Red Room Chronicles

Identifying Information
Marriott Brand: Marriott Hotels
Location: Houston, TX
Property Web Page: Marriott Houston Westchase

Critique of the Property
Common Areas: Not your average Marriott design since it’s a converted Adam’s Mark hotel. Features a unique 10 story atrium as the lobby complete with trees. Two of the five elevator banks are glass and face out into the atrium. There’s a fitness center with a large cardio area and a pool that’s open from 5AM - 11PM. There is a pub, restaurant, lounge and coffee shop all adjacent to the atrium/lobby area.

Guest Rooms: I’ve stayed here a few times. The rooms are typically Marriott with the standard bedding and decor that you see in all hotels in the Marriott chain these days. About 25% of the rooms face inwards towards the atrium. This stay had me in a two room suite in the “01″ line. Very spacious room with a full size couch in a living area separated from the king size bed by a pair of French doors.

Other Amenities: The concierge lounge is large with plenty of tables tables. They serve a very good continental breakfast in the lounge including fruit, cereal, eggs, bacon and coffee. Plenty of free parking surrounding the hotel. The hotel has several conference rooms that are quite large.

Things To Watch Out For: Rooms facing the atrium are not very private since the folks from across the way can look into your room. There are some inward facing rooms very close to the elevator as well. These rooms are the least private of the bunch and I find them generally undesirable. There is only one bank of elevators and some of the rooms are pretty far from those elevators.

Staff: Always a large, friendly staff at the front desk when I arrive.

What’s Nearby?
The hotel is located in the Westchase district just off of Westheimer Road. This area has plenty of shopping, banks, gas stations and restaurants.

Restaurants: Republic, a Texas Grille (the in house restaurant) and The Republic Lounge are both located on the premises. The Pub at Briarkpark is also on site. There is a strip mall adjacent to the hotel that has a good variety of restaurants including Wolfgang Puck Express, Outback Steak House, Le Madeline French Bistro, Schlotsky’s Deli and more.

Other Marriotts: Fairfield Inn, Courtyard, Residence Inn

Other Hotels: Hilton Houston Westchase

Tags: Marriott

I had a bad experience with my breakfast in the concierge lounge at the Houston Marriott Westchase this morning. The Cheerios and skim milk that I had prepared tasted nothing less than foul. The milk was sour. The date on the carton said August 13 but the milk was definitely sour. When I mentioned this to one of the lounge attendants she acted a bit surprised then asked me about the date on the carton. I recommended that she take a close look at their current inventory since some of it has obviously spoiled. As I walked away someone else made a comment and the attendant admitted that they have had a rash of sour milk lately due to a refrigerator that failed recently. This upset me. You would think that they would have gotten rid of ALL of the milk that was in that refrigerator instead of trying to get more mileage out of it. I have to say that I’m very disappointed at the approach that they took to attempt to rectify this issue.

Tags: Marriott

Marriott is coming to Canada, with a call center at least. Their new call center will create approximately 225 jobs in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

CBC Saskatchewan - Saskatoon getting new call centre

Looks like there’s a new Courtyard by Marriott hotel in Silver Springs, Maryland. According to the press release, this new hotel is “part of Courtyard’s reinvention strategy.” Apparently that strategy includes movable desks, improved bedding and more modern furniture. It’s about time. A co-worker and I were commenting on how some of the lower priced Marriott brands were significantly lacking in just those areas. It also looks like the hotel is very near convenient transportation into downtown D.C.

Get more details on the property web page located here.

Press Release

Tags: Marriott

A couple of weeks ago I noticed a pair of additional preferences that I was able to save as part of my Marriott Rewards account. Those preferences were for “Floor Type” and “Newspaper.” I happily chose High Floor and Wall Street Journal. Whenever I stay at a Courtyard, Fairfield or Residence Inn I always want to be on the top floor because their ceilings tend to be thinner and are susceptible to the sound of heavy footed travelers. I also prefer to read The Wall Street Journal. Well, on my second stay since noting those preferences I can say that so far they have not been met. In my last two stays I’ve been booked on the 8th floor of a 15 floor hotel and on the 5th floor of a 10 floor hotel. I’ve also received USA Today every morning. I’m not complaining, yet. After all they did book me into a suite this week and I know that there will be a copy of the WSJ available at the front desk or in the concierge lounge. Still, it would be nice for the preferences set in my account to be reflected in the service delivered at the hotels.

