"honor bar" implementations
 

(posted in MR-specific forum b/c I'm interested in Marriott properties in particular)

I'm at a property where the "honor bar" is served by an attendant...there aren't any glasses out, presumably to enforce this policy. And the hard liquor is offered in multiple serving sizes (at different prices) and is measured out in a jigger, so no "generous pours". How typical is this for Marriott "honor bars"? Typically I see true honor bars, where patrons can serve themselves, and I also have been heartily encouraged by most CL attendants to serve myself generously.

As an amusing aside, one of their red wine offerings is Ferrari Carrano Cabernet Sauvignon...at $17 and change per glass. That seems a bit high, even by CL standards, but I can't imagine that they get enough turnover on those bottles to preserve the quality of the wine (which they merely recork and let sit out at room temp).

Can you ask the attendant to open a fresh bottle if you want that wine?

Many lounges will allow you to order a bottle of wine from room service, at room service prices billed to your room, and consume it in the lounge if you wish.

I've only seen this in states with backwards liquor laws (Utah, etc).
Most others in the US don't have an attendant pouring for you and rely on you filling out the card and serving yourself.
Where was this?

No idea and i don't want to imply interest by asking.

I can't imagine that they wouldn't...I also often see people bring in their own liquor to consume, and I've never seen that practice questioned.

Florida

I could see perhaps bringing wine that had been a hotel welcome gift into the lounge or something that had previously been purchased through room service, but otherwise bringing one's own alcohol (purchased outside of the hotel) into a lounge with an honor bar seems close to bringing your own beer into a bar that provides (free) live music. I just can't imagine someone having the nerve to do this.

Probably done the math and found out it's cheaper to pay the bartender than to rely on the "dishonor" bar where people scam.

Yeah, I'm not sure I'd bring in my own stuff, and if I did, I would certainly be discreet about it. With that said, I don't think your comparison to a bar is 100% accurate...the primary purpose of the CL is relaxation and light munchies, whereas the primary purpose of the bar is to sell alcohol and food. Plus, the fact that you can walk from your "temporary home" to the CL puts people in a different mindset. As I think about it, if I were drinking an alcoholic beverage in my room, and wanted to go grab a snack, I'm not sure I'd hesitate to take my drink to the lounge...but I'd still be discreet.

No doubt...but then it's not an honor bar (and shouldn't be referred to as such), and I think this takes away one of the perks of the CL. I know when I'm traveling with colleagues, we heartily enjoy the CL honor bar and in addition to paying for it tip the attendant heartily. With this model, we'd almost certainly head elsewhere...there is no draw of the CL vs other venues (incl the hotel bar).

Exactly.

Of course it would never be questioned. It's an exec lounge, not a bar, and you are a guest in the hotel. If you wanted to bring your own wine to the hotel's bar or restaurant you could absolutely do that as well. They might have a standard corkage fee, but that would almost always be waived for a hotel guest.

If US exec lounges charge for wine, bring your own. You have every right to do it.

At the FLL North there a CL attendant that doesn't even put the glasses out to make a drink and fill out the slip. Last time I was there I waited 8 minutes for him to finish setting up before he could serve me a drink. It was more than the cost at the lobby bar including tip.

JW Marriott Miami I had a similar experience. Are there really that many people that don't fill out the form?

So much misinformation....

The CL is not a private club. It is subject to the same laws as any other establishment serving alcohol. Most hotels likely have a single liquor license covering all operations within the hotel. There are no exceptions for the CL because its hotel guests congregating there.

There is no right to bring alcohol into any establishment. Establishments are free to control who brings in alcohol and under what circumstances. There is a Website that allows you to see which restaurants allow you to bring your own bottles. http://www.gobyo.com/ In Atlanta, only about 20% of restaurants allow this.

The best course of action is to ask if it's okay, or be prepared to leave if it's not. There is no universal right to bring your own. Bottom line: the restaurant/bar/CL is responsible for alcohol consumed on its premises and can be held financially liable should someone consuming on the premises cause harm to a third party. Given they also have agreements with insurance providers, liquor distributors and licensing authorities, and have been given legal advice on what they can and cannot do, you should respectfully follow their policies, not make up your own.

At the Hotel Chicago, everything but water is behind a staffed bar, including soft drinks, except for late afternoon, when beer and wine is self-serve.

This isn't a private club. It's just another licensed establishment selling booze. It's called a "club" to make people feel special. That's good marketing.

But, whether you can bring your own booze into a licensed establishment is a matter of local law and then the property's own policy.

You have no "right" to anything.

That is so absurdly not true. The exec lounge does not have it's own license, the hotel has a license.

EVERYONE HAS A RIGHT to bring wine into a hotel, which includes the exec lounge. If you get so drunk that they think you may be a danger to yourself or others, or are disturbing others, they would ask you to leave. Although the same is true if you are buying their wine.

To think otherwise is ridiculous. Start making some calls and emails and find one Marriott affiliated property that says you are forbidden from bringing wine into their hotel, or its lounge. You won't find one, but good luck trying.

Not a single word of it was misinformation. When you refer to "establishments" and some website, you're not talking about hotels. This thread is about exec lounges of hotels and hotels so see above, and previous post for all correct information.