What's the differnce between a JW Marriott and a regular Marriott?
 

I've always wondered about this.

The level of service is usually better. They have better amenities. Higher end dining and nicer spas. I was told at one stay that these properties are the only properties owned entirely by Mr. Marriott and the standards are higher. They are usually at least $100 more then any nearby regular Marriott too.

Bathrooms are usually nicer - seperate tub and shower, marble, larger. Service seems more personal. I always think of the middle ground between fs Marriott and Ritz-Carlton.

The standards for the brands are different, but the reality is that the comparison depends more on the particular property than on the brand. I've stayed at Rens and Marriotts that outclassed nearby JW's and vice-versa.

That's my thinking as well.

We were staying at the Wailea Beach Marriott in Maui last month and asked about the rumor that it was being converted to a JW. We were told that that was the original plan but it seemed they couldn't retrofit the new rooms for a separate tub and shower. So that negated them becoming a JW.

Or at least that's the rumor.

that is not correct

Here are some threads from a couple of years ago where the "JW" distinction was discussed, What's with the JW Marriott Properties?? and What, specifically, is the difference between a "JW" and a regular Marriott?. I'm not sure that anything truly definitive was ever really found in those threads, but they both have some good info in them.

Also, if you check out Marriott's website here, Marriott seems to be "marketing" the JW brand as less of a business hotel and more of a luxery hotel. This matches some of what was brought out here and in the other threads.

the above is probably the best way to look at it, the original JW was actually developed as a tribute to JWM Senior and later developed into a brand to compete with Ritz-Carlton but never achieved that goal, it has settled into the middle ground

I'd have to agree that the bathrooms are the biggest and most obvious difference as well as the staff. I've stayed at a few J.W.s but the only city where I've stayed in just about all the Marriott properties would be Denver. Comparing them all I'd have to say that the Marriott City Center and J.W. are above and beyond better than the Renaissance.

The MCC and JW in Denver I'd almost rank as a tie but it depends on what you're looking for. The MCC is far larger and subsequently has more too offer for the added guests, but the rooms themselves are pretty on par. The JW on the other hand has 1/3 the rooms and ergo about 1/3 the "communal" space, but it's noticably "better"... Better lighting, more pleasing to the eye... (Reminds me a bit of the W on Union Square in NYC.) The room was equal to the MCC, but the bathroom... Holy cow.

For the sake of arguement, here are three different Marriott brands that I would say tie in respects to what I got at the JW when you add the "cool" factor. (this is room ONLY, not the bathroom.) The Renaissance Cleveland, Courtyard Pittsburgh Downtown and as I mentioned the Denver Marriott City Center. Each of those three had equally intriguing rooms but the bathroom in the JW, as well as the service staff were just in a league of their own.

I believe I once read one of the differences was in the employee to guest ratio.

Which has been my experience. The JW's where I've stayed have been very nice full-service Marriotts. I have not had the good fortune to stay at a JW property that has the grand bathrooms that others are raving about. Ritz-Carltons they ain't ;) .

I stayed at the JW in DC and didn't really notice much difference.

I too have stayed on the club floor of the Penn Ave JW in DC. I happen to remember the fact that the bathroom was as small as a regular marriott (if not smaller) and did not have the seperate tub/shower.

I hate to say the reason I remember it vividly is because I was suffering the flu and was feeling quite clostophobic.

Anyone want to venture a guess how the DC location earns it distinction?

See my earlier post....DC is #1 in the brand extension

As Socrates stated, it is the original JW Marriott and as such holds that name for namesake, and not for JW standards which were developed after its existence. So it is kind of fathered/grandfathered to the JW name.

That being the case, does anybody have a current opinion as to the best Marriott property in the DC area??

I'm cashing in award points next Fall and I was going to stay at the JW. But if it's a JW in name only, I might do a FS Marriott or Renaissance if there's one that "better".

The JW does has a primo location however and we do want to be near the center of the action.

Thanks.

Is price an issue? That could definitely change where you want to stay. I would love to take the family and stay at the Mayflower, Metro or the JW, but price is a bit of an issue for us. So we will be staying at the Crystal City and Crystal Gateway Marriott's close to Regan National (Arlington). They are very close to each other and there are Metro entrances literally from their lobbies so getting into DC shouldn't be an issue. I'm switching so I can get a couple of the BBs and even use a couple more during our week stay.

