Actaully I kind of liked it...although I spent less that 12 hours there total. What was nice was that they had adequeate breakfast area seating even though it gets fricking crowded at 7 am....although the parking thing due to construction sucked.

what's pretty sad as I sit and think about it is that all SHS's offer eggs and sausage for breakfast yet some concierge lounges at FS Marriotts do not.:td:

One other thing that is important to remember... Although the "spirit to serve" is definitely Mr. Marriott's moto... it is also important to remember that he has always said we need to first take care of our associates, and in turn, they will take care of the guests. When the company is cutting back hours and salaried employees it's pretty difficult to whine about not getting your morning oatmeal or evening celery stick.

Except that I'm still paying the same $169 per night for the "services" I bargained for at the beginning of the year. If there are less people, cut back on the total but the amount per guest should remain constant, its basic math...

I think the greed in rising rates far greater than inflation over the last few years has caught up to them big time. SHS Overland Park from $84 to $139 in 3 years? C'mon. So no sympathy here except for the few decent rank & file employees of this mismanaged corporation.

How does MI dictate personnel cuts if all the locations are franchised?

I want to add the Lincoln, NE Cornhusker Marriott to the list that has not made cuts. Excellent breakfast and service in the concierge lounge last week (including great eggs, bacon and oatmeal in addition to a great array of cold choices; excellent selection of baked goods and breads) and a suite upgrade^

Couple comments.....

Omaha Regency no snacks at night, breakfast was down from the past. I did not see oatmeal.

marriott has continued to raise prices since 9-11, most of the cities i go to i see hilton/hyatt lower prices, but i continue to pay the marriott prices. 2009 might see a change.

I stayed at the FI in Omaha last week because the Regency's prices keep going up and the rooms are so small. The FI was amazing; got a nice suite upgrade and their breakfast is better. I really have no reason to go back to the Regency after this stay because imho, the FI is better (bed was VERY comfy). As much as I enjoy the lounge, it just isn't worth it for the smaller, more dated room. Those are definite cut backs in the lounge as the evening snacks used to be very nice and if I recall, oatmeal was standard.

Firstly... You wan the same amenities (for Concierge... since that's the topic of the post) but you want lower prices? That simple math doesn't work out if guests aren't traveling due to a stifled economy... Look at gas prices... they've gone down because folks have cut back on gas consumption; now that they're down people STILL aren't driving as much. That math doesn't add up to me.

Second... Not all Marriott locations are franchised. I'm not sure where this idea came from but there are many non-franchised properties throughout the countries. Perhaps we just have a different concept of "franchised"... No.. Marriott International itself doesn't own any properties (that's 100% correct) but when people within the company refer to a 'franchise' they are often referring to a hotel that isn't managed by MI. Owners can pay for the name, meet the standards, and run the hotel themselves while being entirely independant of MI (this is the case for many John Q. Hammond properties). OR a property can be privately owned but operated by MI. When they're operated by MI there is still a bottom line that needs to be met... therefore they can dictate cuts across the board. Make sense?

We all understand that when occupancy is way down, costs must be reduced. No hotel can lose money forever. But cutting costs in the Concierge Lounge, which by definition serves your best customers, seems like a mistake to me. Surely costs could be reduced somewhere else.

The Las Vegas Renaissance closed off three entire floors due to low occupancy! (They closed the best floors, which is stupid, but that's another thread.) Closing off floors makes sense; making lounges little more than sitting rooms does not. Marriott needs to rethink this strategy.

Bruce

Marriott! give us the cheap hollow soap and the other crappy bathroom amenities, but please do not mess with the CL breakfasts and evening food.

If these cutbacks made against your best paying customers are not rectified, people will just switch all our stays to another chain. This is a huge portion of your revenues and loyalty should be rewarded. There is almost always a SPG property where I travel (100+ nights / year).

What the heck!!!!!

No soda and no OJ???? So, Marriott now defines an honor bar as free water!

I am heading to the St. Louis Marriott West tomorrow and will report back with the lounge conditions.

