while were at it
 

did anyone see the Hyatt Gold Passport enhancements..

Hyatt giveth.. Marriott continue to taketh away :rolleyes:

http://www.goldpassport.com/gp/en/be...bigwelcome.jsp

to summarize

bold = my emphasis

Diamond Membership

After 25 eligible stays or 50 eligible nights, you will experience the highest level of membership and have access to our most generous benefits and awards.


Benefits:
Achieve rewards even faster with a 30% point bonus on each stay
Enjoy the best room available including Regency Club™ or Grand Club™ rooms3 (new)
Receive exclusive access to the Regency Club or Grand Club lounge featuring complimentary continental breakfast and evening hors d’oeuvres. Enjoy daily complimentary full breakfast in hotels without a club lounge4

Treat yourself to a suite upgrade four times annually on paid room nights5 (new)

Receive a special welcome point bonus or food and beverage amenity during each stay

Receive your requested bed type at check-in1

Stay connected with complimentary Internet access (new) Expedite

check-in at a dedicated area for elite members2 (new)
Ensure a room is always available with our 72-hour guarantee6
Book reservations through an exclusive Diamond line


Terms and Conditions


1Request must be made at time of reservation

2Not available at Hyatt Place or Hyatt Summerfield Suites

3Excludes suites

4During periods of high demand access to the Regency Club or Grand Club lounge may not be available; therefore, complimentary full breakfast for each registered guest and 2,500 bonus points will be given. Not available at Hyatt Place or Hyatt Summerfield Suites

5Suite upgrade awards valid on stays of seven nights or less; excludes Premier, Presidential and Diplomatic Suites. Not available at Hyatt Place or Hyatt Summerfield Suites

6Guarantee not valid at Hyatt resorts or during extraordinary room demand

Wow! Instead of pushing clients towards lower end properties with better value, Hyatt is trying to attract loyal well paying guests. What an interesting strategy!

Hyatt's move is quite interesting. ^

well lets be fair here

Marriotts recent moves have been quite interesting as well :eek:

Marriott Crystal City [not Gateway], VA: front desk rep told me this weekend: "Marriott will no longer do comp b'fast for elites on weekends when CL is closed".

Just over two weeks ago I announced that Marriott would be reevaluating its Concierge Lounge offerings. All the concerns raised in this thread were discussed; however, the focus of the current change is on food offerings. Based on multiple feedback sources, we learned that hotels needed additional flexibility in the types of popular, healthy, and comfort food selections they offer. Going forward, our General Managers and hospitality teams on property will have options that will help them to customize lounge offerings that meet their guests preferences.

I recognize that many of you would have liked more details regarding this new policy, or perhaps to have seen additional changes. I am optimistic that as you visit our lounges over the next weeks and months you will be pleased with the changes you observe. I assure you that we continue to look for ways to improve and we value your comments, concerns, and questions.

Regards,

Ira

Thank you Ira.

thank you for keeping us posted

much appreciated

Thanks Ira and team...

BTW I would hope that the powers that be have seen Hyatt's offerings and are taking them under advisement as well???

Basically though, it seems that, as a PP there is no longer a need to stay at a full service hotel on the weekend since, chacnes are, you'd be 'upgraded' to a 'Concierge Room' that is, in reality just a room. Oh, and points or a gift....still isn't really worth it. (Robes, mouthwash, water-whatever.....free breakfast would sure make me feel appreciated, along with free internet,and hows about a break on parking in lots that are operated by the hotel. )

I can't remember the last time I stayed in a FS hotel.....PROBABLY the Ren at PHL airport, but since they charged me for a no show-TWO TIMES-for reservations that I had cancelation #s for, I will never go there....took them 2 months to refund one of them.....:rolleyes:

How about paying a fair price for a good room, good service, and good amenities? It seems to me that a guest who isn't willing to pay $12 or whatever for breakfast on the weekend isn't the kind of guest Marriott wants to go out of their way to keep as a customer. The same goes for internet and parking and anything else you might want for free.

If Hyatt or Sheraton or whomever can lure someone away with a few cheap gifts, then by all means they should take their business there and enjoy the inconsistent service and occasional dump of a property they stay in.

Look at Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, etc.--they don't provide anything other than an outstanding experience every time you stay with them. And for people who want to whine that they don't get a free breakfast, either pay the significant upgrade for the Club Level or take your business elsewhere.

