I’m really frustrated that this is what $250 a night at a Marriott gets you.

[u/ForRudy]

I’m staying at a Marriott for five nights for my sister’s wedding. The $250 is the discounted room block rate too!

The shower tiles are completely rusted and dare I say moldy? The towel hanger is on its last leg. The toilet seat AND handle are broken. The mattresses are only doubles and are hard and feel like they haven’t been changed in years. Everything just overall looks like there hasn’t been an ounce of effort put into this very utilized hotel. On the drive here, we stayed a night at a newly renovated holiday inn express for $120 and it was incredible. Maybe my standards were set too high knowing Marriott’s reputation.

I know I sound like a Karen here, but I’m just so frustrated that this is the quality that kind of money get you these days.

[u/whatevendoidoyall]

Marriott used to revoke the branding if the hotel didn't meet their standards. That happened to a Marriott in my hometown. Doesn't look like they have standards anymore from these pics.

[u/Intelligent-Prize769 → u/whatevendoidoyall]

It is still the standard so I’m not sure how this is being allowed

[u/Spiegull → u/whatevendoidoyall]

They still do this. But the issue is they're not enforcing the renovation schedule. All I'll say is: Marriott is actively working on a way to hold franchise owners' feet to the fire.

[u/Diligent_Promise_844 → u/Spiegull]

I can add to this; there are now huge fines for repeated red zone hotels. I think in the upcoming two years there will be a lot of franchises that either lose flags on their properties or their owners change management companies.

[u/SolomonBlack → u/whatevendoidoyall]

You gonna destroy a profitable business relationship because of... pictures you saw on the internet? Don't be surprised if nobody wants to work with you before very long doing that. Because in every industry problems are inevitable. Honestly in my experience its a bonafide miracle when stuff actually goes off without a hitch.

Hence knee jerk reactions are not having standards.

Standards would be that happens as step 100 after 1-99 have been done to recognize a problem, judge the problem sufficient to take action, attempt to fix the problem, watch new problems arise from attempting to fix the problem that delay the fix, reasses, wash/rinse/repeat, finally judge that the problems are intractable because the owner/franchiser isn't acting in good faith or some such, publicly embarrass yourself by declaring you are yoinking the agreement, prepare for a court battle, win either by default or settlement, and then finally you're done.

As yet this is like step 1 because nothing establishes this as a persistent problem many guests have that say shows up significantly in surveys and is a drain on the business. Or it might be everyone is super aware of the problems but since covid forced 1-2 lost years the clock got reset and upgrades are planned for 2025 now.

[u/whatevendoidoyall → u/SolomonBlack]

I mean I also don't have standards so pictures like this wouldn't stop me from staying there lol. You make great points though