Contest! Win a 2 Night Stay at a Courtyard Marriott!! (closed)
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!
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Andy said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby: have a drink while waiting for friends to gather for the night ahead!
deltagoldflyer said,
Yep, cookies, beer & golf or football. Wait for friends!
Sandeep said,
I guess depends on which hotel I am at but grabbing a drink is probably what would be common across pretty much hotel I am at.
Megan said,
My fave lobby thing to do is people watch!
Meghan said,
Use free internet
dinosims said,
Sit at the bar and people watch.
Boris said,
the environment….
XH said,
The airy feeling in the lobby
pat o said,
People watch!
Jonathan S said,
People watch and look at the local flyers if on vacation.
scott said,
I enjoy grabbing a drink and visiting with friends and exchanging travel stories.
Ryan said,
Have a drink while people watching and surfing the internet.
Jean J said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is people watching!
gpapadop said,
Use the free wifi and pretend I am working:-)
thomas said,
hello!!!! Did you know they have a Wii in there lobby of the Bangor Courtyard!! Grab a beer and run in place!!!
Billy said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is read a newspaper and drink coffee
HB said,
Wait until check-in time!
Brian said,
Get drunk!
Lisa C. said,
I enjoy talking and sharing with fellow travelers while sitting in hotel lobbies.
Jason said,
Check in!
Bunty said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is read a newspaper and drink coffee and be among people.
Joseph D. said,
Free Internet and People Watch!
TravelHackerr said,
Watch the other people
Eric said,
People watch!
Jenny said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is to get a bite to eat and people-watch at the same time.
Jimgotkp said,
I like to relax and people watch while having a drink.
Beth said,
Impromptu gatherings with folks traveling from out of town.
murat said,
Looking to my emails, if there is free Wi-fi..
Jiles said,
I like to hang out in a cozy environment waiting for friends.
ward said,
I like to work on the internet and people watch.
LC said,
Hang out with strangers while working on my projects
Felicia said,
I like to meet with friends & coworkers in the lobby. My room is for myself, so I’d rather congregate in the lobby.
SC said,
People watch and just generally, sit back, relax and surf the internet.
Tom said,
Enjoy coffee and a newspaper
Sherri said,
Surf the internet by the fireplace(if there is one)
Emily said,
Stayed at a Courtyard in San Diego with the new lobby. My favorite was grabbing a drink, but they had video games to play too! I think it’s only that property though.
Lindsay said,
Definitely people watch while I get some work done
MB said,
Hunker down in a comfy seat with a drink and my tablet for a few hours of reading and people watching.
Mike said,
Wait and gather for friends so we can head out for a night on the town!
Om Prakash said,
Sit down and browse the net and have few drinks.
Vicki Zimny said,
people watch!
airshadow said,
I’m usually only in the lobby while waiting for a shuttle — the more interesting the better
Jason said,
People watch and wait for shuttle.
Iain said,
Grabbing a quick coffee and people-watching.
KTR said,
My mind works a little like this; “I wonder what that person is doing here? Business? Pleasure? Where’s the cookies? Do they have breakfast….and where will THAT be? I wonder what mischief my 2 year old is up to? Wait…why did I come to the lobby? Crap, my room key, it’s on the table in my room. Where were those cookies again?”
So clearly. no. favorite.
Joy B said,
Drink hot tea, surf internet, and maybe eavesdrop on interesting conversations!
aldie said,
play cards with my friends
Rachel said,
Agree with many others – definitely people watching!
ed said,
Meet friends and chat
David said,
Peruse the internet.
Stephen said,
Grab a cold beer and surf the free Internet.
Sy said,
I like to have a nice cold drink and relax.
Nathan G said,
I like to pretend to surf the web on my laptop while really I’m just people watching
LL said,
Catch up with family over Skype via the free wi-did and grabbing a drink is a close second
Kelley K said,
My favorite thing to do in the hotel lobby is drink coffee and check in.
Joe said,
use the free wifi and sip some coffee
Don G said,
Get a drink from the bar or check in since I get to sleep soon!
Michael said,
Log onto wi-fi and catch up on the day’s news.
RCL said,
A good cup of Marriott coffee early in the morning!
Tom said,
Have an adult beverage and settle in!
James P said,
Sit, enjoy a latte and people watch.
Brian said,
Have a drink and people watch…
Pauline said,
Relax and read a local newspaper
Craig said,
Watch tv and people.
Asen said,
Browse using the free internet while sipping drinks and waiting for friends
vinay said,
Have cookies, read the local news and the fav part…watch people!!
Scott said,
Drink my morning coffee and read the newspaper
ASuburbanLife said,
Get a complimentary cup of coffee (while dodging my colleagues staying at the same hotel).
Harvey Yang said,
sit around and watch people struggle with their luggage… yes I’m a terrible person
Paul said,
People watch.
Diane said,
Enjoy a glass of wine.
Cindy B said,
sipping coffee and surfing the internet
Allen said,
Nap (if allowed!)
