noplasticshowers

Not that long ago, all 300 of us piled into the Westfields Marriott for a technical meeting of the minds. I just came back to this Marriott property to run another conference—smaller but including executives from 38 different firms dispersed around the world.

I stayed in the same room (130 which is the Presidential Suite). Sadly, they did not get around to fixing the shower since my last visit. So this well-appointed marble palace of a room is marred with a plastic shower curtain. Add that to the fact that the shower has no water pressure at all—an insufficient dribble—and we have a problem Houston. Miserable. Here in noplasticshowers-land that sort of problem is a fatal flaw.

This shower is not good.

One of these things is not like the others.

The rest of the room is probably decorated about the same way it was when Ronald Reagan stayed here in the ’80s. New paint? New carpets? That would be nice. (Contrast with this.)

Living room. Nice place for an ’80s party.

Fireplace (fake variety). On switch.

And then down the spiral stairs.

Spiral down.

To the room where nobody wants to hang out. Even when the full bar is put down there and there are too many people upstairs.

Yuck

Need music? No problem. Some massive, heavy, metal core speakers can be hooked up with a metal box, RCA adapters, and thick cables to your ipod. Time warp!

The bed is nice.

Bedroom

But Marriott still has very bad Net that costs money?! Authentication systems straight out of the early ’90s too. yay?

Desk with a view.

Bathroom art (in bathroom 1)

No shower here.

We had some fun times in 130. The rent-a-cop came to visit once but then went on his way when informed that it was only 11pm.

All in all the Westfields Marriott is a very good place to hold a meeting. Nice facilities, but very very dated technology. Creaky internet with really stupid authentication (why is net not free here?!). A/V equipment manufactured before advanced alloys. A default liquor and wine list that needs work. But the food is great, and the lobby is gorgeous. Can’t win ’em all I guess.

All in all a three showerhead (a one head demotion) for this place. Hey Marriott, fix your shower!