Marriott Waukegan

I gotta give it up to the merry band of web copy writers charged with making the Marriott Waukegan seem inviting and attractive. (Sorry. Official name is Courtyard Chicago Waukegan/Gurnee. Can't you hear the hotel operator?) The number one "highlight" of the hotel, according to the site, is the fact that it's non-smoking. Beyond that, the superlatives begin to fade.

Here are a couple of blurbs:

1) "Enjoy high-speed Internet access, premium pay movies and free in-room coffee. " I know I enjoy premium pay movies.

2) " Or relax in our lobby - a great place to unwind or meet with friends and colleagues." Everyone agrees. the lobbies of Marriott Courtyards are where everyone wants to meet and unwind.
Ah well, they tried.



If you're a serious reader of this blog, you'll notice the pattern's resemblance to the Doubletree in Santa Monica, which is kind of odd, as Doubletrees are owned by Hilton, not Marriott.

Kudos to Davezilla for this excellent shot. (He has a very distinctive style of photography; see Ritz Carlton Marina Del Rey photo in earlier post.)

The Doubletree in Dallas

Well, my Treo's been replaced, and I'm able to document again. I had the debatable pleasure of staying at the Doubletree in Dallas - or in typical over-inflated hotel hype copy, (complete with faux-British spelling) The Doubletree Hotel Dallas-Campbell Centre. Some issues of note: The hallway is not, at arrival, particularly welcoming (i.e. dim).



That's nothing new; perhaps the hospitality industry is trying to pitch in and save the planet by forgoing lighting in the halls.

What was unexpected were these white chunks on the carpet.



Oops, that dang falling plaster problem again. (You'd think someone working at the hotel would've noticed the hole in the ceiling, for goodness' sakes.)



But, no, I guess they were too busy polishing their resumes or something. Maybe the plaster chunks are part of the mysterious "ambient decor" referred to in the web copy:

"Our 300 oversized Guestrooms and Suites are geared for comfort and convenience, and are richly appointed with floor to ceiling windows and ambient decor."

Another interesting point. I've seen odd ice machine signs before, but this one now heads my list.



Too much stress. (By the way, I figure most people will take the elevator to get their drinks or ice, which probably negates any energy savings that would accrue by keeping the halls dim).