Ira-

Good to learn that Marriott appears to be taking a second look as to the CL issues.

As much as I appreciate it, I would hope that the larger issue genericzlly eferred to as , "The Spirit To Serve" is not being overlooked. At least to me, it's synonymous with those somewhat overused (some might call them trite) slogans of another time, "Exceeding Expectations" and "Delighting the Customer".

I don't think that any thoughtful person demands (or would expect) that the "store" be given away, but at the same time, the seemingly pervasive dark cloud usually referred to as "Don't Overachieve or be punished" should be relegated to the corporate air purifier.

Ditto to much of what has already been said.

The Hartleypig family are pretty annoyed by the changes as we only make Plat by doing leisure stays, so when we go away at the weekend and the CL is only offering a few soft drinks and the same biscuits that you get in the rooms we are pretty miffed. Also many CLs are closing Fri, Sat and Sun, so not even one night where there might be something worthwhile on a weekend trip. The only CL benefit will be when we redeem a pile of points for a week away and can see what we are missing on the weekends ....

Agreed.

There are many different travel patterns and priorities. No company can please everyone all the time with their frequent traveler program, no matter how great it is. However, they can please more people most of the time when properties are allowed opportunities to meet the needs of the customers who stay with that property. (without fear of reprisal from corporate) It is, after all, the hospitality business and consistent does not have to equal clone.

Corporations can make mistakes - living in CLT, the words USAIR come to mind :D It is not the mistake that is the most critical - it is whether it is reconsidered and reversed once it is realized.

This has been a costly error for Marriott. Not only have they lost business over the last few months, but once stay patterns are altered, they are difficult to recapture.

Change is occurring everywhere. At Hyatt, a recent corporate mandate is that the Regency Clubs eliminate hot offerings in the evening. Have I missed them? Not really, because the overall quality, hours, and service at the Clubs has remained the same in all other areas.

It is hoped that the meeting Ira references will result in revisions that both sides can live with...

I've been wondering how long it would take for Marriott's CRM system to notice that I currently have zero nights in the current megabonus promo when before I would always max out well before the end of the promo. As you stated, they'll probably conclude that I'm not travelling at all. I mean, if I were travelling, I would obviously being staying with them, right?

Could you please provide a link or source for this info? Thanks.

The head concierage at one of the Hyatt properties I stayed at recently.......(not the one for the RC, the one for the entire hotel)

I'm not saying this is incorrect, but I see no mention of it on the Hyatt board. This kind of info provided by property employees is sometimes dubious, as we've seen in more than one instance on the Marriott board.

Couldn't agree more. However, the last 3 Hyatts I have stayed in have not offered a hot item in the evening. Does that mean all of them have stopped? Doubtful. However, please note that I was not speaking for Hyatt, nor was I indicating that it has occurred everywhere. My post refers to the stays I have experienced, the comment that was made to me, and my response to what I have seen & experienced.

I stayed at a Hyatt last night; hot food in the evening was indeed served

Seattle Renaissance was great
 

I spent the week in Seattle last week. Not only was the club great with outstanding evening and morning food, but I overheard the staff actively figuring out what worked well and what did not.

Ira, if you want to hear from someone who is doing it right, call this hotel and drag the manager to your meeting.

I stayed at this hotel for a week in Dec 2006 and the club and its offerings were outstanding. Fresh fish and sushi every night. I am glad things haven't changed and they filed the recent "dumb it down" memo in the right place, the circular file.

Not to sidetrack this thread to by property, but when I stayed there a couple of years ago for SEA-DO, the lounge was closed on the weekend but they anted up no problem w/ breakfast certs for the weekend. Of course, now that we've 'outed' them, Marriott may remind them of the no over-achieving, but hopefully not.

Cheers.

I'm afraid that not only will Marriott call them on this, they will make them the "example" for punishment for being so consumer friendly

No reason to switch to Hilton because of the lounges as Hilton seems to be eliminating these altogether (see discussion about the SFO O'Farrell in the Hhonors forum).

How does it work w/Starwood? do they also have concierge lounge w/food like the Marriott? How many stays or nights in order to get something w/Starwood?