Hey All...

Having read many a post written in the heat of the moment, I will tell my tale and ask my fellow "straight shooting" FT'ers for opinions before strangling every employee in sight...

I have been staying at the Denver Tech center Marriott for the last 15 nights. Tonight when I returned from dinner at 9:00pm, there were many orange cones & odd uniformed attendants at the street entrance. The sign said "Registered Guests Only". I drove right up to the cones and proclaimed "I'm a registered guest". I was then told by the attendant "There is no parking. Every spot is full." I am then told "You can park in the Oldsmobile lot, but you will have to be out by 8:00am". Not wanting to be told when I have to leave, and not knowing where this "Oldsmobile Lot" is, I protest. "But I'm a registered guest. I have been here 15 nights. I'll use the Valet". "They have gone because they are full too" I am told. I probe further and learn that there is a Car Show taking place at the Marriott for the next 4 days, and the lots are full because every registered Car Show guest has a large dual-wheeled truck, a trailer and a classic auto. Three parking spaces per guest room.

I park in the "Oldsmobile Lot"...(IE: The main hotel parking lot I find out), and march to the front desk. The desk clerk says "Sorry, but there is no parking". I ask her what to do, and she says "I dont know". I ask for the manager. 10 minutes pass. The manager "Denise" comes out and to her credit is all smiles and has a solution. "You can park at the abandoned chinese restaraunt two blocks away. They will not tow you there, as we have arranged parking!". Glorious. I leave and park at this lot. I trudge back, up the elevator, and to my room where my card key no longer works. I try it three times, making sure I'm using it correctly. Back downstairs I go. It's becoming "one of those nights".

Back at the front desk I encounter the desk clerk, Miss "I dont know". She re-keys my card, making sure to mention that the card key programming "looks OK to her". I remind her I'm no first-timer and I tried it three times. Then comes the kicker... While I'm standing there, some guy comes strolling in and proclaims to the desk clerk (and manager who is still nearby) "I parked by the front door in the fire zone...OK?". "OK" the desk clerk tell him.

(Fumes are spouting from my ears) "Hey wait, I had to park two blocks away!" I say to the clerk. "Well the lot is full!" she says, as the manager quickly slips out the side door to her office.

Now....Am I wrong to be upset? Is it my fault that the management at this hotel books an auto show, full knowing that this will overwhelm the already limited parking lot? (On friday/saturday nights WITHOUT a car show it's hard to find parking!)

I give the other guy credit for having the "Cojones" to just park where he wanted and dare them to tow him. It's the attitude of the desk that really burned me!

So...Am I wrong? Is it just the adrenaline pumping in my temples doing the talking? Give it to me straight!

PF




[This message has been edited by Pointfreak! (edited 07-25-2001).]

Pointfreak,

Yes, I absolutely agree with you on every point you have raised in your post. Moreover, I am sure Marriott would have been quite unhappy had the Fire Marshall been called, not only to ticket and remove the offending vehicle from the Fire Zone, but to check all the hotel convention areas and ballrooms for capacity limits, as well as fire hydrants and exit areas in the overfilled parking lots.

If the Management had arranged for parking at the abandoned chinese restaurant, it would seem that the Valet parkers would certainly have had a place to put guests' vehicles, thereby alleviating yet another inconvenience to their guests.

I would think a nights stay taken off the bill would help.

By the way, how many more nights are you committed to this location?

Well, since your FT name is Pointfreak perhaps the hotel can give you some bonus points for your frustration. I've had hotels give me 5,000 points just because the shuttle from the rental car counter was slow in picking me up. Being a Platinum might have helped.

First, I would make sure to speak with the GM (not the manager on duty) of the hotel and explain about how your loyalty to Marriott has been severely tested and your future business that you and your company will be taking elsewhere (even if that is not true).

Then, when he or she asks 'what can we do to keep your business?', I would ask for one of the following: credit for several nights in the current stay OR if your company or client is paying anyway, ask for 10 or 20k points and guaranteed suite next time you stay there. You may not get all of what you ask for, but like any negotiation, start high and you will probably get something. Good luck!

I've stayed at this hotel and have had minor (nothing like yours) problems there too. Just speak to the General Manager.. or fill out one of those comment cards and follow up the next day.

You definitely should get something, and after staying 15 nights, they WANT your business. There's plenty of other options in the area and they know that.

Sorry to learn of your trvails! It's a shame! Hopefully they will so well by you!

This happened to me at the Santa Fe, NM Hilton for a Prom. They told me to pay $6 across the street. I just parked in the fifteen minute spot all night and just put my room number on the dash. When I spoke with the manager the next day they apologized and gave me a coupon for a free night so I was very happy. Although I'm not sure when I'll be back, but it doesn't expire so all in all it was a good situation

I, too, had been staying at the Tech Center in Marriott in Denver but, six weeks ago, switched my loyalty to the Gateway Marriott near DIA.

I didn't have problems like yours, but I can guarantee I would have been less than happy if the manager had told me I needed to park my car two blocks away, at night, and walk back to the hotel, as a female alone.

This is unacceptable. Ask for some sort of retribution and let us know how they handle it.

I am hoping they handle it well, because I really love Marriott!

They should have handled this differently, and it is well worth speaking to the general manager. Speak to him/her, however, when you have calmed down and can do so in a calm, smiling way. Ask for some specific compensation for your "major inconvenience".. i.e. 5,000 Marriott points, one free night, etc.
Meanwhile, keep in mind that you won't survive well as a road warrior if you let this stuff get inside you. There are a l ot of these desk clerks out there, in every hotel chain. I think they transfered there from some of my favorite airlines.

Perhaps you should suggest to the mgmt to have the trucks & trailers park at the abandoned Chinese place.

Seems they could accommodate more normal cars in the hotel lot by doing that.

Just wait til you get to a Marriott that is having a dog show. Every square inch of grass outside.. well you get the picture....

constant barking ALL Night long....

Dogs in the Bars/restraunts/

and I love dogs, have two AT HOME!

What a joke! I think you should write to everyone associated with the hotel and get everything you can out of them. This is an example of such poor service and care I can't believe it.

Go get 'em.