So what property were you staying at?

I recently completed stays at the Long Island Marriott in Uniondale and the Westchester Marriott in Tarrytown. I have stayed at these hotels frequently in the past - and know the lounge offerings pretty well.

In Uniondale, the lounge is closed on Sunday evenings and Monday mornings. It seems like this service comes and goes - but, has mostly gone, of late. The last few times, I have had to ask for breakfast coupons for the Monday mornings - and there is nothing available for snacks on Sunday nights. :td: Even though the full breakfast is technically an upgrade over the continental breakfast provided in the lounge, I find it inconvenient to go to the restaurant most mornings. There is no quick way to do a full breakfast. As for the lounge, itself, the offerings are among the most spartan - only mini bagels (in NY - no real bagels? Really?); most mornings have a pretty bizarre collection of sliced deli meats - but, no bacon, smoked salmon, etc; cut fruit can be hit-and-miss.

In Westchester, I had one of the worst lounge experiences that I have had in awhile. I didn't recognize the attendant (there was a long-time, professional concierge that had been there for years - maybe it was her days/week off?), but she was awful - on the phone the whole time I was in for breakfast - seemingly not for work. All the while, the offerings were well picked-over - only cut fruit was some slushy watermelon and some cantaloupe - the honey dew and pineapple bowls were there, but were empty. The pastries were non-existent - there were maybe three bagels left and one English muffin (nothing else to make toast at all). There was maybe 1/8th of a glass of orange juice remaining. They removed the previously available smoked salmon tray, so bacon was the only available protein to supplement the runny scrambled eggs. On top of all of this, there were no newspapers available other than USA Today (previously there was always a supply of NY Daily News, WSJ, etc.). In the evenings, there was very little available in the dessert department after 8:30 pm - as though they put out one run of snacks, and when they're gone, they're gone.

It's sad - not because of the poor offerings available, but for the very recent memory of what was once available. In both hotels, as others have reported, there was also no mouthwash or body wash in the rooms - and bottled water has been reduced to the small size, as well. Unfortunately, there are not a lot of other viable options in these locations - but, we will see what my next travel to these areas may bring.

Marriott Lisbon
 

The CL has the average offering of snacks and beverages (non-alcoholic). In evening, if you want a beer, you have to ask for one.
No breakfast is offered at the CL even on weekdays, however, they offer plats free breakfast in the restaurant where you will find extensive buffet with omlette made-to-order. This is the case for week-end as well. That is the only thing stands out at this place. The hotel is due for a renov, but not sure they would do it.
There is one computer for free use in the CL, but no facility to print boarding pass. For which you have to go downstairs to the biz office. Sometimes they try to charge you for using the computer, but would let you print boarding pass for free.

As announced in my previous post I stayed at the Marriott in Berlin this weekend from Thu-Sun and the overall experience was excellent. I booked a regular room and was assigned a room with king-size bed on the 8th floor (no upgrade as the hotel was fully booked).

As a gold member I was granted access to the exec floor on the 10th level and the lounge. The lounge was one of the best I recently visited. Overall very nicely appointed, great view over Berlin (and the Canadian embassy right accross the street :p), comfortable furniture (both eating tables and more loungy sofas), flatscreen tv in a separate area and three computers inlcuding printer and scanner and great 20 inch flatscreen displays - free to use.

Breakfast (7-11am): Perfect for continental breakfast offered in a lounge. Scrambled eggs, assorted bread and pastries, smoked salmon, turkey, ham, cheese, jam, fresh fruit, cerials, yoghurt, dried fruits, sausages, bacon... A nice coffee machine provided fresh coffee, cappuccino, espresso and so on. Fresh squeezed orange juice, multivitamin juice and grapefruit juice was also available.

Mid-day: There was always a small selection of pastries, bread/bretzels and drinks.

Evening (6-10pm): Quite a nice selection of hot food, which changed daily (pasta, chicken skewers, hash browns, chicken nuggets), fresh hot soup. Selection of different salads (Caesar, lettuce, tomatos, cucumber) as well as very nice bread and cheese. The usual alcohol (Gin, Whiskey, Vodka, Campari, Martini) was provided, in addition there were pre-mixes for Bloody Mary and a two other drinks (but I don't remember). Nice dessert pastries, mouse au chocolat and so on.

Night (10pm-midnight): The bread and cheese was available all night (great!) and also the dessert selection was left standing 'til midnight as well.

The following drinks were available all the time: pepsi, diet pepsi, mirinda, 7up, ginger ale, club soda, tonic, bitter lemon, water (still/sparkling), orange juice, tomato juice, apple juice as well as draught beer. Red and white wine was available from dinner until midnight.

The lounge could also be accessed after midnight but the drinks were locked away. Yet some gummi bears, chips and the internet as well as newspapers and magazines were still available.

Again, overall a great lounge experience with a very friendly and attentive staff!

PS: The food at the Midtown Grill restaurant was fabulous - the complementary marshmellows and mini BBQ for dessert was just over the top, so cool...

Good news about Berlin Marriott. I was there in November and experienced that same, great experience. I'm looking forward to my next visit Fri-Tue!

I've noticed a lot of downgrades in CL service and a lot of inconsistencies between properties.

The smaller properties tend to be the ones cutting back the most. The large big-city ones like Chicago, New York, Atlanta, Seattle are still hanging in there and providing a good amenity.

Here's my winners and losers list:

Winners:
Chicago Marriott Downtown (Tastiest Food)
New York Marriott Eastside (Late Friday Morning Breakfast)
Boston Marriott Newton (Best Manager's Reception)
Denver Marriott South
Tied with Marriott Lincolnshire (IL) (Starbuck's Coffee Machines)
Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Plantation (Great Service)
Marriott Greenville (SC) (Friendliest Staff)

Honorable Mention:
Renaissance Charlotte Suites (Most Creative Combinations of Eggs, Cheese and Bread In A Week)
Miami Marriott Key Biscayne (Best View)

Losers:
Renaissance Charlotte South Park (Best Back Room Passed Off As A Lounge)
Fort Lauderdale Marriott North (Best Horror of a Marriott Property)

Some recommendations:
Get more automated coffee machines (expensive but worth it)
Don't sign another exclusive agreement with a soft drink company
At least keep the lounge open on the weekends for self-service drinks and coffee
Give each lounge the "Do I Feel Like I'm At A Fairfield Inn" test
If I have a preference for a daily newspaper, then make sure I get one!!!!

wouldn't an easier list to manage be those who have not downgraded?

Now look here you, no putting forward good ideas...

If we only concentrated on the remaining good offerings we would'nt get to whinge... repeatedly... which is a favourite pastime in this neck of the woods ;)

I have long said that Hilton Diamonds are the biggest prima donnas on FT. I owe them a BIG apology...:D