high charges they collect for a 90 minute movie it must be a goldmine for some of the Marriott properties.

one of the 'out of-normal/average' perks of the SCCS-club-membership in InterContinental hotels is, that you get ONE movie free per stay.

I have noticed that Hilton and Starwood have much better cable selection than Marriott.

Bjoe, having just checked out of the Anaheim Marriott this morning, I definitely agree with that!

I have to agree with Bjoe on this. Having stayed at numerous Hiltons, Marriotts and Starwood hotels, Hilton and Starwood consistently have more cable channels than Marriott.

Currently in a Fairfield in ROC, they have CNN, CNN Headline, TNT, WTBS, Weather plus local and ESPN. Was in a CY in BOS last week and the cable selection mirrored this one. Time/Warner must have a lock on these Marriott properties, but why so few?

I stay over 200 nights a year in hotels and have found the best selection of stations at HI and HIx properties. Most offer over 50+ stations and seem to have a direct DSS connection as the ads for specials on other channels pop up.