Some good news
 

With all the negative cl downgrades, I thought I'd a post a bright spot. The FLL Marriott North cl was open all week last week (until the weekend). On Wed. night and Thurs. morn. they were open only two hours 6-8 p.m. and 8-10 a.m. I thought it was a very nice touch, unexpected and very much appreciated for those of us who took advantage of it. They may be doing the same for New Years, you can call and tell them you heard they did it for Christmas... Btw- I freaking love this place. The management is awesome. David and Alex are beyond great. Geoffery in the cl is really great. I love it here. If anyone has any concerns/questions about this hotel please pm me and I'll be more than happy to help you out.

Just stayed at Marriotts in Copenhagen and Amsterdam for Christmas holidays. In Copenhagen, they had only warmed sausages, no eggs, no bacon, nothing. They did have some baked goods, but not fresh or served warm. In Amsterdam, the lounge was closed for the holidays and the front desk offered breakfast in the main restaurant. It was the full buffet spread, but my past stays at this hotel have had a very reduced breakfast in the lounge with no eggs or hot items at all.
I have noticed that in many FS Marriotts throughout Europe, hot items are becoming rarer. Only at the Berlin Marriott and London West India Quay have I noticed regular hot items including eggs and different sausages and bacon.
It certainly is sad to see that the benefits of Concierge Lounge are being diminished to their most loyal guests. Seems to be conterproductive.

Just returned from Renaissance Washington DC (9th St.).

CL was closed over the holidays (until January of 2009).

We got breakfast coupons (2 per day) for Christmas and day after Christmas. However no coupons for Saturday and Sunday breakfast.

However I must say staff is very nice and other then CL thing I liked the property a lot.

Concierge Lounge Downgrades at Phil West Marriott
 

I have been staying at the Philadelphia Marriott West and they had an excellent Concierge Lounge food variety until the end of last year. When I returned this past week there was only one hot entry and very little variety.

I e-mailed the Asst General Manager and was told that Marriott Corporate told them to implement a new standard that to provide one hor dov, either hot or cold, with cheese, snacks, one sweet, beverages and honor bar.

This is no way to treat the best customers or those guests who choose to pay extra for the Concierge Lounge.

This degrades the full Marriott experience and I will consider other Mariott brands or Hiltons in the future.

:mad::td:

Reductions at Marriott Concierge Lounge
 

I have noticed changes to the Concierge Lounge at the Marriott Marina Del Rey since my last stay in December. They have now eliminated all breakfast meats, leaving nothing but eggs, bread and fruits. I fully expect egg to go next. Nothing is too good apparently for the Elite Members in the Marriott Rewards program, and I have a feeling that in the near future, Marriott will find a chance to begin offering that as well in their concierge lounges - Nothing. The director who oversees the front desk and the concierge lounge here at the Marina Del Rey, has told me that they were instructed to scale back by Marriott Corporate.

Just out of curiousity, I called Hilton Honors and talking to Cordell at their call center in Addison, TX. He explained they have a program called "Matching Tier Status" where by if you fax evidence of your being a top tier member of a competing loyalty program, HH will automatically make you a Diamond member in their HH rewards program. The fax # is (972) 788-1818. Should you decide you are tired of Marriott and wish to change to another loyalty program, give HH a call and ask them about their Matching Tier Status program. I told them about the cutbacks at Marriott and I was ready for a change, so Cordell was kind enough to provide me with the information.

I chose this Marriott because of the Concierge lounge. I am not sure why Marriott has opted to stick it to their core group of travelers, but apparently, they feel they can cut back, even though they must know they will have some losses in their membership. I am guessing they have a certain loss level that they are aiming to reach, which with the cutbacks they are making, will not be too far in the future. I really see know reason to continue paying these higher prices, when I can get the same amenities elsewhere at a much lower price.

Anybody know anything about the Marco Island Marriott? I chose this over RC Naples just because of lounge access (having three kids in tow, saves lots of money). Hope their CL has not been downgraded...

Call them and ask, especially now that the new cutbacks are being implemented. Better to know in advance.

Cheers.

I don't think Marco Island has lounge and since it's a resort and I'm not sure whether it offer free breakfast elite members. You may have to search for its review.