It’s been a long day of traveling and work so I’m glad to be checked in to the Houston Marriott Westchase. I’m going to get some dinner and then a much needed full nights rest before going at it again tomorrow. I’ve stayed here several times before so I’m very used to the hotel and surrounding area. It’s less than a mile from my company’s software development center. I was surprised when I got to my room and found they had booked me into a two room suite. Frankly it’s more space than I need but it’s nice to have a couch to sit on along with the extra breathing room. The garbage pails are still the standard Marriott miniatures that I’ve mentioned in the past. Still, I’m not complaining. I’ve stayed here about half a dozen times and on my fifth stay I was surprised by a nice fruit plate with cheese and crackers as a reward. Another welcome treat for a gold elite member who no longer enjoys the privilege of the regular welcome “gift” of water and cookies. There is a bottle of water in the room if I’m willing to shell out $2.50. Full review to follow.

Tags: Marriott

For a limited time, leisure travelers reserving a stay at the historic resort will receive a personal BlackBerry 7290™ absolutely free, after rebate. Seaview is a full service resort located along the Southern New Jersey Shore, about 15 minutes north of Atlantic City.

http://www.seaviewmarriott.com/

Press Release

A 3600 square foot spa will be opening this fall at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford, Connecticut.

Full Story

According to this latest bit of news, golfers can now book rooms and tee times simultaneously on a new website located at http://www.marriottgolf.com. I’m not a golfer but I like the concept.

Press Release

Identifying Information
Marriott Brand: Renaissance Hotels
Location: Pittsburgh, PA
Property Web Page: Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel

Critique of the Property
Common Areas: Very luxurious pre-war style. Elegant lobby with a marble staircases, red drapes and a rotunda. Decent fitness center with a set of dumbells, multi exercise machine, three treadmills. Pool and jacuzzi as well.

Guest Rooms: My first room, in the “30″ line was a terrible king room with a small window and a view of the AC duct. I requested a move and was given a “parlor” room in the “15″ line. Very spacious room with a refrigerator, sofa and pull down murphy bed. The bed was very comfortable. Classically styled furnishings and a view of the courtyard and river beyond gave the room a very European feel. Nice sized marble bathroom with a great wide-spray, Australian style shower head. The rook lacked a decent work desk, probably because it was a parlor room though. Wired and wireless internet access are free at 256 kbps. A 1 MB wired connection is $14.95 per day.

Other Amenities: The concierge lounge was large and well furnished although they could’ve had more tables. The fruit and cereal selection at the continental breakfast in the lounge was lacking compared to what I’ve seen at other Marriotts. There’s a small bar in the lobby where they serve free coffee in the morning and drinks (paid of course) in the evening. Valet parking is $23 a day. The front desk will give you a pass to the Bally’s fitness center next door if you so desire.

Things To Watch Out For: Because this is a pre-war building, some of the rooms may have unusual views, like across a courtyard or of a wall! There are also rooms with river views as well. Call ahead to have the front desk make a note of your preference.

Staff: Friendly and helpful when I wanted to switch rooms.

What’s Nearby?
Located in downtown Pittsburgh near the three rivers with lots of businesses and a mall within walking distance. PNC Baseball Park is a short walk across a bridge.

Restaurants: Opus (the in house restaurant) and The Bridge Cocktail Lounge are both located on the premises. A few other restaurants are on the blocks surrounding the hotel, including a popular gyro place a couple of doors down.
Other Marriotts: None
Other Hotels: Omni William Penn Hotel, Wyndham Garden Hotel, Sheraton Station Square Hotel.

Tags: Marriott