Yep. CY is my go to brand as the corporate rate is good and the locations are almost always good for my needs.

I like CY's but don't give two craps about a free breakfast.

Here's my experience: Fairfields are more or less on the low end of things, with breakfast "buffets" that are not much more than hard boiled eggs and some chemicals masquerading as food in cellophane wrappers. Lots of dogs, kids, etc. I avoid them on business travel if possible. Springhills have a better breakfast buffet but the rooms are sometimes weird. I'll take them over a Courtyard if I can get them at a decent rate. My favorite, by far, is almost any Residence Inn -- IF I can get a reasonable rate. Sometimes the Residence Inns are so expensive I might as well settle for the Courtyard and go out for all my meals. Courtyards aren't my favorite but they generally allow me to work in peace. I'm a cyber security consultant and spend plenty of time at the hotel writing reports. As I write this, I'm at the Courtyard in Greenbelt MD -- it's a relatively older property but not too bad. Early '90s construction, even the walls have the popcorn finish. The Bistro is sub-par compared to other Courtyards, but at least I can order a relatively healthy breakfast (egg whites, oatmeal).

So, while I'm puzzled by the Courtyard business model of guzzling my daily food per diem compared to other hotels, I do stay at them regularly -- but sometimes reluctantly. :-)

It may sound silly, but probably my greatest annoyance with the Courtyards is the lack of a free coffee bar in the lobby, so they can push me to the expensive Starbucks at the Bistro. It's nice to come down to the lobby and grab a cup of coffee and continue working, without all the hassle of paying for Starbucks. The "free" coffee they provide in the CY rooms is utter crap. One cup of that and you'll be dying for Starbucks. Hmmm...could be part of the business model! To defeat the money grab, I travel with a portable K-Cup coffee maker and my own coffee, especially if I'm going to be at a Courtyard for more than just a few days.

Maybe that is another "problem" with Courtyards, massive inconsistency. The old style, wrapped around a courtyard are simple horrible and all over the East coast. Noisy, smoke filled (even after the ban), bed bugs (once), bad HVAC, bad internet.

Many a horrible night before I gave up for good for at least 5+ years.

The few times I went for breakfast (or most likely included in the rate), it reminded me of a company cafeteria. But that's light years ahead of "Bistro".

Some brand new ones are spectacular, i.e Pearland, TX for location and rooms. But again, I wouldn't spend a dime for Bistro except for alcohol.

To each his own...

First, welcome to FT.

You are new and you will learn. ;)

You will also soon have some true cutting edge choice at Marriott as both the AC hotel brand and the Moxy brand are coming to the US.

I doubt that either will provide breakfast, but they will be very fresh, forward directional brands that will stand in contrast to C/Ys.

Heck, I would take a Springhill Suites any day over a C/Y since their décor and room space are nicer and larger and they apparently now offer some healthy alternative in their FREE breakfasts.

As others have said, I usually avoid C/Ys like the plague and they are my last choice when researching Marriott properties.

Some of you might like to take a gander at the C/Y Anaheim @ Disneyland pictures.

That is the next generation of C/Y rooms.

Now, the pics that appear randomly on the first page might have finally been updated, but go to the photos link and you will see them in all their glory -- really modern with grey tones.

I certainly might forego the other "lesser" properties if the price point is the same - as I would know that this is truly a new product and the hotel was recently renovated. However, I think the new rooms at both the SS and the RI are quite nice, as well!

Agree.

Yes there are exceptions, but they've rare.

And your example is why the brand continues to do well.

Your first comment is just a bit silly. He identified the reasons why the CY brand works for him, especially compared to a FI which seems to be his other option. Heck I'm with him on that. If price is comparable I'd pick a CY over a FI every time.

AC and Moxy are eventually coming to the US (AC sooner than Moxy), but there's no way in Hades they'll have the footprint of CYs across the US.

Fwiw - Moxy is the brand that's trying to position itself as cutting edge/going after the millenials, as evidenced by the Milan Moxy. He'd probably like Moxy (if there's one where he's at). Moxy is currently aimed at Europe with perhaps the first one when it comes to US being in NOLA.

While I prefer SHS over CY I'm not going to say CY is not a viable option, and evidently Marriott's bottom line agrees.