Miami Airport Marriott
 

Just got back from the Miami Airport Marriott and it's not good news. Stayed there 4 times this past year and each time was very impressed with the night offerings. Two hot dishes (hamburgers, meat subs, chicken wings and a side)and lots of cheeses and crackers and fresh fruit. This time one hot dish (noodles and chesse), less cheese, less crackers, and no fruit. Everything shrunk. Not nice. Brkfst seemed about the same, pretty nice. And they still have the yogurt parfaits in the fridge- there all day until they run out. Nice.
Btw- the renovations aren't done but was is done is pretty nice. Lobby looks much much nicer. Just time for them to renovate the rooms, that carpet has got to go. The new tvs are nice (standard Marriott LGs)- been there 6 months already.

Don't know if it's a US domestic mandate for these cutbacks because I was recently at The Renaissance in Barcelona and they went all out with their lounge offerings. Free liquor and beer too.

I will be at The Marriott Chateau Champlain in two weeks and The Renaissance Downtown Toronto right after. I'm a regular at these properties so I know what they usually offer... I'll report back.

This depresses me (probably more than it should). I had decided to shift my SPG business to Marriott this year and not worry about trying to reach Platinum in both programs. My earlier decision was based on how much I had been valuing the lounge much more than the suite upgrades I generally get at Starwood. These cutbacks have had me change my bookings. I am currently in my second business trip for the year, with another next week. All with Starwood. If the lounges are so downgraded and I don't even get a WSJ, I am trying to figure out what in-hotel benefits exist for PLAT. Heck, even the check cashing is going on April 1.

I have got to give it to the airlines: last year when they made significant cuts and fee increases they did a good job of shielding their elites. Looks like Marriott is going the other way.

We should all be afraid, very afraid. I just spent 2 weeks at a FS in KC and what was once a decently robust CL is now a joke.

Very minimal offerings morning and PM, anything "prepackaged" that you could once takeout is gone. Like chips, breakfast bars, granola bars, cereals, yogurts, milk, bananas, etc. Only the barest minimum put out at a time, the poor staff has to constantly scramble to replenish stuff after each few guests. Seem to be buying butter, cream cheese, etc in bulk and putting out in communal dishes. Cheese and meats - no more.

Just Cookie dust at 8pm. No WSJ. No mouthwash. Final insult is now tiny 8oz bottles of water instead of the usual pints.

So at what point is this benefit useless and I head to more, complete and comfortable service, free internet and cheaper accommodations like a RI or Homewood Suites?

That was your biggest mistake. This is done the other way only - from Marriott to Starwood. :D :D

Quite frankly Marriott program is not even remotely competitive with Starwood's at least when it comes to Platinum benefits.

The lounges at Marriotts and Hiltons are a joke nowadays with most if not all of them not offering hot breakfast in the morning (you might as well sacrifice that room upgrade and stay at a Courtyard or Homewood Suites and get a decent breakfast), I don't think the grass is green on any side with most of the hotel chains on a race to the bottom (quite similar to the airlines with their FFP).

Calling ahead on lounge closings, so starting to cancel my FS Marriott bookings
 

I am making it a habit of calling the hotel direct a few weeks before my scheduled arrival at FS Marriott to determine the Concierge Lounge downgrades. Two upcoming:

San Francisco Marriott - used to be open on weekends, now closed. Although the Desk clerk thinks it still may be open for breaksfast. No coupons, maybe only for Platinum.

Salt Lake City Marriott Downtown - closed on the weekend and no longer offering breakfast coupons. Only providing a coupon for a cup of coffee at Starbucks.

When you call and asked to be transferred to the front desk, the operator tries to help until they realize they can not answer your questions. Even the front desk staff is uncertain in some cases.

I am coming to the conclusion that there is little benefit remaining loyal to Marriott. There is no benefit for Plat/Gold at Courtyards or Fairfield Inns.

So what is the point - stay at a hotel that is most convenient and has best rate. I know of many that have switched to going with priceline and hotels.com - to get the best rates at desired number of stars for hotels.

I have booked the Renaissance Montura for the M-F portion of my two week trip to the southbay; however I'm out of there F/S@/Su nights and heading over to the Gateway Sheraton; I will not only check in and tell the FDC what I'm doing, I will have a copy of my reservation in a manila envelope with a note stating exactly why I am doing this and to have the FDC give it to the GM.

