Not true. Someone could take the elevator to the closest floor and then take the stairs up...

Actually, no you can't. The stairwell doors on every CL of every FSM and most RH I have ever stayed in have locks to prevent people sneaking onto the floor. A couple had key entry from stairs, but most were just plain locked.

No, I didn't discover this by trying to "upgrade" myself. I like to take the stairs to get what little exercise I can during the day.

I would think this is against 'code' in a lot of locations.

Ron.

Most of the fs properties I've stayed at recently have had key access to the lounge, not the floor.

No, that's why there are always signs clearly posted at every floor in a stairwell that indicate what floor to exit on and whether or not the stairwell has roof access.

(boldface mine)....

...and this is the problem. "Good" to us is a lounge/atmosphere/services that makes us feel special and welcome. To corporate, good now equals consistent! To have a manager that I know and respect ask me to not let anyone know about his "extras" left me speechless.

...I too have written the Marriott Concierge. What I am finding is that the march towards consistency is actually resulting in poorer service from some employees - they are so afraid to go "above and beyond" their actions borderline on rude and ridiculous.

... how about we develop a private code that can't be deciphered by non FT'ers - (which is no more crazy than not be able to compliment a property for fear of reprisal).

Seriously, perhaps we should take opportunities to list properties where we are seeing cutbacks that result in savings without the feeling of cutback in services.

I saw this with regards to the morning paper - a card in the room stated (that they now) were kept at the elevator bank or lobby instead of being delivered to the room UNLESS you request otherwise. If you let them know you would like it delivered, they will do so. I thought this was great - for people who don't care, it was not a cutback in service - for people who do, no cutback in service either! And according to the front desk, it has saved mega dollars...

Glasgow has started closing the lounge for weekend breakfast...

but I've still maintained my 100% exec floor upgrade and you still get the welcome pack in the room with water, fruit and those essential Scottish delicacies, Irn Bru and a Tunnock's caramel wafer.

The only stays I have had at Marriott this year are (and will continue to be) on points. All my paid stays now go to Starwood. Marriott's change in the MR program coupled with all the stuff I've read here has convinced me that I made the right decision. I suggest those of you who can to similarly turn your back on the once-proud Marriott brand, though I know some will be constrained by their location or corporate obligations.

As for me, Starwood is the place to be. I'll make Hilton my backup after I requalify for SPG platinum.

Yes, 100% agree - astute observations. The feel of staying at FS Marriotts is changing - and not in a positive way. The fear of "overachieving" and the deterioration of the Spirit to Serve is real (not of course everywhere, just saying that I've seen several signs of this over the past few months).

I'm wondering if it has come to the point that it is worth it for some of us to actually push to have a meeting with a VP about this issue (i.e., corporate directives for uniformity and to not overperform). I've done this before with another issue with another company - got a meeting with the Executive who was responsible for what I thought was a senseless policy. I was successful I think in getting a policy changed (the company was indeed out of touch with how many of their customers felt about the issue. The VP was very attentive and we had a good discussion. The policy was changed shortly thereafter.)

I wish they would thoroughly focus group this stuff before they start promulgating these types of policies. This just seems so out of character for Marriott to do this sort of stuff. I can't believe that the decisionmakers would deliberately institute policies that serve to do long-term harm to their bottom line by causing customers to question their loyalty and start looking for other places to take their business. I do think it is possible to find ways to save money in the short term and not tick off your more loyal customers at the same time, thereby costing your company more in the long run. - Sorry for the redundancy, but sometimes it helps to make a point as to how strongly you feel about something.

Abandon Ship! Many posting here have suggested that it might be a good idea to jump ship to Starwood or Fairfield Inns where the vitals might make be better. As recent postings at the Starwood site suggests, many full service Westins and Starwoods don't have lounges or offer breakfast coupons.

I'm currently at a Fairfield Inn and - woe is me - they've removed the french toast from the food offerings. But, gee, last night they had a 35 per cent occupancy rate - in the past, 65 percent would be the norm. Think there's any connection between the removal of the french toast and the drop off? Could people be staying away in protest? If you got a meeting with a Marriot VP, I trust you would learn what should be self evident: business isn't so good and cuts have to be made.

Most of you are arguing that it would be better in the long run if Marriott kept the lounge and things designed to make you "feel special" at the status quo. I suspect that any money spent restoring these things would come at the expense - in part - from Marriott hotel staff. Just a guess.

If "feeling special" is so important, I guess a "careful shopper" would have to call every full sevice Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and Starwood in an area and find out, in fact, what exactly is being offered to you as an elite. Aren't there more important things to do in life?

I may not be swaying anyone, but I figure if I keep sending this message in various ways, I might, at least, generate some thought and get a few folk to acknowledge that there are different ways to approach this issue.

trying to take these in the order of my boldfaced above

1. Abandon Ship > yep.. pretty much what I'm trying to do; however some of my travels don't leave much alternative than to stay in a MR property; hence I'll still be forced into 35 nights this year at MR props which will most likely be FI's in small rural areas where that is my best choice

2. No but they do have suites; and besides whats the difference if Marriott does have them and they are closed or at best, have marginal selection.. and I do mean marginal.. wheres the competitive advantage.. oh yeah there isn't one

3. Could people be staying away? you don't know any more than I do.. but it appears so.. unless you work for MR or have access to their system; how can you say that they are 35% full; do you count newspapers in front of doors when they deliver them and divide by the total number of rooms.

4. business isn't good.. well thank you sherlock for that piece of information; cuts have to be made; well the Marriott biz model must not be right if they are the only ones who have to shut down lounges on the weekends; if they are the only ones told not to "over" achieve

5. How can you say that lounges being left open would be at the expense of marriott staff; if anything; it keeps a minimum of one (most likely more) working two additional days a week; how do you know other cuts would come from staff; or do you work for Marriott?

6 feeling special > do research > thats what I do on here every day > check my post looking for information on the spg board (Sheraton Anaheim vs Sheraton Park Resort Anaheim).. I'm inquiring on the differences including whats in the lounge.. its done every day.. by the way.. these stays up till this year would have been at the Marriott anaheim.. no more.. see #1 abandon ship

7. swaying anyone.. glad you finally realize that; if he has swayed you.. please post and tell us how??? I would love to hear this

8. oh you have generated thought.. although probably not in the way you intended

My wife and I visit our daughter in Boulder several times a year. We always visit on weekends. We used to stay at the Marriott and get two CL rooms at a cost of about $600 a night for both rooms. Our total spend was typically $1200 or $1800 for the weekend.

Now that the lounge is closed on weekends, we stay at the Homewood suites which is yards away from a grocery store. The first thing we do after dropping our bags in the room is walk over, buy a few bags of groceries, and turn the kitchen in the suite into our own little mini lounge. We spend $600-$900 for the weekend.

It turns out we actually prefer the Homewood suites. By closing the lounge, Marriott not only lost our business while they close the lounge on weekends, they got us to survey the market, and lost us permanently. We still stay at Marriotts outside of Boulder, but we are much more aware of other options than we used to be.

yup...swayed me right to the ignore button....

as for thought.....i plead the 5th.

Actually, i think, that in many hotels, the papers are delivered by the paper person, not hotel staff. i wouldn't mind having a choice....i would choose to have it outside my door....but if that's not possible, at least save me a trip to the lobby.

Not my experience.