pvn

The whole reason that the tip is pre-included in the first place is because of insufferable nitpickers. So to tell the waiter that you're an insufferable nitpicker isn't really going to impress them.

GoPhils

So you don't think if the quality and selection is improved, that the price would increase (and probably by a higher percentage)?

Case in point, Fresh Bites. Most seem to say the quality has declined, yet the price has stayed the same.

Xeno

Made a mistake a in a rush took Fresh Bites at the Boston Marriott Copley Place. Not a mistake I will make again with so many alternatives available in the skywalk.

CJKatl

Even if the price went up, hotels might see an uptick in room service sales if there was decent quality and better selection. Room service isn't something that is driven primarily by price. It's a premium, luxury convenience item. While someone might think the price is ridiculous for what you get, nobody is making a decision to save money by using room service.

hockeyinsider

Exactly. If the price of the room service food is about the same as the restaurant I'll gladly pay the delivery charge and tip for the luxury of eating dinner in my underwear in bed.

Jon Maiman

TMI That said +1. Some nights I am totally beat and just don't want to go out for dinner nor deal with figuring out a place to order delivery from. Decent room service food (used to be) a great convenience for those times and I was willing to pay the premium for it. Fresh Bites is just highly processed food while still charging premium room service prices. The value proposition no longer makes sense (mainly because of food quality and not so much the price). To each their own....

--Jon

clarkef

I agree 100%. I tend not to order room service, but when I do its 100% for convenience. Generally, it's because I'm in a strange city, it's late, I'm hungry and I don't want to travel outside for whatever reason, e.g. tired, cold, sick, raining, no decent delivery options etc. Price isn't a major factor at that juncture.

hockeyinsider

If I remember correctly, a Marriott executive said on on that CNBC special on Marriott a few years back that the number one room service/restaurant order was a burger/cheeseburger with fries.

DL-Don

Just another example of the race to the bottom... Fresh Bites, lounge closures and quality reductions, 29" airline seat spacing. When you have to pay $300+ per night for a room in far suburban NJ and room service is delivered in a paper bag with paper and plastic boxes inside you know you are headed down quick. I can't imagine the garbage this creates compared to trays, plates and silverware that are washed and reused..

joshua362

Remember its also good for the environment!

pinniped

There was an era when Marriotts pretty universally had a very good burger. It was kind of their thing - a nod to their origin story as a diner. As long as the property served beef, you could bank on the burger. If the property served pork, you could make it a bacon cheeseburger.

Now that there are a bazillion brands, I doubt it's as much of a thing. But if I need to eat a meal at the lobby bar late at night after arriving on an evening flight, it's still the first thing I look for. That plus a tall beer...

DJ_Iceman

I fondly share your memories of the reliable, pretty-darn-good Marriott Burger. In fact, at many hotels (that still have traditional room service) it still seems as good as ever.

hockeyinsider

And many menus still call it "The Marriott Burger." Unfortunately, some hotels like the Marriott Georgetown, which actually isn't in Georgetown, in Washington, D.C., don't even have a burger on the menu.

rylan

Agreed, The Marriott Burger was always a good consistent item on the restaurant menu.

I wonder what the 'burger' is from fresh bites...

Traveler-girl

I am not a fan of the Fresh Bites program. I don't believe you can call yourself a Full Service hotel if you don't offer true room service.

2017 Fresh Bites roll call *I didn't order FB at all of these locations, but I did see the menu in my room at each one:
JW Marriott, Washington DC
Marriott Marquis, Washington DC
Marriott Metro Center, Washington DC
Marriott, Santa Clara, CA
Marriott Beach Club, Lihue, Kauai, HI
LAX Marriott, Los Angeles, CA

Now - the bag is not your traditional paper bag. It is a large sturdy bag with rope like handles. The containers are sturdy plastic held closed with a paper/tape wrap. There are decent plastic utensils and a condiment box. So - this is a much nicer set up than I've had via other private delivery services.

The not so good - food doesn't always stay hot. Or, it can get soggy. The containers don't vent steam well, so things that are supposed to be crispy - don't stay crispy (aka French Fries). I had breakfast delivered once and the toast was room temp and butter frozen so no hope of anything melting (lounge was closed) - they comped the whole breakfast (due to the lounge being closed) but still annoying.

And the delivery charge - I've considered ordering FB at the M Lounge - but they still want to charge the fee. Seriously...if I'm in your lounge and you are offering the service, waive the fee. I'm happy to tip, but it just seemed obsessive to also charge the fee at the lounge.

The menu is fairly limited. While not advertised, when I've called the "At Your Service" rep has told me over the phone about the kids menu options.

If I'm going to get "drive by" food delivery, then the private options through apps etc... can certainly provide more variety and won't really take more time. It usually means you have to go down to the lobby to pick up, but with FB, I'll do that too to avoid the fee and to go over my order to make sure it is right while I'm close to the kitchen. It just makes me sad that there is really no food difference between a SHS/TPS/FI and a JW/M...the lounge is still the reason I would go to a JW or Marriott, but the differences are getting smaller for me.