Please post GM's respond.

I always stayed at Renaissance but I may have to change weekend stays.

You might consider mailing it into HQ as well. I think that only if GMs and HQ start getting proof of people taking their biz elsewhere will they pay attention & rethink their decision, or look for other places to cutback.

Cheers.

it ranks right up there with selling CL rooms to general public

heres is what these scumbags will do

they will sell CL floor rooms at an inflated rate on the weekends to unsuspecting customers

I am tired of how Marriott is taking MR members for granted. Here is a call to action---

Anyone interested in sitting face2face with Mr Marriott, and or joining a group to fight for our Rights as MR members?

Email [email protected]

In your email---Please rate new MR09 from 0-10, please rate MR08 also, and share the number of nites spent in 08 with Marriott and your current level.



Include your expected change in stay-behavior based on actions taken by MR management. Thx----

I've actually spent 2 long weekends at SPG properties where there was a "special" CL rate for the non stocked lounge. At least the room was left open or card key available so a few families and kids had a separate place to hang out in between their hockey games. And the rate was no worse then our negotiated group rate, so I give SPG credit.

Every FS Marriott I've been to over the weekend locks up the CL like Fort Knox.

I'm certain that many of the gloomsayers posting here would never consider the Stanford Court in San Francisco. Gee, it doesn't have a C-Lounge. But it does offer the following for all elite members: a complimentary in room movie; 20% discount on appetizers; on weekdays, an all american breakfast for two or $15 credit per person towards ala carte breakfast items. On weekends, this perk is extended to golds and platinums. For those of you who might have traveled to Renaissance's around the country, you might have seen featured on their menus the Signature item at the Stanford Court: Lemon Souffle Pancakes with raspberry sauce and pine nuts. Believe me, its better than anything you've had in a C-Lounge. So here's a great example of a property succeeding pretty well without a C-Lounge. Still, according to staff I spoke with this weekend, this property is feeling the impact of the economic downturn and are cutting where they can. After years of offering jams and jellies in the little glass jars, they've switched to small foil containers - and some patrons have noticed. For those of you for whom it seems to matter, your status is, indeed, recognized at this property. The way they handle it may, in fact, be more practical all the way around than the C-Lounge. Imagine, it may be more cost effective to give a person $15 credit toward breakfast than let that person loose in the C-Lounge. Maybe, in this economic climate, a property can't - and shouldn't - expend that much on a patron - even an elite. So this is a property where they are cutting back where they can, offering perks, and where employees are being adversely impacted. And I still don't think its all apples and oranges. We are loyal in great part to Marriott because of the service and kindnesses given by employees. How can we moan about perceived slights from Corporate where properties and their employees are struggling. Marriott Rewards is a Loyalty program. Sometimes, out of loyalty, you stand by your friends in rough times. I have been with Continental a long time. I remember in the 1990's going through two bankruptcies, lots of kudo bars, and admonishments from my travel agent (remember them) that it was a terrible airline. I stuck with Continental and I now believe its the equal of or better than any domestic carrier. Cut and running from Marriott for perceived slights seems just a little drastic and maybe lacking in perspective. Times are tough. I'm lifetime platinum and could start up with any other program without 'penalty' from Marriott. I prefer to stick with my friends. And I will not think less of my friends because I don't get a Wall Street Journal anymore or I can't count on multiple hot dishes in the lounge in the evenings. Perhaps things will change when the economic climate improves. In any event, trying to hit a favorite property in the pocketbook when business is already down just doesn't strike me in these times as a thoughtful or productive strategy. (And I do recommend the Stanford Court!!!)

when you say stanford offers those perks to all elite members, do you really mean all levels of elite?

OMG, Mr. rln, take a breath please:cool:!

What a great property and a proactive way to give benefits. I'd much rather have a restaurant credit than what's being offered / passed for CL benefits today.

Problem is that this ONE property among thousands. Marriott used to pride itself on uniformity and SOP's in many regards. Now it is a guessing game.

Yes, I know many have taken to calling in advance to ask questions of the staff and playing Russian roulette with answers but lets face it, who needs more "to-do" in advance or during a business trip.

Just give me some basic consistency and if you want to exceed it, even better.