Marriott could do worse than to emulate the successful model of those upscale chains, as opposed to chasing the penny-pinching, change-loyalty-at-the-drop-of-a-hat crowd...

the problem with this arguement is that I can get the same thing

fair price for a good room, good service and good amenity AND MORE for the same price.

To me that makes one foolish to spend money on an inferior product. Product includes the entire package which if it includes b/f.. then thats part of the product

So let me get this clear. According to this poster :rolleyes: there are not any FS Marriotts with inconistent service or dumps for properties :rolleyes:

comparing Hyatts & Sheratons with Ritz.. well not quite apples and apples. If they are trying to emulate the Ritz.. they have flat out failed.. just b/c one charges for something doesn't make it high quality

Were you drinking when you made these statments?

Downgrades continue at NY Marriott Marquis CL
 

Marriott's directive not to overachieve, is alive and well at the NY Marriott Marquis (Times Square). Haven't been there since summer '07. Talk about downgrades:

Regular bottled water no longer offered. If you don't want sparkling water (Pellegrino) you must get water from a water dispenser! :td: According to the attendant, they no longer offer individual bottles of regular water and the Pellegrino will be discontinued later this Spring. Sodas will also be discontinued once contract with Pepsi is up this summer. Attendant indicated they may install a soft drink dipenser as the cost per beverage is a lot cheaper than the 12oz cans they offer now.


Breakfast - scrambled eggs, no bacon or other meat. Now, Mini-bagels with large tub of cream cheese instead of individual packets. Mini croissants and mini muffins. No hot oatmeal, instant only. Fruit only consists of Honeydew Melon or canteloupe. No strawberries, pineapple etc. (Apples and bananas were available.)

Lounge very busy Monday and Tuesday (4/6 & 4/7) due to Spring Break. Long Line (10 min) for eggs, bagels, etc. At 9:25am while there still was a line of 10 people, lounge attendants walked through lounge stating, "Last call for breakfast, breakfast ends at 9:30am, if you want breakfast please get in line now!" :( Really uncalled for considering how crowded the lounge was at that time and the fact that there was not one open table in the lounge, people were standing up eating, etc...

Evening - appetizers consisted of one meat and one vegetarian item, brie, a swiss cheese block, and crackers. No veggie tray or other items offered. No chips, nuts or other snack type items offered.

Dessert - cookies and brownies only. No cheesecake (which was offered every night during my last stay), no other type of cakes or dessert items. offered. (Cookies and brownies are the same as those offered to conference attendees during the afternoon break.)

Basically, there is nothing to set the NY Marriott Marquis CL apart from any other FS Marriott CL in Kansas City, Dallas, or any place else. I would be very disappointed if I paid $70 per night to upgrade to the concierge level and access the CL as some foreign visitors from the UK had.


Regards,

RIP...

How do all the spring breakers get access to the CL?

Thanks very much Ira and the rest of the Marriott team for lstening to our concerns and carefully considering them. we hope to see positive changes on the ground in the near future.

Hey DJ - there is nothing wrong with trying to control costs. I'll bet you most customers do so (and should). Sure, if you are managing billions of dollars you just don't have the time to personally try to book the best deals, but hopefully your PA does.

And there's nothing wrong with making a business decision to not steer more business to a hotel chain and pursue elite status because the benefits are no longer worthiwhile enough to you (I have not made such a decision, I'm sticking with Marriott).

If only RC type of service is acceptable to you (you didn't exactly say that but it at least sounds like that's what you would prefer), then that's where you should concentrate your stays.

SFO Marriott Concierge Level Cutbacks
 

I am at SFO Marriott, and am quite disappointed in the number of cutbacks I see on Concierge Level:

1. No mouthwash
2. No body wash
3. Tiny bottle of water
4. No glasses for use with ice bucket (i.e. only 2 glasses in bathroom). Normally 2 in bathroom and 2 next to ice bucket.
5. Concierge Lounge no longer open on Saturday and Sunday mornings - excuse given is that they need to be consistent with other Marriotts - heaven forbid they exceed guest expectations.
6. No WSJ

Meanwhile, I was recently at Sheraton Gateway SFO - not even on club level, and got mouthwash, shower gel, etc.

I don't blame the property itself - I blame Marriott Corporate for encouraging these cutbacks.

Is this sort of event a one time thing or is it happening throughout Marriott

I'm shocked that a property could do this!!!!!

From what I have heard Marriott is no longer allowing individual properties to offer above and beyond on the concierge levels. That means standardized lower level offerings at all properties.

I don't know because this is the first time I have been at this property in about 1.5 years.

