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.