The Mayflower Wilts

Last fall, I lamented the sad state of the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. The concierge lounge was closed, and there was no room service. As I arrived for the 2022 Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention, I had hoped that the pandemic cuts would be restored. No such luck. The concierge lounge is still closed. I'm told it will open up in a "few months." I've heard that before. And no room service menu to be found. Not even a QR code link. For much of my adult life, the Mayflower was something of an annual pilgrimage, stepped in tradition. Alas, due to cost-saving measures--do not even try to blame this on social distancing!--the Mayflower wilts. See everyone in the grand hallway!

Comments

[Mr. Bumble]

Welcome to post Covid America; pay more get less.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

"pay more get less"

Also the motto of the National Republican Senatorial Committee!

Fortunately for Republican political operatives, right-wing donors tend to be gullible.

[David Bhear]

Excellent comment, bruh.

[David Bhear]

Rev. Trump should manage the Mayflower, to restore it to its former greatness.

[apedad]

Darn, what a shame.

Hey! Why don't you offer to hold the Federalist Society National Lawyers Convention next year near your South Texas College of Law Houston?!?

I see there's the Athens Hotel Suites nearby and they have:

Full kitchenettes in every room, including an electric stove, microwave, refrigerator, coffee maker, plates, cookware, and utensils
Posturepedic® queen-sized beds
Noise resistant rooms
A free continental breakfast
Cable
Maid service

And - "We do allow pets at an additional fee."

Not sure of their weapons-on-premises policy.

[Bob from Ohio]

Sneering at a hotel because you think it low class. Very tolerant.

[Michael P]

First World Lawyer Problems.

[Randal]

For the first time ever, I agree with Pichael.

[Krayt]

You're lawyers, why not go to Watergate?

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

They're Republican lawyers, and therefore prefer old, fading institutions.

[David Bhear]

Great comment, bruh.

[Frank Drackman]

We know, Jerry, you prefer the Young, Strapping, Well Endowed Institutions, I mean boys,
which is why you're in an "Institution"
https://www.cor.pa.gov/Facilities/StatePrisons/Pages/Greene.aspx

and looks like Stuttering John won, might want to expedite your Commutation "Package" (:), next Lt Gov might not be as "Progressive",

Frank "Why does my butt hurt?"

[Jett's Pop]

"stepped in tradition"

Is that like stepping in manure?

[David Bhear]

Nitpicking spelling errors is rude. Great comment otherwise, bruh.

[bernard11]

Alas, due to cost-saving measures–do not even try to blame this on social distancing!–the Mayflower wilts.

Never thought I would see Blackman complain about capitalism.

No room service!! The horror!!

[Dan Schiavetta]

"Concierge lounge"? What's that?

I know what a concierge is but a lounge? If there's a problem can't he just talk to one of the people at the front desk?

I get the feeling that Josh is a difficult customer and is not "nice to the waiter". Don't you?

[David Bhear]

Great personal remark, bruh.

[Noscitur a sociis]

Some business hotels have an area with free drinks and snacks where people in their loyalty programs can go. They’re similar to (and about the same quality as) airline lounges.

Diving why someone would go to one if they were in a major city full of restaurants, bars, and clubs and not stuck in an airport is left as an exercise for the reader.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

" why someone would go to one if they were in a major city full of restaurants, bars, and clubs "

Some people struggle with normal human interaction.

[Squire Al]

Because it appears to be free, even though you pay extra to be on the concierge floor or enter the lounge

[Mr. Hook]

He has, without a doubt, spat to service industry staff, "Don't you know who I am?"

[T.H. Steady]

Complaining about bad service isn't complaining about capitalism. You're either disingenuous or dangerously ignorant.

[Bob from Ohio]

"You’re either disingenuous or dangerously ignorant."

Or both.

[Randal]

Josh isn't attributing the bad service to incompetence. He’s attributing it to cost-saving, as in, the hotel ran the numbers and figured out that room service and the lounge were costing more than they were bringing in. That’s capitalism.

If he wants the government to subsidize room service and the lounge, then, you know, that’s one way to go.

[Michael D]

Just reading the comments in response is rather amusing. The Rev. wants to politicize everything. Others are dismissive or jocular.

I must admit, the witty comments are fun to read. The Rev. politicizing everything is just boring and redundant.

Personally, I hate to see the decline in a once great place but sometimes things change, management is not very good or whatever. It happens.

[Dan Schiavetta]

Often it's due to a change in ownership. The new owner either doesn't care about keeping it good, or doesn't know the first thing about how to run it. He fires people because they're too expensive and hires cheaper people who are clueless.

[Commenter_XY]

Personally, I hate to see the decline in a once great place but sometimes things change, management is not very good or whatever. It happens.

I agree, and post-pandemic, it happens a lot: a decline is services and 'perks'. I travel more now (after a 2-year covid hiatus), and I must say, everything service-wise in the hospitality industry took a huge step down. Room service is sporadic, customer service lacking, and staffing issues are legion. Efficiency is just down across the board.

It ain't just hospitality, either. Restaurants have diminished in quality. Retail channels are more expensive, take longer, compromised quality for low cost. Contracting is a damned nightmare.

In short, I see a huge decline too, Michael D. Across the country.

[Noscitur a sociis]

Wow.

I think I’ve even seen Prof. Blackman wearing that suit.

[cottonmalone]

This guy's dream is to hang out in a hotel lounge bar.

[Noscitur a sociis]

Remember, this is the guy who unironically bragged about the meal he was going to get to eat on a United Airlines flight.

[Frank Drackman]

Must be a new "Conspiracy' Feature, "First World Problems"
and they don't have Crutite' or Arugula either...

Try this place, https://www.hilton.com/en/hampton/

Frank "I said Shaken, not Stirred, take this back!"

[Ted Levy]

"For much of my adult life, the Mayflower was something of an annual pilgrimage"

Yes. Many have admitted this.

[Caphon]

Much of what we experienced as a norm as late as, say, early 00’s, in terms of service, is no more and doubtful it will ever come back. Not sure why, but I think it pre-dates Covid, was accelerated by Covid, and will continue. Impersonal and no shits given. Even in my business we start joking about “give-a-shit-as-a-service” (GSaaS) - plenty of people with problems, plenty with solutions, but how do you scale up and still provide service on par with how you personally cared about clients? I’m not sure it’s causal, but there’s a general sense of malaise out there, I feel. Maybe a divorcing of lower/mid-management from service culture. Related, we really need paths to upper middle class for the non-college educated. We talk about raising wages, but it’s not about raising wages at the minimum, it’s about raising wages for the performant without a college degree. Incentive to excel, with hope for success and upgrading lifestyle. Too many just see it as out of reach, and contrary to what some activists say, it has nothing to do with raising minimum wage. It’s about raising maximum wage in these service industries so there’s a growth path worth excelling at and which is visible to those entering into industries. Get people in easy, reward the best of them.

[Rev. Arthur L. Kirkland]

" we really need paths to upper middle class for the non-college educated "

Is that not an issue for markets to address?

[JonFrum]

File this one under 'I'm writing it because I can, and no one can stop me.'

[y81]

Try the Hay-Adams. Still very high quality.