Do I detect a bit of sarcasam in your response? (i.e. I know this is going on throughout Marriott)

Seriously, I am switching to Starwood starting tomorrow. The Sheraton Gateway SFO has 42 inch plasma TVs with great channels.

Same in the SEA Marriott although I didn't stay for the weekend, but I do know the lounge is closed Friday nite - Sunday nite.

Let's talk apples to apples. I am staying at the San Francisco Marriott on June 27 - rate is $125 for that Saturday night. Rate for Sheraton - Fisherman's Wharf for that evening is $199. The difference in rates could purchase one heck of a breakfast (not to mention a bottle of water and a newspaper). Sheraton Gateway is an airport property. Don't bother coming back at me comparing the San Francisco Airport property amenities with those at the Gateway. I'm simply responding to the first report and indicating that while Marriott may have made cutbacks, relative bargains are there to be had. I just don't buy the "hunch" offered by many here that Marriott is at low occupancy because they have raised the hackles of Platinum and Gold members. It seems just as plausible that a $125 rate in downtown San Francisco would draw more people in that a $199 rate even if it included lounge access and a bottle of mouthwash.

Can't anyone just accept that Marriott may simply - in its own considered way - be trying to make the best of a bad situation? In another posting the attack is being directed towards the breakfast buffet. Speculation is that fruit may be cut out.

I doubt that will ever happen. Still, some fruits may be taken off the menu. My favorite Marriott - up north - took watermelon off its buffet line about a year or so again. Can't blame corporate for that one. As watermelon is one of my favorites, I was not pleased but did consider that the expense to bring in watermelons on top of the other fruits was simply not cost efficient - just "cutting back" on the amount of watermelon served was not going to achieve the efficiencies that the property was trying to achieve.

Bring the watermelon back and lace it with Vodka and everyone will be happy :)

Probably since this has been discussed extensively in this thread since December: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/marri...es-limits.html

Perhaps Mods can merge your thread into that one.

Pittsburgh Renaissance
 

I've been staying at the Pittsburgh Renaissance M-F's since January. The changes in the evenings in the CL are as follows:

1) The soup is gone.

2) The meat tray is gone.

3) There are no longer any hot meat appetizers.

4) And no more nuts in the afternoon.

The concierge floor no longer has mouth wash and toothpaste and the 2 bottles of water are now smaller. Just been wondering what cuts are coming next?

this all stinks!

BUT...the RI i am in out near Dulles had for breakfast...scrambled eggs, sausage, taters, biscuits and gravy, yogurts, 3 kinds of juice, 2 kinds of moo juice, donuts, muffins, bagels, bread, English muffins, some other pastry, oatmeal, a few kinds of fruit AND plain AND raspberry waffles...and i probably missed something.....

Soooooo......this Corp hotel has their stuff together..(they even hauled me-twice-to Best Buy as my laptop died last night..and i went to get a new one this morning! It's a .shame the FS hotels do not have their stuff together! Wish I could have gotten a decent rate at a Hyatt...well, there WERE, but then they charge 10-20 bucks to park so the rate then stinks!

Maybe i will stop by and see Bill on Monday...wonder if he's going to be at the office!:rolleyes:

WHen will the suits learn??!!!!

You used the word "taters", that made my day :p

Is that the one on 28/Waxpool by the Ferrari Dealer? If so I've never been at that one as it looks huge. Then again I dont' have much reason to stay there either since I live right by there LOL; its fairly new though. I would guess less than 3 years old. Just curious, how do you know its a corp vs franchise. I can never tell unless they have the franchise sign up near the FD.

which Hyatt were you referring to that charges that for parking?

Dulles > Free parking
Fair Lakes > Free parking
Reston > Free parking

those are the three that I know of near IAD

The Chicago Marriott Mag mile has closed the concierge on the weekend and like another poster said above at the SFO Marriott, body wash and mouth wash are gone. Bottled water is down to a tiny bottle.
The Renaisssance Northbrook in Northbrook, IL is only open for Breakfast....they have shut it down for evening appetizers and instead give appetizer coupons for the restaurant that are only good between 4-6! I dont know about you all but I am rarely back to the hotel by 6pm to use these things......:td::td::td::td::td::td:

Ok folks, we've been whining and complaining about this for nearly 6 months now (remember that it took us a few month to catch on...).

This wasn't an announced "exciting new change" (meaning devaluation) but a sneaky "lets hope they don't notice" change to a routine that affects us all.

