Many thanks!

The thread referred to is basically right, with these amplifications:

• Yes, Marriott was in trouble about 1990-1991. Overextended as they tried to build a huge amount of real estate. I still have the brochure they used to hire me as a GM in late '89 claiming they'd have 500 Courtyards by 1995; that didn't happen until well into the 2000s. In '90-'91, the company came very close to Chapter 11. Many limited service projects were halted with foundations and pipes sticking up out of the ground, where they remained for two to five years. In the middle of all this, Pepsi offered to fund a bit of cash flow for Marriott in return for a 7-year Pepsi exclusive contract. It's been renewed every time since, although I don't know if it's on the same 7-year cycle anymore.
• The whole thing had NOTHING to do with the LDS Church. If they were so tight, why then was Marriott one of the first hotel chains to add sexual orientation to their non-discrimination policy (about 1998 IIRC)?
• It is indeed possible to see some Coke products in a Marriott. As I recall, nothing about the Pepsi contract could interfere with guest service. So, if a meeting planner holding a $20K meeting in a Marriott wanted Coke products at the meetings...they got Coke. Which resulted in plenty of Coke mini bottles/cans lying around. If you're dying for a Coke product on your next trip, chat up the conference manager or restaurant manager to see if there's a can lying around. Chances are...there are.

For me, a microwave and refrigerator are very important so my preferred brand is SHS where you are guaranteed to have them. FI is 2nd choice - many, especially the older ones, have them. (Rumor has it that Marriott wants them to remove microwaves as they renovate.)

So, I have not stayed at CY for a while until a few months ago. My feeling was that CY is really a poorman's full service Marriott. It is almost like a big full service hotel but not quite - sort of like HGI. The upsides are the pricing and quicker access in/out.

The benefit of not staying at at a hotel with lounge is I don't go eat desserts in the evening :D

Thanks again Denver Brian!

Never knew Marriott which is now a behemoth was near insolvency.

Wow!

I wish they would jettison the Pepsi products, or at least get some interesting ones in their Concierge Lounges, but so far a no go for this diet cola and soda drinker.

Room-wise, haven't most of the CY's been updated by now? From what I've seen the rooms at least have been pretty nice in many of the ones I've stayed in recently. But SHS rooms (especially the new ones) are usually similar in quality so throw in the free breakfast and that's why I think many people would choose SHS over CY. I don't drink coffee but it seems like the coffee issue might have annoyed more people than not having free breakfast.

I also don't think anyone is saying the free breakfast at a FS CL, SHS or FFI are good, just that they're convenient to grab something quick. I guess paying for breakfast at CY doesn't take long, but for me, even if I'm on an expense account if I'm going to pay for breakfast I'd probably rather go to Burger King than get something from the Bistro.

One slight advantage CY has over SHS (and FFI) now, speaking of free stuff, is the platinum arrival gift. 200 additional points and a food & beverage amenity doesn't hurt. (In my experience most business travelers, with some exceptions, won't usually stay in RI or TPS due to the half-point issue).

So personally I think CY or FFI is a toss-up, with FFI's being inconsistent so I'll usually have to check what year the FFI was built to make sure I'd choose that over a CY. But as has been said probably CY's biggest advantage is that they have so many locations, and are usually at least a reasonable price. So just because they're "successful," doesn't mean they couldn't be even more successful if they made (or didn't make, i.e. the coffee thing) some changes.

I do not drink soda at all so I dont often pay attention to soda offerings, but recall, perhaps incorrectly, seeing Coke offered in the Concierge Lounge recently. This would either have been at the Spartanburg, SC Marriott or the Baton Rouge Marriott. Again, perhaps I am recalling incorrectly......

Appreciate the comment, I will be on the lookout from now on as perhaps there has been a lessening of restrictions on certain/all properties. Thanks.

Courtyards cater to business travelers who want a decent hotel, solid internet & the ability to work in the lobby. Pretty much only hotel activity limited to 6 hours a day, Monday - Thursday. Most of them are on expense accounts so that's why no free breakfast & an overpriced Bistro. Just my 2 cents.

Ikea style is contemporary, uncluttered, and functional; just what I like. Unfortunately, IMO, CY does not resemble Ikea. The renovated CY's are ok and modern, but not Ikea modern.

I don't really pay attention to brands so much as particular hotels. I travel mostly to the same location in the DC area, and usually for a few days to a week at a time. The Downtown Silver Spring CY is located where I can get decent and varied food outside the hotel without having to drive, and there's other entertainment within walking distance as well. I pick the CY over the various other things in the neighborhood because it also includes access to the whole Washington Sports Club in the first two floors. There's a CY, a FS Marriott, and an RI closer to where I actually work when I'm in DC, but there's nothing else near them, so when you're back at the hotel, you're at the hotel. Some of my co-workers stay at them and eat in the lounge, etc, but I'd rather be able to go to the gym (the RI closest to work has a 24 hour exercise room, but the machines suck) and go walk around to different food/entertainment than hang out in the hotel.

The Pasadena, CA CY is also well situated, right on the edge of Old Pasadena, with plenty of walkable food and entertainment.

So at least some of them cater to people looking for location, rather than in-hotel services.

Twice in one thread with the facts and the history and the responding! Thanks, DenverBrian!

I would define "most successful" in terms of profitability.

I stopped noticing hotel decor decades ago, to preserve what little sanity might have remained.

I certainly do NOT drink anything any Marriott brand would consider coffee.

And I am a Marriott fanboy, at least for the international FS properties (just sent absolutely glowing praise for the Melbourne, Australia, property. But no one does coffee I can drink (ie coffee = Good Latte, Affigato, espresso..)

However, I will concur. Courtyard is close to my lowest priority property. Competition with residence in with only 5 points per dollar. Yes.. there are times I would rather take 1/2 points.. For a business traveler simple breakfast + bigger rooms (there some lovely RIs out there, case in point, Boulder!)

Modus operandi: Govt rate search, FS first, next Springhill, Fairfield et al, then RI and CY..

I happened to see a Courtyard with a breakfast rate that was $10 more than the non-breakfast rate. Since there is no buffet at the Courtyard, what does a breakfast rate actually get you?