Marriott going totally smoke-free 10/2006!

[CPM]

Exacatly Cheryl... there was a decline. However, many of them are now deciding to build that outdoor patio so they can bring that smokers business back...and that is why some of them are on the incline back... I know where my son work's they have been playing with the idea of the outdoor patio, they think it will bring back some of what they lost. They are also applying for what ever it is they need to install a full service bar... with the hopes that will help it too...
...

It was a very temporary decline Sharon, not even enough to make a dent in most people's businesses. I love that I work in a smoke free environment!!

I'm not a fan of hotel's with pets either, but since I have never encountered a problem with that yet, it hasn't mattered much.

Like I said, this is just a choice for us non-smokers. Everyone still has a choice. If a non-smoker lights up in a room, they will probably start charging fees if it gets out of control. I know the Best Western Pelican Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, imposes fees on people that smoke anywhere on their property.
But, for now smokers need to stay away from Marriott. I'm sure they must know what they are doing. And, I'm sure if it doesn't work out they will change back.
I'll be staying at a Marriott this week and I will extend my gratitude on my comment card .

 

[A Mickeyfan]

It was a very temporary decline Sharon, not even enough to make a dent in most people's businesses. I love that I work in a smoke free environment!!

I'm not a fan of hotel's with pets either, but since I have never encountered a problem with that yet, it hasn't mattered much.

Like I said, this is just a choice for us non-smokers. Everyone still has a choice. If a non-smoker lights up in a room, they will probably start charging fees if it gets out of control. I know the Best Western Pelican Beach Resort in Ft. Lauderdale, imposes fees on people that smoke anywhere on their property.
But, for now smokers need to stay away from Marriott. I'm sure they must know what they are doing. And, I'm sure if it doesn't work out they will change back.
I'll be staying at a Marriott this week and I will extend my gratitude on my comment card .

Actually though, not everyone has a choice. The smoker doesn't. Now they will not be able to stay at a Marriot, the other hotels don't offer that great of a room for the smoker.. it just seems unfair. The government needs to stop taxing the cig's the way they do if the smokers aren't going to have any rights. Seems that the government makes money off the smoker, could care less if they die from cancer. Business's are shying away from them... they are caught in the middle... just seems unfair... think about it, if a female smoker gets up say 3am.. can't sleep, has to go on an elevator then outside the blgd somewhere to have a smoke & gets attacked.. an we all know it can happen, who will be held liable.. the hotel since it is on their property.. all because they did away with smoking rooms...
I agree with no smoking in food places, I hate the smell of smoke & have actually thrown up when smelling it while eating. When we go out to eat, we use to request nonsmoking. That however is only asking the smoker not to smoke for about 2 hours max... not having smoking rooms is asking them to not smoke for extended periods of 10+ hours.. there is a big difference. I know my DH's friend is a gold member with Marriott (he is an insurance adj & travels all over), he has already emailed them telling them they have lost his business.. he is a heavy smoker... think about it, if you encounter smoke while in your room on vacation, it will not kill you, but that drunk driver you encounter when they leave the bar in the hotel can kill you in an instant... yet they will allow liquior to be served... to people that are drunk....
I guess there will be no compramise for anyone.. there are the smoke haters & the smokers.. It just seems unfair... their money is just as good as the nonsmokers...

 

[CPM]

Actually though, not everyone has a choice. The smoker doesn't. Now they will not be able to stay at a Marriot, the other hotels don't offer that great of a room for the smoker.. QUOTE]

How don't they have a choice? They can stay at other hotels. That is the choice. Marriott or not Marriott.
What do you mean the other hotels don't offer that great of a room for a smoker?
Most of the time you stay at Disney hotels and Skyauction deals anyway.
having a smoking room may not kill me, but I won't be able to sleep.

Well, I guess we'll see how ell this works. If other hotel chains follow suit then we'll know.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Did a fast google search & found some links showing that there has been a real decline since the ban has been in effect..
This one was a study done in Boston & also mentions NYC...
http://www.weeklydig.com/news_opinions/articles/no_smoking_no_joking

here is another....
http://www.davehitt.com/facts/badforbiz.html

and yet another....
http://www.freechicago.org/freechicago/factsheet.html

while it sound like a great idea to those that do not smoke, while only 10% of Marriots rooms may have been for smokers, more than 10% of the population smoke... so Marriot may be rethinking their ban in a year or so..... while places to eat are only asking the smoker to give up max 2 hours without a smoke, Marriot is asking them to give up their entire time in the room..