Here are a couple of threads that might help you with your decision:

• Marriott-family hotels in Washington, DC, area
• Marriott-family hotels in Arlington, VA
• Best and Worst lounge in Washington DC
• Renaissance Mayflower Experiences

Thanks for the links!

Being a typical FT'er. I was too lazy to do my own research. ;)

Price is no object as we will be using MR points so the JW looks like a winner from a location standpoint (won't have a rental car).

And, after browsing through the links, the Mayflower as well as the Wardman may also fit our criteria.

I'm very familiar with the DC area as I have family over toward Baltimore and also have lived in the area. But I've rarely stayed in DC so am not familiar with the hotel scene.

Depending on what you want to do, you might also want to consider the Metro Center. I haven't stayed there personally, but it is a good location if you want to access all of DC. People on FT have good things to say about this Marriott.

I live less than a block from Wardman...it is a great property...right off of a metro stop (red line) and a few blocks from the zoo

A property to watch is the new Courtyard Capitol Hill / Navy Yard...it is right off of the green line about 2 or 3 stops from the mall....Navy Yard is still a bit rough....once the stadium and surrounding development opens, it will be like Chinatown is now.....

The Mayflower is terrific but does not have a Club Lounge, I myself have always stayed at the JW when staying downtown, great staff and as you noted great location...I dont think you can go wrong (BTW: I love the basement restaurant in the Occidental across the street...it's going to bug me now but I can't remember the name....duh..Occidental Grill, lol)

The JW is only a few blocks from the metro station and it's an easy trip from DCA, Wardman park is off the beaten path (Next time you're going to BWI let me know....)

Actually, there is a lounge in the Mayflower...on the 8th floor.

Nice breakfast selection...dinner selection almost as nice. Really good dessert trays.

lol tells you how long ago I stayed there :)

Also new at the Mayflower are renovated lobby, restaurant (always looked great; now even better) and lobby bar. Also new, personnel at front door have apparently been reminded that one of their duties includes opening the door. Speaking of location, you can't get much better than this in DC. Five minute walk to Dupont Circle, 15 minute walk to the White House, 20 minute walk to Georgetown, 5-10 minute walk to great restaurants, wine store, and shopping. Metro stop in same block, and a second metro stop in Dupont Circle.

(Sc)Amway owned
 

Not true that they have to be owned by Mr. Marriott. The one that they are building in Grand Rapids is owned by Scamway, er Amway. I also don't think that the one in GR is going to command a $100 price premium to the Courtyard just down the street.

I'm not a fan of the Mayflower, but do heartily recommend the other Renaissance in town. I've also had very good experiences at the Metro Center Marriott.

One of the nice things about the Mayflower is that (in my experience) they have the largest rooms of the bunch. So if you are going with family, it's nice to have the extra space so that you aren't stepping all over each other. You need to be careful that they don't give you a room overlooking the back alley...that's where all the HVAC equipment is...they run ALL the time.

The JW has, hands down, the smallest bathrooms of any US hotel I ever stayed in (except maybe the Hudson Hotel in NYC). And the rooms themselves really aren't that big.

I'll give you one guess as to who owns/runs the Courtyard down the street

Have stayed in JWs in Capri, Hng Kong, Phuket, Rio, Honolulu (Ko Olina), Washington DC, Phoenix, Scottsdale (Camelback) and Tuscon--maybe even more. They are DEFINITELY a notch above the regular Marriotts, as discussed above, with a more luxurious feel--especially with regard to the infrastructure. Have had great and bad service at both--so cannot definitiively say that service at JWs is significantly better.

Best illustrated if you stay at the JW Marriott or Marriott in Cancun. They are adjacent to each other--and you can feel the stark differences as you cross over from one to the other.

Further proof that Mr. Marriott doesnt own them all is the JW Le Merigot in Santa Monica CA. Its franchised by Columbia Sussex (the company who owns my resort).

The family itself owns very few (if any these days) hotels...their trust on the other hand.....but Mr. Marriott does not run the trust John (JWM III) does