hartleypig

I have noticed, in the UK at least, that more and more Marriotts are removing their ice machines. Went to Bristol City last week and found that they have no ice machines any longer. Used to be one on all 10 floors. I haven't been to Glasgow recently, but have read that they have removed theirs - "to enhance the guest experience" - no less! Swindon got rid of theirs in the last couple of years. I have been to some Marriotts, such as Birmingham, Manchester Airport, Hanbury Manor where there never seems to have been an ice machine.

Now, I know I can order ice, but what a faff compared with walking down a corridor and filling the bucket whenever I need to. How many times do I have to wait 5 mins to get through to room service and then wait for someone to appear at the door. And the poor staff wasting time walking back and forth with ice.

I have spoken to staff who have said that the ice machines are a pain to maintain, so they get removed. Seems to be a convenience to the hotel rather than the customer. The worst hotels are the ones with no fridges and no ice machines. What chance of keeping things cool?

goodeats21

One per floor is somewhat overkill, but I agree there should be at least one ice machine directly accessible by hotel guests, even in Europe where ice is not as ubiquitous.

They are a bit of a pain to maintain, requiring regular cleaning / sanitizing / etc.

Soccerdad1995

Personally, I am OK with this as long as the ice delivery is relatively quick and painless.

If there is a wait when calling down or it takes an excessive amount of time for the delivery, then I agree that ice machines would be much better.

plagwate

Marriott spent $500,000 on market research. Their findings? Millennials don't like ice....or desks.

/sarcasm

pdsales

So I guess Marriott will also need to shelve its long-standing top-secret plan to add its newest amenity: ice desks.

Baze

It's about tipping, you don't tip an ice machine. But you order ice and they show up with an envelope on the ice bucket.

JohnnyRockets

Here is your answer to why they are gone, in the UK at least.

Mjben044

The reason they got rid of the ice machine has nothing to do with saving money, they did actually listen to their guests. No one wants their rooms to be by the ice machine. They were tired of the complaining. Guests want ice, not but not the inconvenience of being bothered by the maker.

Can't have it all complainers.

RogerD408

So the thread title should be edited to add: ... but don't put them next to my room.

HMPS

please start a new thread....I can list a few !

Vegasrider

Europe has a problem with ice in general, they don't use very much of it in their drinks like they do here in the states. For those who whine about the noise from the ice machines, it's not as bad as being next to the elevators and you can always put it in your profile. A lot of the machines are located in another room so you wouldn't be able to hear them anyways. The modern day ice machines are more sanitary since they are designed to dispense, so it eliminates the possibility of people peeing or wanking on the ice as pictured.

CJKatl

Just awesome!

Ouch. I'm feeling the sting of being slapped with the truth. Mjben044, it's like you've crawled in my head.

hartleypig

Mr HP is obesessed with having very cold drinks. He uses the ice mixed with water to chill his cans and bottles right down. He likes to be able to get a mountain and have three buckets on the go!

JohnnyRockets

From my years of seeing intoxicated people. Gravity doesn't stop drunk people from doing illogical (disturbing) things. Hint Hint: The dispense ones still have a drain right? You would use it even it just dispense right?

However, I still prefer the machines as 90% of the time I witness the machine to be acceptable. And I have couple of floors increase my success rates.

FLgrr

I was thinking this as well, costs too much - people not wanting to be near them, keeping them clean and fixing them when they break, not to mention the water wasted with the ice just sitting there.