It seems like Marriott fans (myself included) have not been too happy with Marriott as of late. I won't be as extreme as to convert my points to miles or something, but seems like Marriott has lost its luster.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001945.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001955.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001350.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001953.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001936.html

[This message has been edited by zakami (edited 08-28-2002).]

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[This message has been edited by zakami (edited 08-28-2002).]

<b> when is marriot going bust?</b>

Not soon enough for me. I'm plt and I finally quit staying there. Why would I when I get treated human at hot and hlt.

I have the opposite experience. I have been staying with Marriott for about 15 years (perhaps 85%+ of my hotel nights), I am Platinum for the first time in about 5 years, and my expectations are almost always met/exceeded by Marriott.

What hotels are you staying at? I'd like to give them a shot. It would be sad for me to leave Marriott at a PLT with all those points. But Marriott seems to be becoming more and more of a Southwest of the hotel industry.

THE MARRIOTT IN NEWPORT RHODE ISLAND IS ONE OF THE NICEST HOTELS I HAVE EVER STAYED AT !

THE SERVICE WAS TREMENDOUS FROM START TO FINISH !!!

THIS IS COMING FROM A PLATINUM MEMEBER !

My experience over the years is just like sbrower's, as I stated here: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/Forum63/HTML/001962.html

Try Cancun (not the new one), Camelback and the Bangkok Riverside for starters. I stay at 15-20 Marriott properties each year. And I keep coming back.

Do they all match our Starwood Heavenly Bed stays? Not always, but we still prefer Marriott for consistency.

In my opinion, Marriott is remarkably consistent. The STSN bag is always hanging in the same place. The carpet is almost always the same. (I think I could pick a swatch of that green and yellow stuff out of a line-up). The pillows are always down. The All American and Marriott Burger are always on the menu. The service is almost always good, and often times excellent. All in all, Marriotts are very reliable. (IMHO, they�re also boring and characterless, but often times, that�s what one wants on the road, right?)

That said, I think their elite recognition program stinks, and that�s why I�ve shifted all of my higher end stays over the Starwood (although I definitely prefer Courtyard and Fairfield over Four Points when economizing). At Marriott, an upgrade generally means a room that�s exactly the same as the rest, except that it comes with some mouthwash, a robe, and some tired bagels in the AM. Big whoop. With Starwood, I�ve been getting suites at least 75% of the time. And, I know I can use my points for some parts of the world Bill Marriott probably hasn�t even heard of.

A few of my recent stays.

Within the last 30 days:

1) Washington D.C. Wardman - This was, as a Sheraton, one of only two "I won't ever stay there again" properties. Just there about 2 weeks ago for the ABA convention. I was paying $94 a night (an amazing rate) due to the summer promotion ($80 less than the conference rate). They put me on the Concierge Floor, without my asking. On the morning I was leaving at 4am (early flight) the room service wasn't going to be open. After just a little push (not calling back, just saying "what can you do") the room service department said they would leave a cold breakfast for me at the front desk which I could pick up (I decided not to do it, but thanked them for being creative).

2) Sacramento, CA (Rancho Cordova) - Had a reservation for a free night. Called after the 6pm deadline and they agreed to cancel, without argument. Then, called back at 10pm to say I did want to stay. (It was a driving trip and I didn't think we wanted to drive that far). They said "yes". Got there, nice room, nice greeting, took free coupon.

3) Courtyard, Pasadena, CA - Not your average Courtyard, because it is an urban hotel. Nice treatment but nothing special.

Within the last year:

1) JW Marriott Cancun - Got a great rate for a *real* suite (family of four). Room service and engineering both showed up when requested with good attitudes.

2) Sydney - Wonderful treatment in a Concierge floor mini-suite on a free stay (by advance negotiation paid the difference to upgrade from free room to mini-suite - $100 AUS, really good deal)

I detest that carpet. Marriott is very stingy when purchasing fixtures/furnishings/soft goods. This is why Marriott is not and will never be my hotel of choice. Consistency is great, but when things are consistently tacky (like that dreadful carpet) I'll look elsewhere for accomodations.

I like the 'consistency' of Marriott hotels, with the exception of their mattresses. Some of their hotels have upgraded to thicker mattresses, but they're still not 'heavenly'.

1.) I like Marriott mainly because of their beds. The beds are always the same: firm. A firm bed is the very best choice for the back. I never had a soft bed at a Marriott property.
2.) I'm very confident with the bright light in the room - especially in the bath room.

I found 1.) and 2.) to be very consistent. My experiences come form European Marriotts (Germany, Austria, Netherlands, GB, ...) so far. So long Marriott will keep their excellent beds and their bright lights, I am going to stay there.

I'm a Marriott Platinum and a Hilton Diamond. Marriott's treatment of it's Platinums along with it's hotels are considerable more consistant than that of Hilton.

Two Hilton examples that come to mind are the Hilton Las Vegas and Hilton Chicago. In Las Vegas we were upgraded to a suite as a diamond member. It was a total dump. Two separate stays, two dumpy suites. In Chicago this past weekend. No suite, no executive level, just a key to a dumpy, poorly appointed executive lounge.

At least all Marriott's are on the same page when they take care of regular guest. Not always the same paragraph but certainly the same page.