itsaboutthejourney

Fully agree with your review, great little hotel and excellent service on top of a prefect location.

FWIW: I've had 3 different cubitt rooms there, each had unique bathroom layouts, but all had full showers. I love the Malin + Goetz soaps (but I fear Marriott will make them switch to China-made knockoffs)

christianj

[QUOTE=itsaboutthejourney;30293054I love the Malin + Goetz soaps (but I fear Marriott will make them switch to China-made knockoffs)[/QUOTE]

+1...maybe there is hope since it's a Tribute Hotel and thus not required to stick to the Marriott cookie cutter crap.

bgriff

Hopefully since there isn't a brand standard for Tribute Portfolio toiletries, they'll be able to keep offering what they offer now. We'll see ... I share your (assumed) general distrust of all things Marriott.

Though I will say, I am looking forward to when this hotel is moved to the Marriott booking engine, as opposed to the current system of Marriott.com sending you over to a shell of SPG.com to book, since this may be an attractive property at which to use points or cash to upgrade to a higher room category on a points booking, which many Marriott properties readily offer on the website without needing to call to book. This hotel already offered some unique points booking options for the higher room categories through SPG (moreso than many SPG properties did), though requiring a call, so hopefully they'll continue to offer lots of options in that way, and perhaps at a better deal than what used to be possible.

(I am not otherwise looking forward to the switchover of the booking engine since it will presumably cause at least as many IT problems as the loyalty engine switchover did, probably more given that the booking engine switch will potentially disrupt existing bookings, but there will at least be some tiny silver linings...)

hockeyinsider

I hate when front desks say that because they always say "award stay" or "you're paying with points" in such a condescending manner. But regardless of how they say it, if you have platinum you're entitled to a suite if they have one. I'm so sick of the arrogance.

You should be glad it's as nice as it is now. Not long ago, this part of London was much rougher. I believe at one point there were bawdy houses and sex shops. It has gentrified a lot in the last 5-7 years.

bennos

EDITION uses Le Labo (New York brand, product of Canada). I've received from Autograph collection and European FS Marriotts (in suites) Gilchrist & Soames (UK brand, product of USA), etc. I've even received real Thann in Japanese FS MR. I think the likelihood that Marriott will make them switch is pretty low.

itsaboutthejourney

I hate to tell you but the Canada made Le Labo is from Hunter Amenities and Gilchrist & Soames is now owned by Sysco industrial supply. Marriott sources pretty much all of their different brand soaps from Sysco with a few from Hunter and Marietta. Hunter has committed to making their products sustainable and in North America, but Sysco could care less and seems to source a lot from China.

oxfordjames

This together with all Tribute properties transferred across to the Marriott booking platform overnight.

hockeyinsider

Marriott is mandating dispensers in some of its brands, although I believe for now this is confined to limited-service brands. I could see soft brands like Tribute and Autograph Collection be given the green light for dispensers.

bgriff

Sadly I don't see any upgraded room categories bookable on points online, but maybe that will come at a later date. Presumably the properties are still going through various transitions getting used to the new system first. And though I don't have any Tribute bookings right now, hopefully the system transition went smoothly for anyone who does.

blitzkriegs

It’s a great hotel in so many ways, but if one gets caught up in all the ‘status’ requirements at this hotel, then one is missing everything else that makes this place...

stargold

In 4-5 stays over the span of a few years, I have never failed to be upgraded to a Cubitt room yet (touch wood).

Attractive option if you need good transport links. Breakfast is one of the highlights of the hotel, as it's all completely made to order and high quality. I also always appreciate the classy and well-executed interior design.

EuropeanPete

hockeyinsider

The question remains, is this a practical option for anyone staying more than a single night, especially when the nearby Renaissance St. Pancras has a lounge with complimentary alcohol.

christianj

stargold

At the Ren, unless you book a Chambers Jr Ste or higher in which case it looks more promising on the photos (but expect to pay £350+ pn), I found the Barlow Wing rooms to be about as generic and soulless as they come.

The corridor on the way to the Barlow Wing lift always had an unpleasant stench of the dishwasher and slightly off food.

The lounge was not bad for European standards, but I just can't get terribly excited about it in a city full of options like London.

At the same price, I would much rather GNH. The fact that GNH is usually at least £50 cheaper in my experience is just icing on the cake (and I can run down to the buzzy GNH bar and order a few cocktails and proper food with the difference in rate!)