HotelChatter

I do sympathize with the concern expressed by the employee and will not refute h/h sincerity but the fact remains many owners cannot survive (for their own families) under brand-demand expenditures not the least of which is Marriott.  The comment of not throwing out anything that shows Edition is a key factor by itself.  Owners are dictated the standards, dictated the vendor and costs are non- negotiable.  Most of these brand symbols benefit the brand throughout their system - not an owner of a single hotel.  Keep in mind, a souvenir Edition towel does not get replaced by Marriott; it's the owners' dollar.  Marriott would claim standards to be upheld for the consumer but the fact is a towel of equal quality, perhaps better, can be purchased for less without the logo from another vendor.  Why is this so wrong?  Marriott and most brands have no skin in the game and if the hotel cannot fund its debt service, too bad.  If things get bad enough, Marriott might have a high-interest cash infusion option in their contract; again, higher than prevailing rates that they can pull the trigger on as a matter of contract.  Funny, institutional investors like to demand big name brands to provide an insurance of a return.  If they would only look at financial burden placed on these assets, really understand those costs, maybe they'd think differently.   I am sorry for the staff still employed, it can be unsettling but the owner is the one who really is paying them and what help does h/s have?  

What it comes down to is whether or not all of this turmoil is good for business. Quite frankly,  I think they have seriously jeopardized any potential the property has/had to be successful  

I bring up three points of HG2's above comment:

1. "Keep in mind, a souvenir Edition towel does not get replaced by Marriott; it's the owners' dollar."

What happens if all of the falls in EDITION's favor? The owners not only damaged thousands of dollars of their property, but will NOW have to pay to replace any items they've destroyed.

2."Marriott would claim standards to be upheld for the consumer but the fact is a towel of equal quality, perhaps better, can be purchased for less without the logo from another vendor.  Why is this so wrong?"

The cost of the towel and that you could purchase for less without the logo is really just speculation. Have you ever felt how plush and soft those towels are? As a former guest, I had. They are fantastic.

 As a luxury property, EDITION has a standard to uphold for the guest. Plain and simple.

3. "Marriott and most brands have no skin in the game"

Yes they do - it's called their employees. That is Marriott's investment.

I would also like to note that the owners chose to purchase the property just before the economic downturn and launch the hotel in one of the worst economic recessions in the US. They are placing the blame for their unfortunate situation on the hotel operators. They say the hotel has lost all this money, but they fail to mention their break-even point. Have we even investigated as to what that number actually is? I think that would shed some light on the true performance of EDITION. The owners can talk all they want about how Marriott has "mismanaged" the hotel property, but I want to see the cold hard facts. Because from my stay at the hotel, I feel they had it right with regards to the overall guest experience. Shouldn't that be the ultimate goal?

The entire sage reminds me of the recent going ons at the Shelbourne in Dublin. Also here the owners accused Marriott of mismanagement and have been repeatedly in the courts.

As a hotelier that has taken over hotels and have been taken over, I assure you that the last consideration here on either side are the employees - and that is not because anyone is mean spirited.  Marriott has no employees here.  The salaries come from the ownerships revenue stream.  True, applications and checks say Marriott but from the GM down, not a sole has an agreement with Marriott, simply an employee at will. If the hotel cannot fund payroll, Marriott will not.  
True, this is a horrible ordeal for staff but, at its heart, lays Marriott's financial burden placed upon a hotel under promises that have not yet been met is the real culprit.  Oh and by the way, the towels can always be sold, at a discount, to the only other Edition in the world, Istanbul.

Please read Marriott's response to the lawsuit, stating they had 80% occupancy when the ownership took the hotel hostage last Saturday/Sunday. Sounds like Marriott was holding up their end of the bargin.

<a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/marriott-says-waikiki-owner-bankruptcy-self-defeating-will-pursue-tens-of-millions-of-dollars-in-damages-2011-09-01">http://www.marketwatch.com/story/marriott-says-waikiki-owner-bankruptcy-self-defeating-will-pursue-t ens-of-millions-of-dollars-in-damages-2011-09-01</a>

HG2 - it still amazes me that you think Marriott has no employees here. Who do you think trains them?  Certainly not the owners. Also, last time I check, Marriott was listed on Forbes Top 100 employers.

Can't sell the towel with the tag cut off. Guess it's just another hand-me-down item Modern can use in the hotel.

I'm working on getting a picture of the Modern's "new" in room amenities (i.e. The Waikiki EDITION amenities with Modern stickers slapped over the logo). REAL CLASSY!

Please do not be so bitter.  When it comes to a layoff, know that he fault may well lie with those that overstaffed the hotel in the in first place, again, not with their (Marriott) dollars but those of ownerships. And the "tag," well thats an urban legend, like the tag on a mattress or pillow.  Happens every day in the real world. Do you really think the glasses in your room are cleaned in a diswasher each day? And luxury is in the eye of the beholder - the Edition properties are not "luxury" nor intended to be, which may explain why Marriot bought Ritz Carlton

Ha, I laugh that  you confuse honestly with bitterness.

First off, who said the hotel was overstaffed? Unless you are an owner's representative, which at this point I kind of suspect you are, you would have no idea about the staffing levels of the hotel.

I mentioned no one would like a towel with the tag cut of because it would be tacky to have an unfinished hem unraveling while you dry yourself off.

I feel no need to continue as this is already boring me.  

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The Waikiki is Now The Waikiki Edition Once Again (But For How Long?)

Once again.