Given the new CY designs and given the eventual remodeling/refreshing of all the older properties, the only real problem for me with CY is the failure to provide ANYTHING special and of real value to Platinums/Golds. (A couple hundred points or a bottle of soda isn't anything special.) Of course that problem is usually a deal breaker.

I don't know about you but I expect to EARN my status at CY's and FI's and do not expect anything at all there, I expect to be treated well at full service properties as a treat for being a loyal customer. What are you really looking for? Besides Breakfast and Wifi because that dead horse has been beaten

Agreed. If everyone were to get something awesome, what difference would it make if you weren't getting something extra?

The free internet connection is already there (wired or wireless, I don't care) but the free breakfast would be a good start, dead horse or not. Of course if the internet connection was actually "high speed" (Like the CY in Ginza in Tokyo) that would be really special.

[Sorry if you don't think my status was EARNed because I stay mostly at FSMs or RENs because of the lack of status perks at CYs.]

I, too, am having trouble identifying who is the Courtyard target customer. I stay there occasionally as there are some that are located very well for me. But most of the time, there are better values. Better properties for less money. I used to like Courtyards because they seemed to have quieter rooms than other properties. Some of the newer ones are more cheaply built. Old, tired and quiet vs new and noisy? Forget it! How do they even stay in business? This has got to be a case of business travelers being points hounds using their employer's money unwisely. The other reason for loyalty would be the treatment given to those with status levels. Hilton does MUCH better than Marriott in this. Courtyard usually does absolutely nothing for loyalty, but seems to get it anyway. Can't blame Marriott for taking advantage those poor souls.

Employer's money unwisely?
 

I agree w/you on most points, but for the most part, I don't believe the employer's money has anything to do with the loyalty aspect of why some choose or avoid CYs. How would staying at any property be tied to using employer's money unwisely? I can't figure that statement out.

Most people that are on business (most, not all) are probably on a per diem. You get "x" amount of dollars and you can spend it where you want to. It is your comfort level, your status that you want to maintain...it's not like you get to pocket any money that is left over.

For example, the state of California will pay up to $84 a night for most counties in California...there are a few exceptions. Los Angeles and San Diego County's gets $110 and San Fran/San Mateo/San Jose/Oakland--those are $140. But for the most part, $84 is all you have to work with (yes it is very low--try getting a room in Marin and/or Orange Co. for $84). So if I spend $79, I don't get to pocket the rest. And if the best rate I can get is $100, I have to pony up $16. It is pretty clear cut so if you are talking about "employer's money" for business travel--you probably are talking about private companies where there is no set per diem by government contracts.

The state doesn't care whether I stay at a Motel 6 or a RI, or a CY for that matter. And, if we stay at an Embassy Suites we forfeit our breakfast per diem. Personally, that bugs me because I never eat breakfast there. Everything is typically fried in oil and I don't do sausage/bacon in the morning. Give me some frest fruit and hard boiled eggs and I'm good to go. I typically bring my own with me because I can't seem to count on either anymore no matter where I go.

Also, I know this was not directed at me, but one poster said that people like to get on this board and "bash" CY, etc. I just wanted to say that I had no intention of starting this thread to bash "CY." I had no idea there were "old" or "new" versions of that property, and I have just recently switched over to Marriott within the last two years. I am truly just trying to find out what the draw is toward that property when there seems to be such better choices out there--and especially as pointed out in my original post, when there is a RI in the SAME PARKING LOT!!!!! I figured there has to be more to the story if people were driving to the CY parking lot and not the RI!

Thanks.

Dawn

Dawn - just the fast and easy answer to your previous post...

If an RI and CY share a parking lot, as a "points hound" I'm heading to the CY. As for CY over other properties, location and price guide me. I usually want to be as close to the customer site as possible. Often a CY is the best choice, and that's especially true in smaller cities and farther away suburbs. If there is a SHS, that's my choice. After that, FI and CY are about equal. If a FS, JW or Ren is within $20, I choose it because of the concierge lounge access, better linen and I have a Verizon Wireless Card for my computer, so I can connect to the Internet without paying the fee.

I'm sure each of us on this board has a methodology behind our choices, whether it's conscious or sub-conscious. While yours and mine might be different, asking people how they go about thinking this was not taken by anyone to be you "bashing" CY. Please do not give it another thought. This is the Marriott board, not the Delta board. People are supportive here in trading information.

