Should a new thread be started?
 

OK. What I take from this discussion is that all domestic (U.S.) lounges are now closed on weekends -- Correct?

However, some non-US lounges are still open, e.g. JW Grovesnor House in London, etc. -- Correct?

Might it not make more sense now to start a new thread of those those few domestic properties that still give breakfast coupons on weekends to Gold and above, e.g. -- Marriott Suites in Las Vegas -- Correct (??), as well as those foreign lounges still open on weekends?

Perhaps just updating the sticky at the top of the forum might be a bit more productive.

well...thats your experience, mine is different...and when i WORKED for marriott, the paper guy delivered them...we gave him a list of occupied rooms and off he went.....

ymmv

rln - I have traveled for 20 years, and until 3Q of '08 never stayed at any properties other than Marriott. Ever. Others on this forum have even labeled me "blindly loyal" or a "Marriott apologist". This year I have more stays at (Hyatt) than at Marriott - and unlike many, my travel is actually UP.
For some of us, the changes at Marriott are not specifically tied to one action - such as reducing breakfast offerings or closing the clubs; although they are the specifics (or symptoms) most often quoted in this thread.

The real issue is the corporate mandate that has been issued requiring that hotels not "over achieve" - and that they are "reprimanded" when caught doing so.

Several weeks ago I was at a FS Marriott that had an occupancy rate of 16%...but the service I experienced there was no different than at any other times I have stayed at the property. This manager should be rewarded for his efforts to maintain service and employee attitude - but instead, he asked me not to recognize his efforts as "they are outside the standards" that corporate is now demanding. In your concern for the Marriott employee - is it acceptable to you that those who are willing to provide a superior guest experience are now punished for doing so?

I spend 3 nights or so a week in hotel. I pay for a certain level of service and expect to receive it. I also treat the hotels and their employees with a level of respect and appreciation, and with Marriott, have always received the same in return. But whether it is shown by closed lounges, no coupons, or no bathrobes in the rooms - it is really the "spirit to serve" that is now being lost.....and it will cost them far more to regain than the cost savings generated by the specific examples quoted in this thread.

Well put SG......btw i wouldn't necessarily call you a marriott apologist....it is my opinion that you tell it like it is...good, bad, or indifferent.....in an objective manner....:cool: (and i have found some of your advice helpful! so thanks!)

**highlighted text mine....We all need to get get copies of the Spirit to serve" book OUT of the desks and send it to, as bigguy would say...the SUITS in Bethesda!!!!

Now...speaking of overachieving....i am in a CY outside of philly....(ok so they had an MEB rate...) they gave me breakfast coupons...for continental, but the server said..have whatever you want....(i'd have happily paid the extra buck!)...the breakkie was YUMMY (non-greasy eggs, basically crisp bacon...) AND they had free, local sunday papers....!

But...in the interest of getting them in trouble, i'm not saying where outside of philly....PM me if anyone really needs to know!

Has anyone seen this alleged memo from corporate? What EXACTLY did it say? Did it *mandate* or simply suggest a standardization of services?

And while I don't like the cutbacks any more than anyone else, I would like to offer this contrarian point: when discussing hotel brands, I've seen on these boards many, many times the #1 selling point for Marriott being CONSISTENCY. No matter what property you check into, wherever it is, you can rest easy knowing that a certain minimum standard is going to be upheld. Sure the occasional Hilton or Westin may be superior, but there are also dogs in those chains. Could it be that Marriott, in an overzealous attempt to refocus on that standardization, have tried to "reset" things like elite benefits back to the letter of the law? Perhaps all these complaints (here, if not in discussions with management and letters to corporate) about how one hotel gives free breakfast on the weekend while another does not and how this lounge has hot entrees and that lounge does not... well, maybe we've gotten what we asked for. They're going to rebaseline their offerings, but at the lowest common denominator. The term "unintended consequences" comes to mind...

Hmmmmm the above post smacks of a "blame the victim"mentality-which I am not sure was what DJIceman intended.
Marriott does not have the lock on consistancy trust me.A short drive from my home and I can locate a great full service property(Del Mar Marriott)and a lousy FS Marriott(Ontario Airport Marriott)a great older Fairfield Inn(Placentia)and a lousy one(Anaheim Hills)so Marriott has a long way to go till I would use consistent as a word to describe Marriott franchises across the board.These are apples to apples,real world comparissions=something the Marriott apologist on this board seem unable to grasp.

To be fair the same holds true with Starwood.

And frankly with the downturn in travel dollars I doubt this will be the year that any chain is going to be laying out a bunch of capital to accheive brand standards.Let's hope the competition does not follow Marriott lead and actually cut services at hotels.

To Those whose answer to the following question is money

"Why is Marriott asking a property not to overachieve???"

Please keep in mind that Marriott is MOSTLY in the business of property management and not ownership. If a property owner (I know one personally - owns the Gas Lamp San Diego as well as several other properties - not all marriotts) decides to direct their GM's to overachieve, then let him :)

Instead, what Marriott seems to be imposing is a maximum standard.

Then why not remove only 50% of the French Toast? (the drop between 65% and 35%, roughly). Why remove it all?

Same logic with the lounge food, mouthwash, newspapers, etc. Wouldn't the savings be consistent with the drop off in occupancy?

Joshua362-how DARE you tag logic unto rln's post! Don't you know it is just this kind of radical thinking that will force Marriott into bankruptcy :rolleyes:
It is all our fault.All of it.

Sad to read the posts in this thread.

The company I'm retired from was once known worldwide as the "Cadillac" of its field. Now its "just another company" (at best) less than half its former size, and truly a shadow of its former self in every sense of the term.

What happened? Well, simply stated, the bean-counters and suits got away from doing the things that had taken this former giant of its industry to the top. All in the name of cost-cutting during tough times. Before you knew it, they were still growing the bottom line, but not the top line.

Customers noticed, competitors noticed, and the implosion that followed is a matter of public record.

Reminds me of the history of several MKE beer companies - Schlitz, Pabst, etc.

All those attempts to cut costs to save the company - and where are they now? Crap brands that no one with $2 will drink (except hipsters). Sad.

I would equate Marriott to Iron City Beer :D

How was the lounge? I stayed at Sheraton last time for a weekend stay but I still like Renaissance better (unless the service has been downgraded since last summer). I have a weekday stay coming up and I like to have updated info.

Thanks,

P.S. Anyone has any info regarding Manhattan Beach?