Courtyard by Marriott has recently renovated their lobbies in a major way. More than just changing colors, the new lobbies are great places for getting work done or decompressing after getting the work done. They include a Bistro with casual fare, comfortable seating areas, lots of TVs (big and small), plus a giant touchscreen where travelers can look up weather, news, and local attractions. I had the opportunity to check one out in Nashville yesterday, and it is very nice. If I were them, I would throw a party too! My favorite part is the cozy breakfast nook that has a TV built into it. A great place to sit down, grab something to eat or a cup of coffee, keep an eye on the news, and get some work done.
The breakfast nook.
If you happen to be in the Baltimore, Houston, or Phoenix airports, check out the new “Lobby Zone” displays. Courtyard has rolled these out as a place for business travelers to sit down and escape the hectic crowds as they experience the new lobbies.
To celebrate the new and exciting Courtyard lobbies, we are doing a contest. Woo-hoo! You can win two nights in any Courtyard Marriott in the continental US. Simply write a comment answering the following: What is your favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby? We will draw a winner at random on November 21. As always, only one entry will be counted per person.
They are letting me stay in a Courtyard for a few nights in January, and I’m looking forward to some quality time in the new lobby! My favorite thing to do in a lobby is be around people while I work. Makes me feel not quite so isolated when traveling a lot. And if there are cookies, so much the better!
Good luck!
Grab a cold beer and surf the free Internet.
I like to have a nice cold drink and relax.
I like to pretend to surf the web on my laptop while really I’m just people watching 🙂
Catch up with family over Skype via the free wi-did and grabbing a drink is a close second
My favorite thing to do in the hotel lobby is drink coffee and check in.
use the free wifi and sip some coffee
Get a drink from the bar or check in since I get to sleep soon!
Log onto wi-fi and catch up on the day’s news.
A good cup of Marriott coffee early in the morning!
Have an adult beverage and settle in!
Sit, enjoy a latte and people watch.
Have a drink and people watch…
Relax and read a local newspaper
Watch tv and people.
Browse using the free internet while sipping drinks and waiting for friends
Have cookies, read the local news and the fav part…watch people!! 🙂
Drink my morning coffee and read the newspaper
Get a complimentary cup of coffee (while dodging my colleagues staying at the same hotel).
sit around and watch people struggle with their luggage… yes I’m a terrible person
People watch.
Enjoy a glass of wine.
sipping coffee and surfing the internet
Nap (if allowed!)
Nap with Allen!
Check in & check out who’s hanging out in the lobby
Drink a coffee and surf the Internet.
I like to catch a drink before dinner in an amazing new city!
Watch people coming in and out of the hotel. Fascinating.
People watching is definitely on my list of favorite things to do in a lobby, but don’t stop there! It’s also a lot of fun to make up stories for each of the “characters” you’re watching!
Relax and watch people.
sit at the bar and people watch!
Have a couple of tea and relax
People watch.
Use the free wifi if they have it!
Having a cup of coffee
Make sweet, sweet love.
Drink a coffee and surf the internet on my laptop!
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is have a cup of coffee and read.
Quiet time in a comfortable armchair, and great concierce service.
Favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby: bypass the LONG check-in line after a LONG flight and head straight to a self-check-in kiosk!! (Every hotel needs to have this) 🙂
Chasing the kids…. well, perhaps not my favorite thing to do ina hotel lobby, but recently it’s the ONLY thing…
people watch!
use my ipad
People watch, preferably with a glass of Riesling in one hand and surfing the web with my phone in the other hand.
Read the paper and watch the news while waiting for friends and family to make it down to the lobby.
My favorite thing is to chill out with my husband, each with our laptop and a drink. We have spent hours in Courtyard lobbies in the Bistro area doing exactly that. 🙂
I like using the free Internet and people watching.
I love people watching with a cocktail (assuming the lobby is near the bar at least).
people watch
Cocktails and people watching.