why the breakfast and amenities?
Aug 15, 2006, 11:06 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: NJ
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why the breakfast and amenities?
So heres a question I've wondered for many months. I've stayed at RI, CY, JWs, and Fairfields in multiple parts of the country. The service has been decent at most, but I've begun to wonder...
Why do the "lower end" properties offer free breakfast and free wifi while the CY and JW I've stayed at charge for breakfast and 10 bucks for internet? You would think the better hotels actually have these services as complimentary.
Why do the "lower end" properties offer free breakfast and free wifi while the CY and JW I've stayed at charge for breakfast and 10 bucks for internet? You would think the better hotels actually have these services as complimentary.
Aug 15, 2006, 1:47 pm
#2
Join Date: Feb 2005
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To be fair, the breakfasts that are offered at the lower end properties are not equivalent to the ones offered at the FS properties. Having said that, Marriott gives less free amenities to non-elite (gold or platinum) guests at FS properties because they assume that most of their guests are travelling on an expense account. A greater proportion of the guests at the mid-service and lower end properties are paying for their own travel.
Of course, business travelers stay at all types of Marriott properties. Until competition forces them to, Marriott will keep charging for internet access at their FS properties (although some individual properties have free HSIA).
Of course, business travelers stay at all types of Marriott properties. Until competition forces them to, Marriott will keep charging for internet access at their FS properties (although some individual properties have free HSIA).
Aug 15, 2006, 2:46 pm
#3
Join Date: Oct 2005
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Originally Posted by VA1379
...Having said that, Marriott gives less free amenities to non-elite (gold or platinum) guests at FS properties because they assume that most of their guests are travelling on an expense account...
At least in my field, many business travelers can expense the actual cost of the hotel room, but get paid a fixed per diem amount (per day) for meals and incidentals.
Many business travelers under this type of system would rather pay a little more for the room rate if breakfast and other incidentals are included. I know a few people who are particularly attracted to Residence Inn for this reason. Often they will eat the free breakfast, skimp on lunch, use the "happy hour" as a free dinner, and pocket the per diem.
Aug 15, 2006, 3:13 pm
#4
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Originally Posted by VA1379
To be fair, the breakfasts that are offered at the lower end properties are not equivalent to the ones offered at the FS properties.
Aug 15, 2006, 3:32 pm
#5
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Originally Posted by Greg P.
That may be the assumption that Marriott is probably making, but there are some flaws in it.
At least in my field, many business travelers can expense the actual cost of the hotel room, but get paid a fixed per diem amount (per day) for meals and incidentals.
Many business travelers under this type of system would rather pay a little more for the room rate if breakfast and other incidentals are included. I know a few people who are particularly attracted to Residence Inn for this reason. Often they will eat the free breakfast, skimp on lunch, use the "happy hour" as a free dinner, and pocket the per diem.
At least in my field, many business travelers can expense the actual cost of the hotel room, but get paid a fixed per diem amount (per day) for meals and incidentals.
Many business travelers under this type of system would rather pay a little more for the room rate if breakfast and other incidentals are included. I know a few people who are particularly attracted to Residence Inn for this reason. Often they will eat the free breakfast, skimp on lunch, use the "happy hour" as a free dinner, and pocket the per diem.
Aug 15, 2006, 4:28 pm
#6
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My theory on this is that Marriott is happy to let the penny-pinchers who won't fork out $9.95 a day for internet service stay at their lower-end properties. After all, if you're not willing to spend that money, you're probably not going to order a nice bottle of wine or browse for expensive trinkets in the gift shop. This way they keep a more affluent (or at least more willing to spend) clientele at their full-service properties, while the frugal ones have plenty of choices within the corporate fold to get more "value" out of their hotel dollar.
Aug 15, 2006, 5:51 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by Greg P.
Many business travelers under this type of system would rather pay a little more for the room rate if breakfast and other incidentals are included. I know a few people who are particularly attracted to Residence Inn for this reason. Often they will eat the free breakfast, skimp on lunch, use the "happy hour" as a free dinner, and pocket the per diem.
In the end, it's all about what the market will bear. I'm sure that they never had any intention of providing free Internet access in the select service/extended stay brands either.
Aug 15, 2006, 9:41 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: US
Posts: 562
$9.95 for 1 day internet+local phone + long distance phone, very reasonable
$9.95 for 1 day internet + local call + long distance call, very reasonable rate at Renaisance/some Marriott now
Aug 15, 2006, 10:07 pm
#9
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Originally Posted by iwpingmu
$9.95 for 1 day internet + local call + long distance call, very reasonable rate at Renaisance/some Marriott now
Aug 15, 2006, 11:20 pm
#10
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Originally Posted by MikeBU
Most of the FS Marriott properties I stay at offer a special room rate that includes Internet to address your issue. Not surprisingly, that rate is $9.95 more than the equivalent non-Internet rate. On your bill, there would be no mention of anything other than the room rate. So, they have it both ways.
In the end, it's all about what the market will bear. I'm sure that they never had any intention of providing free Internet access in the select service/extended stay brands either.
In the end, it's all about what the market will bear. I'm sure that they never had any intention of providing free Internet access in the select service/extended stay brands either.
How do you get the rate with the internet included? Some of my travel costs are billed directly to my clients and honestly, I'd rather just not have them see the internet charge. While most of my clients would probabaly not care, I'd rather just not raise the question.
Aug 15, 2006, 11:27 pm
#11
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Originally Posted by DJ_Iceman
My theory on this is that Marriott is happy to let the penny-pinchers who won't fork out $9.95 a day for internet service stay at their lower-end properties. After all, if you're not willing to spend that money, you're probably not going to order a nice bottle of wine or browse for expensive trinkets in the gift shop. This way they keep a more affluent (or at least more willing to spend) clientele at their full-service properties, while the frugal ones have plenty of choices within the corporate fold to get more "value" out of their hotel dollar.
Aug 16, 2006, 7:15 am
#12
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As an odd comparison:
I'm doing a lot of stays at a Hilton Garden Inn, which is kinda equivalent to a Courtyard. Not only do I get wifi (and wired) all over the place, but every guest gets one hour free long distance anywhere in the US. Nice perk!
I'm doing a lot of stays at a Hilton Garden Inn, which is kinda equivalent to a Courtyard. Not only do I get wifi (and wired) all over the place, but every guest gets one hour free long distance anywhere in the US. Nice perk!
Aug 16, 2006, 7:24 am
#13
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Originally Posted by BigLar
As an odd comparison:
I'm doing a lot of stays at a Hilton Garden Inn, which is kinda equivalent to a Courtyard. Not only do I get wifi (and wired) all over the place, but every guest gets one hour free long distance anywhere in the US. Nice perk!
I'm doing a lot of stays at a Hilton Garden Inn, which is kinda equivalent to a Courtyard. Not only do I get wifi (and wired) all over the place, but every guest gets one hour free long distance anywhere in the US. Nice perk!
Aug 16, 2006, 8:32 am
#14
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Originally Posted by ohmark
And breakfast, right?
edited for the part in []
Aug 16, 2006, 8:38 am
#15
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But at HGI competitor Courtyard, no free breakfast for plat, gold, silver, or anybody else, unless you successfully wheedle at the front desk.