 

[disneysteve]

When we go out to eat, we use to request nonsmoking. That however is only asking the smoker not to smoke for about 2 hours max... not having smoking rooms is asking them to not smoke for extended periods of 10+ hours.. there is a big difference.

I realize that you and I will never agree, and that's fine, but I don't see how banning smoking in a hotel is any different than banning it anywhere else. People go to work for 8 or 10 or 12 hours a day and can't smoke there. They need to go outside, and sometimes even off company property. During those 8 or 10 hours they are in that hotel room, they are asleep most of the time so wouldn't be smoking anyway. And nobody is telling them they can't smoke, just that they can't do it in their room.

You keep referring to fairness and rights, but people don't have the right to smoke. It is a privilege (and I use that term loosely). Marriott is a private company. They have the right to regulate what can and can not occur on their property (to a certain extent and within the bounds of the laws of the land). Before you use that statement against me, I realize that many bar and restaurant owners used the same reasoning for fighting the smoking bans, saying it should be up to the business owner to decide whether or not to allow smoking. The problem there is that the owner's decision to allow smoking would jeopardize the health of workers, which made it a worker safety issue (but that's a whole other debate).

Will Marriott lose some guests? Certainly. Will they gain a loyal following from the many, many ardent non-smokers. You bet! Will other major chains follow suit? Probably. And just maybe, this will give smokers one more reason to quit the habit. I know the 17.5 cent increase in taxes in NJ recently is helping push some people into quitting.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Actually though, not everyone has a choice. The smoker doesn't. Now they will not be able to stay at a Marriot, the other hotels don't offer that great of a room for the smoker.. QUOTE]

How don't they have a choice? They can stay at other hotels. That is the choice. Marriott or not Marriott.
What do you mean the other hotels don't offer that great of a room for a smoker?
Most of the time you stay at Disney hotels and Skyauction deals anyway.
having a smoking room may not kill me, but I won't be able to sleep.

Well, I guess we'll see how ell this works. If other hotel chains follow suit then we'll know.

meaning that most smoking rooms are on the higher floor.. away from things.. not that the room is bad.. I have to admit,in 2001 we accepted a smoking room at the Poly concierge & they upgraded us to a Lagoon View .. now if someone was offered an upgrade but had to take smoking..would they do it????

I have gotten Marriot thru Priceline several times... hey, if I am without my dh.. it will not bother me, but if I am with him it will...

 

[pigletforever]

think about it, if you encounter smoke while in your room on vacation, it will not kill you, /

I beg to differ. My 17 year old son is a severe asthmatic and has had to go to the ER after being on the same floor as a smoking room. Almost put on a ventilator after one asthma attack brought on by second hand smoke. For us this news is welcome. And we now have a hotel chain we will use as much as possible for his safety.

 

[CPM]

We are also not going to agree. I'll never change my mind on teh opinion.
I can also look up articles on the contrary, they come through Kevin's office all the time. In fact, I'm sure it will come up again at the conference I'll be attending Thursday in San Antonio.
So, we'll have to agree to diagree.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

I realize that you and I will never agree, and that's fine, but I don't see how banning smoking in a hotel is any different than banning it anywhere else. People go to work for 8 or 10 or 12 hours a day and can't smoke there. They need to go outside, and sometimes even off company property. During those 8 or 10 hours they are in that hotel room, they are asleep most of the time so wouldn't be smoking anyway. And nobody is telling them they can't smoke, just that they can't do it in their room.

You keep referring to fairness and rights, but people don't have the right to smoke. It is a privilege (and I use that term loosely). Marriott is a private company. They have the right to regulate what can and can not occur on their property (to a certain extent and within the bounds of the laws of the land). Before you use that statement against me, I realize that many bar and restaurant owners used the same reasoning for fighting the smoking bans, saying it should be up to the business owner to decide whether or not to allow smoking. The problem there is that the owner's decision to allow smoking would jeopardize the health of workers, which made it a worker safety issue (but that's a whole other debate).