Please be careful what you ask for... SOP according to T&Cs is that on weekends CLs are closed and no free breakfast for elites, and no breakfast at resorts. Frankly, in addition to minor savings on the hotel's part, it appears that Marriott corporate is trying to get all hotels to comply with elite offerings to the letter and no more in order to make things uniform from hotel to hotel. This would actually result is less of a guessing game. Hence the disdain by many of us on Marriott's urging/insistence that hotels not over achieve. We have all gotten used to hotels going above and beyond, and many of us choose hotels based on that and are not to excited about the current direction being orchestrated by Marriott corporate.

Well I know a couple properties that are going to have some angry guests in September. AMS Marriott & AMS Renaissance.

During the IBC show, all hotels in AMS raise their rates (not just Marriott). But Marriott is 455E & Ren is 395E. The weekend following the show the weekend rate is 179E, so as you can see a bit of a difference! In years past, the lounge being open on the weekend helped make up for a bit of the pain on the rate being jacked so high. Both closed the lounge on the weekend one year (after a few years of it being open) & there were so many complaints that the next year they went back to being open.

And insult to injury - during the show, besides the price being really high and the lounge being closed, the rate rules show that the stay is prepaid, non-refundable, no changes immediately upon reservation. That's for all 3 properties btw - including the CY. Last year, CY had a DOA cancel, Marriott was prepaid 2 weeks before arrival date, & Ren had the draconian cancel rate. Now all 3 have gone to it.

I'm hoping to get my room at the Marriott through the convention housing bureau, where the rate is 269E. It's showing sold out, but I faxed a letter. If it doesn't open at that rate, I'll be staying at the Amsterdam Hilton which is 279 - and has the lounge open on the weekend (bringing this back on topic).

And if I do manage to get the Marriott, I'm going to contact the GM & gently suggest that Marriott policy is one thing, but that there's a line in there re: extraordinary circumstances/GM discretion, and with rates of 455E to the gen public, the property might want to consider opening it that one weekend only. There's policy & then there's common sense ;)

BTW - if anyone will be in AMS in September, I highly recommend you avoid Sept 10th-16th.

Cheers.

That assumes you get a room on the CL, correct? I thought it was you that broke the news to us a while back that Hilton restricts CL access to only those elites who are lucky enough to get upgraded to rooms on the CL or pay for CL rooms. I don't speak Hilton, so I only hear what is reported in passing here on the Marriott Rewards forum.

Copley Boston has gone downa notch or two. Breakfast is hot eggs, muffins, yoghurt - no oatmeal. It disappears at exactly 9 am, which is quicker than the last time i stayed here last year. Cocktail time is swiss cheese the size of playing dice and some rolled, small taco thingy with mystery meat and corn. Dessert is cookies.

it is something but not impressive, especially after my stay at Grosvenor Square last month. That was pretty good IMHO

Well, you're missing the bigger point, but that rate does give me access - and unlike Marriott, Hilton's lounge will actually be open & serving food/drink. Those who are paying the 455E exec level rate at Marriott are being charged that, even though the exec lounge will be closed for 2 days. They're not getting a discount for those 2 days. Hence, I think the 2 Marriott properties are going to have some mighty unhappy guests if they keep the lounge closed.

Given the delta in pricing btwn IBC/non-IBC time, the hotel could send up some bkfst & evening offerings & still make a huge profit, and keep customer goodwill at the same time. It's only 1 weekend out of 52 that they do the citywide event (which could also be their rationale to HQ). I'm still hoping that I can get the Marriott at the housing rate, as I've stayed there for 10 years and gotten to know the staff, and I'll certainly be in contact w/ the GM re: the lounge being open if I stay there. If I don't get it, then over to the Hilton I will go.

BTW - the jacked up rate for Hilton not via the convention housing is similar to Marriott's, 'round the 400Euro mark. But unlike Marriott, Hilton only requires a single night deposit, which is refundable up to 28 days in advance. Not a prepaid, nonrefundable for the entire stay the second you book it at 8 months out. However, that's not totally relevant to this thread, which is about food/drink/bkfst certs.

But again, anyone going to Amsterdam avoid Sept 10th-16th!

Cheers.