I've seen this discussed before but I'm amazed at how as an "almost Platinum" gold member I almost always get some sort of welcome gift and recognition at FI. At CY I'm just another guest. I've never seen any sort of welcome item at a CY.

At FI I can also usually get upgraded to one of the suites as well as free breakfast. The CY next door to this FI in NC costs 50% more/night plus no breakfast.

Interesting...

I am almost always pleased by the front desk staff at FI's-yes I do think they try harder.As they do at SHS's.
CY's puzzle me.It looks to the market portion most competed for -the Biz traveler stying 3-5 days.Yet it has IMO the worst staff members of any of the MI chain and offers the least ammenities in this field.
FS properties are all over the board as far as service levels.

I agree with the CY comments. The few FI's I've stayed at this year were excellent along with a TPS & RI. But these were very new.

I theorize that the "newness" of a property (at the lower end of the MI scale) goes a long ways in their pride and in turn how you are treated.

Might also apply at new CY's but I'm so turned off at this tired old brand and brain dead employees at the 15 or so I've been to in the past 5 years that I'll never return to find out...

I have to agree. I think the value and staff of the FIs greatly exceed the CYs. Its almost as if Marriott has it backwards. The FS provides no extra amentities other than a CL on weekdays I travel to (no internet, etc), the CYs only offer free internet (and no CL), while most FIs I have stayed in offer internet, breakfast, and much friendlier staff.

In addition, the use of BBs provide even more value at the FIs. When you can stay at a FI for 2-3 nights at approx $100/night with a public rate, a $50 BB is substantial in savings. BBs are worthless to me at FS or CYs as my company or elite rates lower the overall price of my stay much more than a BB applied to a "publicly" listed rate.

From someone who has split 102 nights this year between FI, SHS, CY, FS, RN, and JW, your point is half-agreed with...

There is really no reason to choose a CY. Period. Each of the other brands has something going for it, but the CY has nothing. But most if the CY employees I've encountered also try very hard to please. (Shout out to Shaumburg, Miami Lakes, Cincy Airport, and the one in Birmingham next to the Mercedes dealership.)

A couple years ago, most of my stays were CY. Now, if I'm staying at a CY, it's either because it's an inexpensive on-the-beach location (Jacksonville Beach, Carolina Beach) so I can spend some hours on the sand when not working, or there is absolutely no other Marriott family choice. (Altoona, Burlington, Murfreesboro, WilmingtonNC, Bellevue, Downtown Spokane, although the Bellevue and AOO CYs are actually a cut above.) It's no longer my go-to brand.

But ... this thread made me do something I've never done before: actually track which Marriott brands I use the most. Turns out, over the past year, FS and CY each with 38 nights. I must not mind CYs too much. JW (5) RN (7) SHS (7) and FI (4). So CY must have something going for it. It really must be the locations and the fact I've spent nine of those nights on the beach in Jacksonville Beach or Carolina Beach.

Let's face it everyone, we stay at a CY or FI because we're point ho's.

I agree that FI is a better value than a CY. Unfortunately, there is a lot of variation in the FI properties to the point I always check tripadvisor.com before booking.

Hilton (Hampton and HGI) does so much better in this market segment than Marriott that it's not funny.

Concur 100%. I have in the past, but will not stoop to the level of a CY anymore and will go outside MI if necessary despite being a Point Ho!

I avoid CY's at ALL costs, there would have to be a HUGE disparity in price for me to go to a CY

FI's are pretty standard (as are CY's) and are acceptable. you know what you are getting (like CY) and I like them for what i Pay (unlike CY)

CY's were a great concept but they (MI) totally blew this one big time from the start.

if this brand were to disappear (CY), it would be addition by subtraction

Sad to say, the only Marriott properties that have actually fulfilled my profile selections of extra towels & pillows have been at Fairfields.

Heck, it almost takes an act of congress to get a courtyard facing room at a CY, let alone have them pay attention to my profile or note requests of high floor away from elevator. Full service Marriott's are usually pretty good about this so I don't understand why CY consistently fails to do this. I have stayed in several newer FairFields and TPS and would almost always choose them over a CY. Routinely get upgrades at FF, TPS and full service but have never once been upgraded at a CY.

Sure, CY has rolled out their new lobby, but that shows an almost complete disregard for why business travelers (their supposed target market) avoid the CY properties. More often than not, the CY's have been filled with either special groups or older (obviously retired) customers during my stays. My guess is that the lobby re-design was to try and bring a little of what Hyatt Place has done to the CY brand. Only problem is that they seem to have stopped at the lobby where as the HP's are consistent throughout....42in LCD w/plug panel, fridge, wet bar, sofabed, free wireless, 24/7 dining, free continental breakfast, etc.

CY staff has also been among the poorest throughout the Marriott brands as well as a few of the others. I try to avoid CY when possible as a result.