Will Marriott lose some guests? Certainly. Will they gain a loyal following from the many, many ardent non-smokers. You bet! Will other major chains follow suit? Probably. And just maybe, this will give smokers one more reason to quit the habit. I know the 17.5 cent increase in taxes in NJ recently is helping push some people into quitting.

While you are correct in that the work place's now a days are all heading to nonsmoking enviorment, well some jobs you cannot smoke while doing your job anyway. I know if I smoked, my job is in a classroom.. I wouldn't be able to smoke anyway.. My dh works nights. When we go away, there are many nights that he can't sleep. Due to being on a different schedule than most of us...he is up at 3am. I don't want him having to leave the freaking bldg to have a smoke.. will Marriot supply security at their smoking areas, more than likely no, they will not. This is my point, it is unfair to put someone in a postion that they should not have to be in.. not when they are paying the same money as everyone else...
I agree smoking is a terrible habbit, I said my mother has lung cancer & it is from smoking.. I don't want smoke in my face just as all of you, however, no one is going to get lung cancer from the smell of it in a room or hallway..that is not second hand smoke. While it is not a nice smell, some maybe allergic to it, you are not staying in that room with the person smoking. If hotels did it correctly people would not be placed into smoking rooms when they requested nonsmoking. I know we have requested smoking & have been placed in nonsmoking.. explain that one.. were there too many smokers that happen to be checked in at that point? Or was it carelessness on someone at the front desk???

 

[disneysteve]

while only 10% of Marriots rooms may have been for smokers, more than 10% of the population smoke...

You're correct, but there's a lot more to it than that. According to CDC stats, the prevalence of smoking among adults in the US has dropped from over 42% in the 1950s to under 21% in 2004, so there has been a distinct trend sharply downward.

Another big factor to consider is that statistically, smoking is much more prevalent among lower socioeconomic groups who most likely make up a very small percentage of the traveling public. So if you could somehow get the data for the prevalence of smokers among regular travelers, it is probably significantly below the national prevalence of 20% or so. It may not be as far off from that 10% as you think.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

You're correct, but there's a lot more to it than that. According to CDC stats, the prevalence of smoking among adults in the US has dropped from over 42% in the 1950s to under 21% in 2004, so there has been a distinct trend sharply downward.

Another big factor to consider is that statistically, smoking is much more prevalent among lower socioeconomic groups who most likely make up a very small percentage of the traveling public. So if you could somehow get the data for the prevalence of smokers among regular travelers, it is probably significantly below the national prevalence of 20% or so. It may not be as far off from that 10% as you think.

I just checked the CDC site out of curiosity.. it only gives below povertly level & highest income level, there are no median to go by.. I know the lowest of the income level isn't what you would call the travler, but many of us that do travel are not in that highest income level either.. and if we were, we wouldn't be staying at a Marriott . There really isn't anyway to find out true stats on income & smokers...
again, I am not a smoker, so this is not just because I smoke.. however dh is..
OK... let's call a truce... Marriott remains smoke free for all that want that type of hotel.. but please don't be wishing it on other hotels.. then the smoker really has no options..
On the same token, I do hope that the bar's in the Marriott's are watching who they serve drinks too.. that is a pet peeve of mine, drunk driving.. I would much rather face smoke in my face than a drunk on the road...

 

[A Mickeyfan]

think about it, if you encounter smoke while in your room on vacation, it will not kill you, /

I beg to differ. My 17 year old son is a severe asthmatic and has had to go to the ER after being on the same floor as a smoking room. Almost put on a ventilator after one asthma attack brought on by second hand smoke. For us this news is welcome. And we now have a hotel chain we will use as much as possible for his safety.

