But Where are the Desks?

Calgary Marriott Downtown has just announced that it will begin offering in-room access to Netflix, YouTube, Hulu, Pandora and other streaming channels. The move comes about a year after Marriott first introduced the service at six hotels throughout the United States.

Obviously, the partnership with Netflix is Marriott's latest attempt to attract millennials to Marriott's flagship brand.

After the initial press release announcing the partnership between Marrriott and Netflix was released in 2015, media outlets ran stories with headlines that began with "Finally," and "Smart Move," 

But does anyone really care?

I should probably mention that I had all kinds of problems with the language on Calgary Marriott Downtown's press release, so I might be a little biased here, but bear with me on this.

First of all, according to the press release, streaming Netflix is part of the new GuestTek MVP (Managed Video Platform) which is a part of Marriott’s new GRE (Guest Room Experience.) 

And if you're with me so far, let me lay down a couple more MCA (Marriott-Created-Acronyms) for you. The system offers OTT (Over-The-Top Access) with an IPG (Interactive Program Guide).

Seriously, I'm not making this up. Now a stay at the Calgary Marriott Downtown offers a total GRE complete with an MVP that incorporates OTT and IPG. The MVP also offers Folio Review and Express Check Out, but apparently abbreviating those to FR and ECO would just be silly.

Okay Marriott, we get it. Those millenials love them some LOL and other crazy acronyms. Use all the acronyms you want, though, but do you truly think that anyone will really equate Netflix streaming with "Over the Top" programming?

The press release also indicates that guests can now replicate their in-home entertainment experience “seamlessly.”

Yup. Seamlessly.

I might be alone in this, but at home I pick up the remote and hit the green button. Or I pick up my tablet and push the power button. And then Netflix plays. What I’m not doing is re-entering my passwords every time I push those buttons. Truth be told, I’m not even sure I know what my Netflix password is. 

So re-entering my password(s) in Marriott's system, hardly makes it seamless. Or maybe the OTT or the IPG will take care of sending me the umpteen password reminder emails I'm going to need before I can successfully log in. 

Apparently the system has a function that will clear all your personal information at the push of a button. Thank goodness for that, because does anyone else remember last year when Marriott had a seven-month data breach? So yes, I’m definitely excited about that OTT, seamless programming that gives Marriott more of my personal data. 

Okay, that really isn't a slam against Marriott. But data breaches are a near daily occurence these days, and I question whether anyone really wants to use a system where they're forced to share more of their personal passwords?

Incidentally, the Marriott GM seems pretty excited about the new MVP feature. According to the press release, Joseph Clohessy was quoted as saying Marriott wanted “to provide our guests with a complete and truly holistic experience."

Holistic? Another nice little nod towards millennials and their well-known love of all things wellness there. Still, I’m hard-pressed to see what’s holistic about sitting on my bed and watching old TV shows and movies while I’m on vacation or travelling for business.Yes, yes, I know holistic in this case is a synonym for seamless, but see the rant above for my thoughts on that.

Incidentally, when talking about seamless, or holistic I guess, programming, Starwood — you know that brand that will one day be part of Marriott — also announced its new streaming product.yesterday. With RoomCast, users can shoot their favourite content from their Smart Device, straight to the in-room TV. Now that's holistic. I mean seamless.

And, there wasn't an acromym to be found in the entire press release, unless you count ESPN.

Calgary Marriott Downtown seems to be a testing ground for Marriott in Canada, which doesn't always work out so well for the property. Last year, when Marriott made the decision to remove desks from all of its hotel rooms, critics, travellers and media outlets around North America blasted the Calgary Marriott Downtown and all other Marriott properties for not offering a place for business travellers to, you know, do business.It got pretty ugly.

Offering Netflix certainly won't be as controversial as removing desks, but it's also hardly the "ultimate away-from-home experience” the Calgary Marriott promises it to be.

Sorry, but who are we kidding here? The ultimate away-from home experience? It’s freaking Netflix. Not a five-course dinner with Justin Trudeau. Or a sunset cruise on the Bluenose II. Or...well you get the idea, but feel free to share your ultimate away-from home experence below.

Of course, Marriott wouldn't need to offer streaming Netflix quite so much if it didn't already have a daily Wi-Fi fee for those people who didn't book the room directly through Marriott's website. 

So, it will be interesting to see if anyone actually cares that they can now watch Netflix on their hotel TVs. What do you think? Feel free to make a reply below, because you know #YOLO.