Well, after searching I can no longer find it. I have read it on the website in the past and seen it posted in several CL's over the past year or so. I also can't find a search function on the website. So its quite possible it has changed.

I first learned about it 2 years ago when my in laws were staying with my SO and I in a separate room and when I tried to bring them to the CL, they were not on the list, so we were told we had to pay for them to eat with us.

Great for you. I'd glady take my $40 per diem in cash if I didn't have to show receipts, I'd be a heck of a lot skinnier - sad that I have to use it or lose it:p

A great saying I just learned recently. We're only upset becasue we're not in on it!!!

Nah, rln has posted so many times in so many posts that it's googleable by now. And it's nice to know one property is still trying to go the extra mile. I'm just worried the GM will get shot down for 'overachieving'.

Some are getting caught up in individual properties, but I think overall the one thing we can all agree on is that Marriott's full-service brands are cutting back in what they offer - not just in the lounge (although that gets the most posts) but in other areas as well (amount of soap, shampoo, lack of mouthwash, things not being replenished, etc).

I think we all agree that some cutbacks given the economy are going to happen, but Marriott seems to be pushing through a lot in a variety of areas all at once.

And also floating balloons on how to sidetrack us - ie, even though we've promised you lounge access during the week, how 'bout we shut it down & just give you brekkie coupons or an appetizer coupon in exchange - like that's going to be even - not.

Cheers.

I just returned from a weekend in D.C. I stayed at the Renaissance Mayflower. Room rate was $119. No obvious cutbacks in the lounge. No cutbacks in the shampoo offerings. The two complimentary bottles of water in the room were of the small variety.

Once at Mayflower Lounge they offered crabcakes with a great sauce. Several stays later, I have yet to see it again. Yesterday, it was spring rolls with sweet and sour sauce - which would still run 'ya a pretty penny on the room service menu.

I could get cranky and want to know what happened to the crabcakes. I still miss watermelon at the SeaTac Marriott. After all, they made it available for years.

I guess everyone can pick out something to be "unhappy" about. Still, what are we "missing out" on? What did Marriott promise us that they are withholding?

An earlier poster indicated that, for breakfast, he's fine with juice (didn't specify bottle, dispenser, or fresh), muffin, and fruit. Well, that pretty much sums up the continental breakfast that Marriott offers its elites in the morning. No promises above and beyond that. At night, no fine print specifying the number of hot or cold appetizers either.

It seems to me that Marriott properties, at the least, are giving us what the program specifies. Some properties still go beyond what is specified. For me, the last three properties I stayed at went - in my opinion - beyond what the program specifies.

For the properties that are offering only what the program specifies, I don't believe its altogether the call of "corporate." No, there are too many exceptions that I have seen lately all over the country. I believe that, bottom line, what we're seeing are individual properties struggling as best they can to meet demand in a very tough market. Yes, there is probably some input from regional management. But I don't believe anyone's franchise is being pulled because they offer "extras."

Yes, I might have preferred crabcakes to spring rolls. But, you know what, I still had a very good time at the Mayflower. The lounge had a lot of fancy little deserts. I was disappointed that the fresh cookies were macadamia nut and not chocolate chunk. But, better than anything in the lounge, I enjoyed the raspberry sorbet with several kinds of fresh berries and the boston clam chowder I ordered from room service. With rates set so "reasonably," why not? Why should I expect to find all my favorite things in the lounge?

When the economy comes back and business is better and rates are higher, maybe we'll all see "crabcakes" again. (Though they may well show up later in the week.) In the meantime, enjoy low weekend (and sometimes low weekday) rates. If you apply it to your own equivalent of chowder and sorbet, you might surprise yourself and have a really good time even if the lounge is closed.

was the lounge open on the weekend?

The point was that if the money isn't spent on meals (this is a CL thread, after all), it should be claimed rather than being put entirely to personal use not associated with travel. I work for the feds, but I can understand how people are frustrated with all the 'perks' government workers get, especially since some do take advantage of the system.

I generally go over my per diem, but that's only because I prefer to try new places when I travel, and I enjoy good food.

The $32 doesn't bug me either way - there are costs associated with travel that aren't food related, of course (boarding a pet was always a huge one for me). Spend it on what you wish.

I just wanted to try and clarify the responder's point.

If the person is receiving $32, they should not be taxed $8 and then have $24 to spend on meals (I believe that is what you are saying). Expense reimbursements, which include a perdium, are not taxable, as they are not income. However, if the person is receiving $32, and not spending it on meals or travel related expenses, than it is income and subject to tax as it is then additional income.

So to the poster who claims the $32 perdium and keeps it, just make sure you are spending it on things related to travel that you would not incur if you did not travel. Otherwise it is is tax fraud. Not that I am going to say anything. But its a practice, I do not like to see.

I to am a government contractor, and yes, get paid less being in this line of work, but I don't think its okay to supplement my own income by committing tax fraud.

The hungry masses from the SPG forum would like you to know that SPG does not require properties to comp breakfast for Plats. Closing Westin lounges = no complimentary breakfast. Properties may, but rarely do, offer breakfast certs.

If Marriott will offer breakfast certs for the hotel restaurant, that doesn't sound like such a bad deal.

Stayed at Key Bridge this week - CL was fairly impressive

dinner snacks was actually dinner for most people - baked chicken with veggies, some sort of pasta goulash, cheese and veggies.

brekkie was scrambled eggs, salmon, oatmeal and breads

bad news was the CL was overwhelmed with families or 4 or more chowing through the food and taking up tables. Not unusual for DC in the summer but annoying just the same

Yea, I hate that. The only positive side is that at least they are maximizing the use of a table for 4. Not quite as bad as those DYKWIA business people chowing through the food and 1 person endlessly taking up a table for 4 while they get obsessed with taking hits off their Crackberry. They should ban those people, and also those who pay for the CL rooms, from the lounge. They should limit access to single Plat DYKWIA vacation travelers like me. :p

Wow, that's great news. Since you say you were in the lounge over the weekend, that must mean they've decided to re-open the lounge on weekends. Which weekend were you in the lounge?

Many Marriotts used to provide weekend breakfast coupons as they closed the lounges. Earlier this year Marriott instructed its hotels to not "overachieve" (the words of the Marriott Concierge). Since then virtually all the properties that had been offering weekend coupons stopped (as reported in various threads here.)

I noticed on the SPG board that William specifically posted that SPG did NOT give any orders to Starwood properties to eliminate breakfast coupons and I also noticed that some SPG members report continuing to receive breakfast coupons on weekends. This used to be a clear Marriott advantage. No longer.

Note that while Starwood hotels weren't given any "breakfast" dos and don't, breakfast in general is NOT a stated SPG benefit for any elite level. And a large number of Starwood hotels don't provide breakfast on weekdays or weekends for even Plat elites, much less Gold elites.

Lucky for me I had not yet taken a sip from my soda or it would have been all over the screen, as I literally LOL reading aaupgrade's post :D :D :D

Cheers.

A list of over 80 SPG hotels providing free breakfast to plats, even where no lounge: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/starw...-platinum.html