In two of my four stays since reaching Platinum, my arrival "gift" was a small snack bag and two large bottles of water. To top it off, my Springhill Suites room came with yet a third bottle of water.

Why must Marriott give plastic bottles of water as a "gift"? It's incredibly wasteful, as the tap water in a large number of countries (U.S., Canada, Singapore, most European countries, etc.) is perfectly fine to drink. As Bill Marriott champions the greening of Marriott hotels, I would like to see a change in the approach towards the unnecessary use of plastic bottles that I would guess are rarely recycled in these hotels.

Come on, Marriott, be a trendsetter and reduce or eliminate bottled water.

NI
p.s. I successfully traded my useless Platinum arrival gifts for something more tasty.

Why don't you simply decline/not use the bottles offered? I'm more of a green nut job than the average person but not to the point where it infringes on the choice of others. That said, sometimes I do take a bottle because it affords portability.

The problem with bottled water, like drugs, is not supply, but demand.

Also, while the water in the US may be drinkable, it's not particularly desireable everywhere. I have been to many a places here in the US where the tap water was absolutely disgusting (much of Alabama) and bottled water is a welcome site

Sometimes reading this forum I feel sorry for the decison makers at Marriott -

I agree with your point about "green" - but I do not drink the {gift bottles} in the room; but carry them with me through the day.

I think you offered your own solution - If you (or anyone) does not want the bottles, then ask to trade for something else. Were enough people to do that, I am certain Marriott would begin to offer other options.

Perhaps encouraging RECYCLING instead of mucking it up for the rest of us would be useful.

I like the water bottles because I can put them in the fridge (whenever the room is equipped with such).

JP

Think about how much energy you could save if you shut down your computer. It would help the planet as well as those of us who want the bottled water. It would also help me prevent eye problems from having them roll around when I read stuff like this!

Plus who wants to drink out of the glasses in the room. I don't have the video handy but when you see stories on Dateline/20-20 etc saying they do not wash these most of the time. You will never drink out of them again.

I guess i will continue to hurt the environment. All i can do is recycle and give back a little bit.

Continue with the bottles.

I agree with everyone on the thread execpt the OP. KEEP the water bottles!

Completely agree - there is no way I'm taking my chances with tap water around the US, regardless of how safe it is! One guaranteed way to end up sick travelling...

I like the bottles

I, too, like the bottles. Please, Marriott - keep these!

If you are feeling green, ensure you recycle.

I like the bottles. I carry them around so I don't have to search for water when I'm out. As another poster has said, you've offered your own solution. Trade your unwanted bottles for something more desirable.

I throw the bottles in my suitcase and bring them home for wifey. She drinks the water then tosses the empty bottles into our recycle bin.

Keep the bottles!

Keep the bottles. I will never drink out of a hotel glass in my room again after watching that 20/20 video. If I'm thirsty, I'm using the disposable cups or bottled water. If they are not in the room I leave the hotel and buy some.

On a side note, after watching the 20/20 video, I am also one step away from bringing my own sleeping bag! Damn that video

Totally agree.