Marriott’s Courtyard by the Venice airport blocks guests from turning the air conditioning down even to 73 degrees, and charges US$5.47 (5 euros) for a second room key. It’s a deposit that they promise to refund to you when you return the room key at checkout.
They call this going green so maybe my Marriott April Fool’s post was a little too on the nose?
You can price these cards here. Standard PVC cards with magnetic stripes or RFID chips generally cost $0.04 to $0.30 per card for bulk orders. Custom printed and eco-friendly options, such as biodegradable or recycled materials, cost a little more – perhaps starting at $0.08 apiece for the largest bulk orders.
High-end electronic cards can cost more, too, around $0.12 to $0.26 apiece in bulk.
So is it any surprise that this is their approach to Bonvoy Ambassador member upgrades, bearing in mind that’s a status that requires not just spending 100 nights a year with Marriott but also a minimum of $23,000?
Starting 48 hours out and then as late as 3 hours before arrival, Marriott’s website and the Marriott mobile app showed every category of suites available. Upon arrival, the Front Desk clerk said suites were only available for an “upsell.” I asked about a complimentary upgrade and was again today suites were only available if I paid for one. I asked for the manager. The manager claimed the Front Desk was wrong and that they give upgrades but there were no suites available. When I asked why the Front Desk offered to sell me an upgrade if no suites were available, the manager was speechless.
Credit: Courtyard Venice Airport
They’re also an airport hotel that charges for use of the airport shuttle.
Well then, let’s not stay there. Tell your friends!
Marriot, the landbased Ryanair.
There is one reason and one reason only why they went green – in order to save money.
Air conditioning is massively expensive in large hotels. This is a perfect way for them to be really cheap by couching it in the name of the environment.
Similar to airlines. They gouge anyway they can.
The BMI pricing is inevitable.
https://brothke.medium.com/your-bmi-is-your-ticket-price-the-next-dimension-in-airline-pricing-c0592c755a8f?sk=6d63de598dbaa96540b9f3fc9255e571
Sigh. Nobody loathes their loyal guests like Marriott.
We stayed at this Courtyard last October and are booked again for October 2025. The accommodations and helpfulness of the staff were minimal at best. The only incentive is its proximity to the Venice Airport (VCE).
Italians will rob you blind if you let them….
Custom print job? Yeah, I’ve got something I’d like to see printed on Marriott room keys….
I think the upcharge he was looking for is the Vegas Sandwich
And you know, those who TRULY believe in “going green” should be infuriated by businesses that pull this kind of crap. It belittles the movement by making it a butt of jokes — and feeding into questions regarding is it all just a corporate / government scam.
I know most of the ways to remove the limiter for hotel thermostats. But even then some only go to an uncomfortable level of not really cool, so I always travel with heater tape. Wrap it around the thermostat, plug it in and the thermostat always thinks it’s 90 degrees in the room no matter how cold it is. Take that air-conditioning Nazis!