Okay, I confess, Marriott is, without a doubt, even with the changes to their program, my favourite hotel chain.

However, I was just wondering if it bothers the rest of you, half as much as it bothers me, that when I stay at a full-service Marriott at a cost of upwards of $150.00 per night, I am stuck with (95%) of the time just 12 tv channels!!

I was gone four nights this week. Two nights at Sea-Tac Marriott, 12 channels, network, CNN, ESPN, MNBC. One night at a Holiday Inn Express (in the middle of nowhere) and, wow, 50 channels all over the place!! One last night, at, Courtyard Marriott and, guess what, back to 12 channels!

I know it sounds silly, but I am seriously thinking of changing my loyalty because of this. I spend a lot of time alone and, because of that I like to watch tv at night.

Okay, I may be almost 40 but I want my MTV

It IS frustrating. Someone explained to me that the more upper class hotels want you to use PPV instead of watching TV. Kinda makes sense, because I was at a Fairfield Inn that had 90 stations -- and no PPV possibility. In addition, the hotel I've stayed that had nearly every channel I could think of -- a Best Western, when the Courtyard I normally stayed at across the street was sold out.

I don't know what to say about that.... some Marriott's and Renaissance are exceptions to the rule and provide more stations, but I agree most are pretty pathetic in that sense.

My son has complained to me regarding this kind of thing, but I'm no big TV guy so am okay!

I agree. I am frustrated by this. It seems that any hotel that uses DirecTV and the PPV options it provides, have a limited number of channels. I have stayed at many places in Atlanta over the past 6 months and the TV lineup varies. The worst was the Hilton Garden Inn Perimeter with about 9 channels. The best was the Crowne Plaza Ravinia (belive it or not!) with about 60-70.

I have recently been staying at the North Central Atlanta Marriott and they have actually upgraded the system (or paid more to DirecTV) and we now have History, A&E, Discovery, Travel, HBO Family and ESPN2 in addition to the usual channels.

I agree 100% - personally, lack of TV channel availability is a HUGE WEAKNESS in the Marriott chain.

I think it is all about Marriott being cheap.

Note to Marriott: Don't think Platinums are not noticing this issue, and some have started to switch their allegiance over this issue. Case in point: I spent at least 20 nights this year at Homweood Suites (part of Hilton) that has like 40 channels vs. a marriott with 11 channels.

Wake Up Marriott.

I had to laugh, for this was my daughters main complaint, and one reason why even tho we are Marriott Plat we now avoid them -- no WB (Gilmore girls, Dawson's et al).

Don't spend a lot of time in room, but when we do is nice to be able to have more choices than Marriott provides -- at the same price of other major chains. A rather silly thing to be bothered about, but I guess they all count!

I'm so glad to see there were other people out there this bothered. After I posted I wondered if people would think I was silly!

I have been Gold at Marriott for three years. I was going to try for Platinum this year but between the Double Dip at Hilton, the local free calls at Holiday Inn and the decent tv at all of them except Marriott, I am giving up my goal

Being Platinum is no fun if you have to keep telling them what the heck is supposed to happen......

I love this post and absolutely agree. And after my complaints on the Rihga Royal two days ago, one of the few good things I can say is they do have a few more channels (and for parents - they offer both VH1 and MTV). Overall, I agree - the channels are awful! When I can't sleep, I need something other than an infomercial!

I'm suprised more people haven't posted on this topic.

I couldn't agree more --- Marriott is seriously lame when it comes to TV stations.

Forget offering high speed internet access (for a ridiculous fee) --- offer more TV Stations.

Well, I'll be the dissenting voice I guess. As long as we can get the Weather Channel at Marriotts, I don't care what else they have or don't have on the tube.

But never fear, I'll weigh in with a related wish - that they'd provide better music options than the clock radio that pulls in about 3 channels and sounds awful.

If they want to upgrade their TV offerings with the sort of satellite music stations we have at home (that and the Weather Channel are the only reasons we keep the service), I'd be for that!

Not holding my breath, however.

edited for syntax
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Beginners' Guide to the Delta forum

[This message has been edited by GG (edited 08-06-2001).]

On a related note:
Marriott does keep talking about "rolling out high speed internet access at all marriott brands". If they manage this, I will be excited about that. Now, will they charge for it?

Of course they'll charge for it, at the beginning probably the $10-11 per day they now get you for. Remember, they use some sort of contract server for this and likely only get an override on the purchases.

I posted about this a couple of years ago, and nothing has changed, except that I do find that regular CNN - not Headline News is usually on the channel lineup.

It really is amazing that they "won't" upgrade the channel line-up. I will not accept that they can't change it.

I believe it is designed to encourage more movie purchases.

For me, it is bad enough to be on the road. The least they could do is offer a serious lineup of cable choices. It does affect my choice of hotels.

I kind of like the High Speed Internet Acccess... at $10.00 per day, it is a bargain compared to local calls and access charges, (especially when you are out of US)

I just used it in SFO. $39.00 for upto 5 days.

I did NOT have it in Munchen and ended up paying E1.90 for local calls and 800 number calls just to get online..... PLUS AOL's international Access rates....