Do I seek out CYs? No. Do I rule them out like I would a Motel 6? No.

One more thing - while I am not on a per diem, I am subject to an annual budget and my spending is monitored/audited by our accounting department to make sure it is justified. A former co-worker abused the trust our company places in us not to waste money. He regularly stayed in JWs, RCs and 4Ss and, well, that's why he is a former co-worker. Having a per diem means you know the parameters ahead of time. Those of us without per diems sometimes find ourselves justifying a $100/night rate because some flunky in accounting who has never been outside of Iowa but thinks business travel is glamorous discovered I could have stayed for $75/night down the street.

Just sayin'...the grass isn't always greener....

I don't think there's a "legion of CY bashers" hanging out here. Most of us here are loyal and longtime customers who basically like the Marriott brands.

What happens however, as I see it, is that CY comes in for the Lion's share of the criticism for a very simple reason. That is, in many business travel scenarios when compared with other Marriott brands, it often becomes the least attractive option.

Personally I like the brand overall, but, like others, I feel the lack of the free breakfast for elites is a drawback, as is the fact that they've allowed a few older properties to slip beneath standards. At least the standards of cleanliness, comfort, and services I associate with the Marriott brand.

As for the "new look" properties. My "one man's opinion" view is they paid more attention to aesthetics and cosmetics than to the actual wants and needs of business travelers....their supposed core customers.

As MR Gold, I've been comped breakfast only at the Miami downtown CY. But I do find the breakfast-sometimes-comp sometimes-not policy at the CY annoyingly inconsistent. Is it simply property dependent?

I am on the fence regarding Courtyards, I don't dislike them, just often find a better value with the other brands. IME, Fairfield has been beating CY in the markets where the FF is new or of the new "Green Tea" design.

Fairfield: Wireless, breakfast, LCD TV's, Fridge/Microwave
Courtyard: Wired internet only in room, no free breakfast, old style tv's, no fridge or microwave

One thing that goads me about CY is the emphasis they have been placing on the new lobby design. Personally, the only time I spend in the lobby is to check-in so the "million dollar" lobby upgrades are a complete waste to me. Upgrade the rooms first, after all that is where guests spend the most time.

One other thing, and perhaps others can confirm if they are seeing this, but I am at a CY tonight and this is the third Cy where I have found a new, very annoying mattress protector. It is made of plastic or vinyl and causes the sheets to slide all around, and I am not talking a little movement, the only thing that stops the slide is when it catches where it is tucked in. Extremely annoying :mad:

+1 Pretty much what I was trying to say. As for the mattresses. I've run into the "protector" a couple of times. Not good, but for me, the bigger issue is at the properties where the "Marriot bed" isn't really the new bedding package, but just the old bed with a new mattress cover, etc.

I agree with those who say we aren't intending to be CY bashers here. I think a lot of us genuinely don't understand the brand. Particularly those of us who frequent Marriotts often: why does this one brand seek to consciously and aggressively deter elites from staying there? I feel that for my suburban stays, Marriott is literally pushing me to Hilton Garden Inn (or...eventually...Aloft).

It's not that it's an awful product. I just don't understand why Golds/Platinums are so unwelcome there.

Point/stay credit is why Courtyard
 

Late to the thread.

One good courtyard to add to folk's list is Regensburg Germany. As a platinum I receive free breakfast and the service at the hotel overall is quite good.

One I can't recommend is Courtyard Brussels. High prices, breakfast is 22 euros. Sometimes terrible service (and I do mean terrible).

Overall the only reason to stay at courtyard in general is a cheap rate and Marriott points/stay credit. If I can stay at a Hampton Inn or a HGI at anything near the same price thats where I'll be. If I can save $20 or $30 then I'll choose the Courtyard. If Courtyard were its own brand I'd predict that right now they'd be bankrupt...without the Marriott attachment there is little draw unless its the only hotel in the area. I'd be just as likely to stay at an independant hotel as I would be a Courtyard if it were a seperate brand.

However, I think everyone pretty much knows what Courtyard is so you can make your own determination. Someone must be staying there as when I do stay they seem to be pretty busy.

Interesting how my original words about "certain others" turns into a "legion of bashers." Does this legion have a clubhouse in orbit, perhaps? :p

Yes, but it's not open on weekends anymore. :td: