I am a Platinum Elite member and stay at Courtyards quite often. Since the change to the Bistro concept, I have been suffering in silence. The choices are poor, the lines long and I am unhappy with the fact that I am going up to a counter to place my order.
I was always happy to sit down and be served or go to the buffet. Now I don't get a bowl of cereal, but a cardboard container. Try putting some fruit in that. Impossible. I used to enjoy having a pot of coffee on the table and being able to refill my mug. Now, for more money, I can get a Starbucks in a cardboard cup--and a refill means more money.
The lobby used to serve coffee all day. Now it is there only in the morning and I think it is not refilled or allowed to cool so that guests will get frustrated and buy a Starbucks. The check in counters would always have either fruit or cookies in the afternoon. That has gone by the wayside as well.
I do not like the new Courtyard. It looks pretty but the looks on the guests faces are far from pretty.

The BISTRO is the worst!!! Lines(when you need to eat and run), limited choices(when you had a healthy, plentiful buffet) superior service and friendly waitstaff (now usually 1 harried person who doesn't have time to chat) starbucks coffee only - the worst coffee is the world - and the lobby coffee that used to be there for hours afer dinner is no longer there
- I cannot believe you thought this was any kind of improvement -- I imagine there will be many of us loyal, long term Marriot rewards members looking for somewhere else to stay going forward because we don't have time to now stop and have breakfast somewhere else - I have started looking.

I stay at the marriott chain of hotels all over the world and one thing the really bugs me is when I am in the usa. There is only foam cups and plates and plastic knives and forks??? what is with that i sometimes stay for months at a time and can't imagine the pile of garbage that i alone produce. This is so easy to fix and would have such a possitive effect

I really don't know what to think of the Bistro concept yet. On paper, the menu looks good, with some good pictures of the entrees listed. On the other hand, I did like the breakfast buffet at the Courtyard I stayed at in Florida at the beginning of 2009, with the make-your own waffle machines, which I loved, and I'd actually hate to see that go. Also, I see a lot of people complaining about the quality of the Bistro food. What I would do is have the egg and waffle stations added to the Bistro at breakfast, and, if necessary, improve the quality of the other items.

I agree....the Bistro concept is this most ill thought concept Marriott has ever come up with.

Smelly lobbies, with food cooking 60 feet away from checkin, not enough seats, take a number ordering.

No choice as to buffet or made to order.

Not enough servers.

Like only 4 seats at the bar, right next to the kid ordering a bananca at the register.

And I have been a Marriott loyalist for 30 years.

What are you guys thinking?

Stayed at the CY in Dayton. First experience with the Bistro...and my last. The selection is soooo limited. If I wanted to go to a Starbucks, I would have gone there. I can't stand ordering my drink (coffee) having to use foo-foo names (Grande, etc.). Why force these things on a customer? Did anyone really do customer focus groups?

Did they notice the slow long lines?

I need to get in and out quickly and the buffet was a perfect match.

Bring back the buffet. From now on CY is out of my travel plans.

Not happy losing the breakfast buffets at remodled Courtyards, I feel the Bristo food does not live up to the Marriot standards.

Not a fan of the new Bistro... I just don't do well with lines and especially when I haven't had my morning coffee yet.
Friendly waitstaff has no time to be friendly anymore!

Hi, Bill; I've been a Marriott buddy for over 20 years because you usually do things right.

The Bistro restaurants, though, are just not to my liking. They are inherantly slow when I usually need to get moving in the morning. There are usually other breakfast restaurants close to your properties and I've been going to these competitors rather than the Bistro.

Otherwise, most everything else keeps me coming back.

I travel alot and I only stay at Marriot properties --- I love most things about Marriot - except for the fact that you do not support Coca Cola Products. When you are staying at a hotel - it is for the customer convenience. It isn't as if you are going to a ballpark or movie - where you are only there for a few hours. When you stay at a hotel it can be for days. I find it ridiculous that I can't buy a diet coke at any Marriot location.

Just this weekend at the JW Marriot out by the pool - I couldn't buy a Diet Coke - or Dr. Pepper for my children.

This isn't about Marriots personal choice - or about extra monies that you receive from Pepsico --------------Keep you customers happy and bring back all lines of sodas.

Thank you!

