christianj

Seriously? You expect the hotel to cover the tip you left for the service provided to you during breakfast? I am completely baffled!

ethernal

The room was 322 - the lost ceiling height was clearly from a set of stairs going up a few feet right before the room. I assume it is to make room for a higher ceiling in some sort of ballroom or meeting room on the second floor. While one should never book this hotel for views, it was particularly offensive in this room as it is literally looking out into a piece of ventilation equipment on the second floor roof (and because the courtyard is so narrow there's almost no point in having the window at all - even at 4 PM the "courtyard" was fully in a shadow at least up to a few more stories). This part didn't bother me (views are not advertised nor should they be expected at this hotel) but it was obviously an additional slap in the face.

If this is classified as a "grand deluxe" room then that is doubly troublesome. It does not even meet the standard of the superior room, much less an enhanced room. I cannot check whether or not it was given that the new Marriott app does not show the actual room type after check-in like the old SPG one did .

That's fair, and I suppose that is my fault. I did have an approved Y24 request for a 3 PM check-in (with a 12 PM checkout the next day) but to your point that is not always easy for the hotel to honor.


Yes, I know that the St. Regis suite is not a standard suite. My point was that I thought it was rather offensive to offer a paid upgrade to a suite that was available right at that moment and then put me in what has to be one of the worst if not the worst rooms in the hotel - without even giving an option to wait for another room (I will note that I had an approved Y24 request for a 3 PM check-in but as you noted this is difficult for the St.R to offer so I'm not super bothered by that).

edit: and just to be clear - I am not mad that I did not get a suite upgrade. I am mad that I was put in a room that doesn't even meet the advertised standard of their superior (standard) rooms when other options did exist.

KingBraden

In countries where tips are expected the hotel should absolutely cover them on free breakfasts. Why shouldn't they? Is it your mind view that a free breakfast should only be free in countries where tip isn't expected?

bhrubin

This is what we refer to as looking a gift horse in the mouth. Enjoy the breakfast benefit. Don't take it for granted by assuming it should include tip. You get the breakfast but you still tip the server in a tipping culture country.

KingBraden

It isn't a gift horse, it is an earned benefit. The St. Regis isn't giving me breakfast out of the kindness of their heart or to help me out, they are doing it because I give my business to SPG/Marriott and that is the agreement. Now I do leave the tip but it is ridiculous that in the US (and a few other countries) this benefit still requires me to cover the labor cost of the employees. Either it is a free breakfast or it isn't. In this case it isn't, it is a subsidized breakfast which is not what the benefit is supposed to be.

bhrubin

It's a breakfast benefit. It doesn't include tip. it isn't so tough. If we're staying at a St Regis and complaining about the tip on breakfast, there are bigger issues at play, I think.

The fact that tips are required to help cover the labor costs of restaurant employees isn't the fault of St Regis hotel employees. That's an American societal and political issue more appropriate for OMNI.

ethernal

Agree... the tip thing is only a real issue for hotels that don't give you a bill at the table (with the breakfast credited to be free). I don't usually carry cash and so if they don't give a folio then it makes it hard to tip and makes things awkward.

controller1

As others have pointed out, no. This is quite common in the US hospitality industry for restaurants in both lodging and casino environments.

christianj

MePlatPremier

remymartin

While I didn't get a tangible upgrade due to the UN GA, I do have to say service was very good. The breakfast benefit went very well without selecting any sort of breakfast packages but main courses and other plates. For the perceived value of the breakfast I didn't mind tipping at this particular instance at all (which I usually hate with a passion).

fabamber

Has anyone stayed here on points redemption lately? Are they charging $50 USD destination fee on points stay? I have an upcoming stay here this month and didn't see the mention of the fee on the booking confirmation email.

daniellam

IMHO, Re: $50/night destination fee.

New York is one of those cities where there are many great places to go out, eat and have a great time.

What the St. Regis NY is basically doing is forcing its guests to pay a fee so that they would try to at least get some of the seats in their restaurant and bar filled up and appear less empty.

remymartin

Yes, they are.

fabamber