what I meant by that was lung cancer.. if you want to get into that, my dh is serverly allergic to cats & has gone to the ER from justm briefly visiting a house that had one & not in the same room as him. My son is asthmatic as well, by the way not that it is a smart on his part, but he is also a smoker. He has been rushed to the ER from the smell of chlorine...
Smell of smoke in a room is not second hand smoke. Second hand smoke is the actual smoke from the cig while it is being smoked. No one will get lung cancer from a room that has the smell in it...
I am alergic to fleas... at least that is what I was told. I have stayed in rooms that were suppose to be pet free..while I didn't smell any, I woke up with bites all over me & welted up. Each time I had to change rooms. I thought it was maybe bed bugs and never really had them checked out. While at Disney, the EMT had to come & check me out. I did refuse to go to the ER & was treated in the lobby at like 2am, my legs & feet were so swollen I could hardly walk. I was told that they weren't bed bug bites but flea bites & I was having a server reaction to them..as per EMT.. and that while Disney is a pet free resort, they do allow guide dogs & that may have been how it happened to me...Disney did a room check & found no bed bugs (so they told me). So I do hear what you are saying as far as going to the ER.

 

[disneysteve]

I do hope that the bar's in the Marriott's are watching who they serve drinks too.. that is a pet peeve of mine, drunk driving.. I would much rather face smoke in my face than a drunk on the road...

On that we can agree. I can tell when someone around me is smoking, and I can do my best to avoid him. I can't tell when another driver on the road is impaired and may not be able to avoid him.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

On that we can agree. I can tell when someone around me is smoking, and I can do my best to avoid him. I can't tell when another driver on the road is impaired and may not be able to avoid him.

WOW just tried to post & it didn't take so I hope this isn't going to duplicate it..

See, we can agree on something I hope you didn't take any offence to what I posted. We are all entitled to our opinions & if they were all the same, life would be too boring...

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Same here. NJ finally got a smoking ban in April and restaurant business is booming. The law here is no smoking within 25 feet of a building, but I don't really see that being enforced.

We love smoke-free dining, though it is costing us money because we are eating out much more frequently now. There were very few restaurants we could go to before due to smoking. Now we can go anywhere we want.

Same here in NY. Restaurants are all non-smoking and it is wonderful. Business must be booming because we see them packed all the time and more are being built all around our area.

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

http://www.usatoday.com/travel/news/2005-12-04-westin-smoking-ban_x.htm

especially this part:

In 2004, the Topaz Hotel in Washington, D.C., became the first lodging in the Kimpton chain to try no-smoking-only rooms. (Smoking is allowed in the bar.)

The number of smokers who gripe when put in a non-smoking room is "small compared to the number of people who were complaining about being put in a smoking room" when the hotel was fully booked, says Topaz general manager David Hill. "It's a huge weight off the shoulders of our (customer) service staff. I will never go back."

 

[Mom of Sleepy Bashful and BabyDoc]

Ha! And get this one.............I love the part about the smoker who only books non-smoking rooms so he is glad that Marriott is going all smoking......I would've never guessed that one.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071902003.html?nav=rss_print

It says only 5 percent of people request smoking rooms but 10 percent are reserved for smoking. I wonder if all hotels are like this. No wonder smoking rooms are given to non smokers.......that's all they have left.

Here was another interesting part of the article.......

"This tips the hotel industry so now virtually every hotel will have to go nonsmoking," said Edward Watkins, editor of Lodging Hospitality, a leading trade publication. "Marriott is the leader of the pack. Once they do it, every company will have to do that. They just have so many hotels. It's a matter of competitive pressure."

WOW!! You know what that means.........it's only a matter of time before it gets to Disney World.

 

[disneysteve]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/07/19/AR2006071902003.html?nav=rss_print

This is a great article and really addresses some of the pro-smoking issues raised in this thread. Even many smokers prefer non-smoking rooms. Only 5% of guests request smoking rooms even though 21% of the population smokes. "Complaints about smoking is one of the biggest complaints we have." Well, when you run a business, if you keep hearing the same complaint over and over again, you want to do something to eliminate that complaint. The only way to eliminate complaints about smoking is to eliminate smoking. Nothing else works. "Marriott is the leader of the pack. Once they do it, every company will have to do that. They just have so many hotels. It's a matter of competitive pressure." I, for one, hope this is true. For now, we will certainly stick with Marriotts, which we pretty much do anyway.