Cheers

I mostly stay at Courtyards too, because on weekends (when I almost always travel, and for leisure) they are usually before the lowest priced. I also get 10 points per dollar, which isn't true at RIs. I never eat breakfast, so I don't care that CY doesn't offer it, and I find that many of their lobbies are new.

While I may have to sacrifice a free breakfast, there are some benefits to CYs:

1) Often, there just isn’t another option (Atlantic City comes to mind)
2) As others have said, CY is a bit more upscale compared to the FFI. SHSs aren’t that common. Never stayed in a RI actually.
3) The newer rooms are actually really nice – the CY Philly Downtown is amazing and I think nicer than the FS MR. The aforementioned CY Atlantic City also has nice rooms.
4) Prices are lower compared to the FS MR – often so much so that the free breakfast doesn’t matter ($50+/night)

So while CY certainly isn’t my preferred MR brand, it does have its value in the MR “family.” Especially since I often try to find a government rate – which I seem to easily find at a CY, making them even more competitive financially. When you’re saving $200 for the weekend, I’ll sacrifice my “free” breakfast and coffee.

Define "most successful." It's probably very well known, and is definitely profitable, but I wouldn't say most successful.

-Has the 2nd most number of rooms (based on yearend 2013 shareholder data)
-Ranks #1 in terms of number of locations - nearly 200 more than it's nearest Fairfield
-Yet operates the lowest occupancy rate of all the brands, 3rd lowest in ADR among Limited Service Marriott brands

I would say it's one of their stronger brands, but definitely not most successful from looking at the numbers. If you were to just look at the limited service hotels within Marriott's portfolio, I would rank Residence Inn as the top brand, followed by CY or Springhill as #2, but with all the brands, it's probably 4th or 5th, solely looking at numbers. Source, Marriott's year end shareholders document.

It's interesting that you mention inconsistency with the Courtyard brand. I've stayed at the them solely in the Midwest and I've found them exactly the opposite--massively consistent. Perhaps that's another reason why I like them. I know what to expect.

Thanks very much for the warm welcome!

I'm looking forward to trying those properties eventually but my SO has her heart set on staying at Autograph hotels first. I get the points, she gets the history/uniqueness. :D

FFI - Hit or miss. Internet can be slow during the dual "porn-window" and late evening business report window. Breakfast not really worthwhile. Often pet friendly. Popular with traveling youth groups.

CY - Very consistent, ubiquitous business hotel. 2-tiered internet, crucial for using remote systems during peak times. Bistro saves a run to starbucks in the morning and is far better than SHS or FFI breakfasts. Typically quiet, although the pool area can be noisy in the summer.

SHS - Harder to find and a bit more expensive the CY on average. Internet can be slow when occupancy is high (few have tiered internet). Tolerable breakfast. Not as well located to business areas.

TPS - Long term on a budget. Usually comfortable and quiet. Not up to residence inn standards. Only earns 1/2 points.

RI - Long term and comfortable. Expensive and usually located on prime real estate. Good rooms, activities and internet. Only earns 1/2 points.

REN - A few good ones in business areas. Typically competes with FS properties. Some great deals.

You are most welcome -- obviously you understood my welcome, although some "Silly Sally's" did not.

My wife, too, like the Autograph Collection, as well, from historic hotels, to ones that are new builds and are cutting edge -- she stayed at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas and loved it -- and I wasn't even there! ;) I bet your SO will love the Renaissance Mayflower in DC -- not an Autograph but dripping with history -- it is quite beautiful with its Christmas decorations up, as well.

It's good that you are getting into the game now, as many of the chains are taking into the fold unique properties and/or new brands to cater to you millennials!

I've been hearing rumors for quite sometime now that changes in this market space are coming (I remember the first time I heard them thinking wow the folks in FT won't be happy)...and the rumors don't involve changes to MI's brands.....(I'll have to go see if I can pull a memo on it, I think the changes have been announced to the hotels already)

that is very true...and as I get older and older there's somethings I just scratch my head at but they work for those brands...the demographic targets for each brand are different but they work for the brand while they might not work for me specifically, myself I'm a full service Marriott/Renaissance/JW/Ritz/Westin/Hyatt type of guy.....will I stay at a CY, sure but it's usually not my first choice - have I stayed at a W before, yes but it's not my first choice either (I'm just not cool enough)