The lounge and its ancillary benefits attracted me to back to the FS model for the past 4 years when my own common sense told me that places like Homewood Suites and Residence Inns were a better fit at lower rates.

So I've spend 6 nights in a FS Marriott this year and the rest elsewhere (my travel has not diminished in this "poor" economy").

This is how I've chosen to react. I do hope the mouthwash and food savings will offset the 100 nights revenue formerly exclusive to Marriott FS/REN properties.

The Renaisssance Northbrook lounge had evening appetizers last week (4/6- 4/9). Is this new? It wouldn't be a surprise... I had heard a rumor that breakfast service was going to be cut back also...

I'm wondering if only US properties are affected by all of this?

I recently stayed in JW Marriott Grosvenor House, London and Marriott Cologne, Germany and their lounges were both open on the weekends (incl. breakfast, snacks, open bar etc.).

Next week I'm flying to Berlin, staying in the Marriott for 4 nights, inlcuding the weekend and according to the website the lounge there is also open Sat/Sun.

Lounge service at the Renaissance Shelbourne (Dublin) (which Marriott's website describes as a "5-star luxury hotel") has been eviscerated. According to posts in various threads, service has been eliminated on weekends, multiple daily food presentations have been reduced to the usual, and food and refreshments have been lowered to what one would expect at the Dayton Marriott (no disrespect to the property or to Dayton). Prior to this shortsighted decision, the Shelbourne maintained the finest concierge lounge service and presentations of any concierge/executive lounge I've experienced anywhere.

I stayed the 14-19th and the appetizers were back although I never got to eat....breakfast was available again but did not have extras for re-fills.

website stating they are open are totally useless

properties are not updating them

if its a good thing>they update quickly

if its a negative>they forget

I am at the Marriott San Jose. I have not visited this property in probably 3 mos. time. The Concierge Lounge hasn't been open on weekends for some time, but on check in last evening I learned no breakfast for Platinums now. Instead they are giving Platinums free internet. I felt sorry for the very professional check in staff who apologized.

I checked with the Marriott in Berlin and it has been confirmed to me that the lounge is open also on the weekends with no limitations in the service or food/beverage offerings. I'm there from Thursday - Sunday and it's my first time at the Marriott as I usually stayed either in the Hyatt or Ritz Carlton. I will report back with my experience.

Sorry to hear the Ren AMS stay didn't go well. DW and I spent one night there two weeks ago and were treated quite well. Got an early check-in (10 am) and caught a quick nap before going out. That evening the concierge even took us outside, through the alleyway to show us the route he recommended we take to get to the restaurant we were looking for.

We also spent a night at the AMS Renaissance a couple of weeks ago. We checked in fairly early ( around 10:00 am or so), the front desk person was very nice and we got a room right away. The next day they let us have a 3:00pm check out (may have been Plan benefit). They did not upgrade us to Executive Floor but we did have a nice room and Executive Lounge privileges (again, Plat benefit). Michael in the EL was terriffic, attentive and helped us get dinner reservations for that night.

We had just spent 4 nights at the AMS Marriott and if we went back we would choose to stay at the Marriott over the Renaissance because we prefer the location better. We were upgraded to a room on the Executive Floor at the Marriott.

I too recall that the MR Cologne CL was well stocked with the usual food items. No lack of alcoholic beverages in the evening.

This post is relevant to a number recent threads, but I guess I'll stick it here. I'm staying at what I used to consider an excellent f/s property. Occupancy is very low this weekend.

The sign in the C-lounge indicates appetizers 5-7 and desert 7-9 on Sunday evening. From 5-9, the only food in the lounge was a basket of granolas bars, and there was no attendant. On previous stays, they had an attendant and a typical evening spread.

I went looking for a newspaper this morning and came up empty. An associate said she'd hook me up and eventually handed me a newspaper that somebody else already read while eating b'fast. On previous stays, there was a large stack of papers near the front desk and in the restaurant on Sunday morning.

I just got back from the gym about an hour ago. They have lockerrooms with showers but no towels and no shampoo/soap, unless you count the used bar of soap in one of the showers. On previous stays, they had a shelf filled with towels and soap.

I worked out for about an hour. Most of that time, there were 3 children under the age of 6 playing with the equipment while a parent chatted with a friend and on the phone. No Marriott associate came anywhere near the gym (or the pool) during this hour. On previous stays, there was a gym attendant.

I guess I should also mention that housekeeping rather noticably failed to clean the toilet before I checked in.