We have stayed at the same Marriott Courtyard for over 10 years visiting our kids at their camp over the summer. We like the idea of healthy choices, but the new Bistros are incredibly slow. The buffet's allowed us to take what we wanted, eat quickly and be on our way. There were lots of healthy choices. Now when we have young kids with us - there are few choices for them. If you do not want meat with your breakfast- there are no non-meat options (all the egg dishes come with bacon, ham and sausage). The wait staff, who we have gotten to know over the years, are trying their best to get the food to clients quickly and have no time to chat with customers the way they used to. The line to get breakfast now winds down the hallway. It is slow, has little choice and in our opinion is a big mistake.We are going back to the hotel in August, but will unfortunately be eating breakfast elsewhere. Please bring back our healthy buffet!!

Congratulation to the both of you on your 55years of marriage and anniverary celebration. You both something in common with my parents, long devotion and love of family. You are truly an outstanding role model, and a great leader. You practice what you preach. Your legacy will continue forward. You have embedded this in your Marriott Corporation. In my travels to your resorts and hotels, all your employees that I have come in contact, have made me feel a warm welcome sense of family. Congratulations too you both. Sincerely, Frank....Live, Love, and Laugh with Life.

Hi Bill,

I travel a lot and dedicate all of my travel stays at Marriott and I am a proud Platinum member. In addition I am in your backyard as I live in Bethesda, MD.
Two things. I talk with many people like myself and believe it is time to create an additional level after Platinum, say Diamond for those you go way over the 75 nights. I also would appreciate it if you could change the menu at your restaurants in the hotels every 2-3 months. If you eat at the hotel as I do it would be appreciated if you could offer diferent food choices. Its becoming increasingly difficult to keep eating the same food all the time. Thaank you.

Hi Bill looking to contact Dick. From the old days Gail Cantini Gauthier

Gauthier16@msn.com

Its wonderful that people's health are being considered, it shows that the guests are a priority.Great sensitivity is demonstrated generally to ensure that people's needs are met

As a recently diagnosed diabetic, I look forward to the information. I would love it if the Carbs could be listed with calories, as that is how I follow my diet. I have been Platinum Elite for 4 years and love when I can find a Fairfield that fits the company budget levels.

The Fairfield by the airport in Des Moines is like home!

On subject of healthy eating and having a calory counting service, the only problem I have is how reliable are these statistics? Nevertheless, this movement seems to be appreciated by the public as more and more people are becoming health conscious. On the other hand, I am a professional corporate commercial photographer for Pixsync Singapore who works jointly with an award winning interior/exterior, architecture and food/product photographer who knows the importance of capturing food to portray this low calory image of food. We welcome you all to have a looks at our outstanding work.
I have also stayed in a few Marriott Hotels before and most often of times, the service is quite pleasing.

We are Platinum members and love Marriotts. HOWEVER, the new Bistros in the Courtyards are a big mistake. They are slow, have few options, and are nothing compared to the wonderful healthy buffets! We waited an hour for our lunch!!! An eggwhite omlet sounds healthy, until you see that it is served on a bagel! Bad choices for kids too!

Dear Mr. Marriott,

I love staying at your hotels.

Coincidentally, my office, Barry Zauss, specializes in creating renderings to pre-market architectural projects, such as your exciting new "Edition" series of hotels with Mr. Schrager.

I invite you to review our latest work at our website.

Best regards,
Barry

Bill - I am a Platinum Rewards member and have been now for 3 years. I do not complain and have been happy with my Marriott experiences through the years with out exception. However, about 6 months ago you all changed the format of the website and I have to say that it is very cumbersome and incredibly slow. I do all of my own hotel booking on line and would apprecaite it if you would look into speeding up the process to book hotels and navigate the site.
Thanks
BE - Raleigh, NC

I believe this is very good to everyone's health. Eventhough, Bill is my DNA tested family tree, I will comment on a bi-partisan basis on what I believe is good or not about Bill's Blog.

Bill:
Took my wife to the Renaissance Harborplace in Baltimore for a belated 20th anniversary celebration. The staff was great, the room superb and we had a great time.

Thanks very much!
Tom

We look for Fairfield Inns when traveling. We feel that we get a comfortable, clean room plus the breakfast buffet for a reasonable price. Several times a year (visiting family in the area) we stay at the Forsyth/Decatur IL Fairfield Inn and appreciate the staff's friendliness.

Looking forward to checking into the Courtyard Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco on July 16 to see the new lobby and bistro in action. Ed M

I do NOT, NOT, NOT like the bistro / cafe concept for breakfast. Staying at Courtyard in Alexandria - looks pretty but it is way too slow. As a business traveler, I like to just grabbing a bowl of oatmeal from the buffet and taking it to my room. Now I have to wait to get it served - and they gave me such a small portion. And I had to wait for them to cook a had boiled egg. They should have those pre-made. Big Thumbs down on this idea!!