Erica said,
Nap with Allen!
Peter said,
Check in & check out who’s hanging out in the lobby
Tricia said,
Drink a coffee and surf the Internet.
Michael H said,
I like to catch a drink before dinner in an amazing new city!
Michael said,
Watch people coming in and out of the hotel. Fascinating.
Susan said,
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!
Joel said,
Relax and watch people.
worldtraveller2 said,
sit at the bar and people watch!
Tao said,
Have a couple of tea and relax
Em D. said,
People watch.
Kevin said,
Use the free wifi if they have it!
RaymondN said,
Having a cup of coffee
Andrew L said,
Make sweet, sweet love.
K Jin said,
Drink a coffee and surf the internet on my laptop!
Denise L said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is have a cup of coffee and read.
LoLo said,
Quiet time in a comfortable armchair, and great concierce service.
Kyle said,
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)
Mikes said,
Chasing the kids…. well, perhaps not my favorite thing to do ina hotel lobby, but recently it’s the ONLY thing…
tiffany said,
people watch!
swimbaby said,
use my ipad
Rikki said,
People watch, preferably with a glass of Riesling in one hand and surfing the web with my phone in the other hand.
Kelvin said,
Read the paper and watch the news while waiting for friends and family to make it down to the lobby.
Emily said,
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.
Nadine said,
I like using the free Internet and people watching.
David said,
I love people watching with a cocktail (assuming the lobby is near the bar at least).
Corey said,
people watch
Stacy said,
Cocktails and people watching.
Robert said,
Relax, have a beer and wait for friends.
Kevin Khoo said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is to read and people watch.
Debbie said,
Check in. Grab a soda and watch the people.
Mary said,
My favorite thing to do in the lobby is grab a drink before heading out to dinner.
Mike said,
People watch!
Chris said,
My favorite thing to do in the lobby is to grab a beer and relax on a couch while using the wifi.
Julie said,
People watching in a hotel lobby is always the best!
Steve said,
Hang with a drink, iPad, and friends.
viguera said,
I’ll go for people watch… generally don’t hang out in the lobbies all that much
Joe M. said,
People watch!
Glen said,
I like to relax and people watch while having a drink.
Lauren said,
I’ve had some of my best business meetings in hotel lobbies.
The Deal Mommy said,
Check out the display racks for coupons to local sights!
Bryan said,
Reading a magazine or newspaper while enjoying the ambiance of folks coming and going!
Derek said,
I enjoy loitering in lobbies.
Christine B said,
People Watch!
Jordan said,
Definitely people watch while using free wifi.
Josh said,
Hang out and grab a drink
Peter said,
Wifi
Gizmosdad said,
Like others, I people watch — BUT I try to make up back-stories for why people are here at the hotel — who is travelling on vacation with their families, who is a business traveller (what kind of business? how long are they staying? what is their job description?), who is an out-of-town student, etc.
Carla Pullum said,
My favorite thing is to ask for the complimentary toothpaste and shaver!!! The staff is always so nice to give it!
Carla
cpullum(at)yahoo(dot)com
Charlotte said,
My favorite thing to do is people watch and watch sports if my favorite team is playing. Instant bond across all demographics!
Jay said,
Read the paper and people-watch.
Nick M. said,
People watch and sit at the bar.
Jessica said,
I am traveling on business and actually hung out in a hotel lobby today at Aloft Ashburn. My favorite thing to do was play all the games and puzzles!
EFJX said,
Besides waiting? Just watching people come and go.
Chris said,
Waiting for my pre-dawn shuttle ride to the airport!
Jay I. said,
Eat breakfast.
BothofUs2 said,
I like to people watch!
Dan said,
People watch!! For sure!
jim a said,
wifi all the way
Jon said,
Coffee/wifi
Chris Fisher said,
My favorite thing to do in a lobby is to grab some coffee and catch up on emails while people watching.
buschoi said,
Viewing boarding area blogs with wifi
Cynical Investor said,
I don’t have any favorite thing,
Jana said,
Wi-fi, people watch and try and figure out who’s happy and who’s not.
TS said,
Coffee and people watch!
Curtis Tomlin said,
Have a quiet cup of coffee while reading the paper.
Anthony DiBernardo said,
Have a drink and people watch.
Michele said,
Order a glass of wine and catch up with email and Facebook on my Blackberry while I wait for my coworkers to head out to dinner….sometimes we never leave the Courtyard!?!?
jackie said,
The favorite thing for me would be wi-fi…
Jason said,
I’m with jackie above, wi0fi in the lobby usually with a drink!
goheerow said,
Relax with a Johnny Black in hand.
Tom said,
Surfing the web
Mark said,
People watch and relax.
D said,
Toss up between people watch and using wifi, often I do both.
Susan said,
Check in for a great night sleep!
Paul W said,
People watch and read the paper if there is not much action
Kay said,
Knit – actually I love to knit anywhere.
Amanda said,
Check in to the hotel:-)
MSPpete said,
I like to people watch and surf with the wi-fi.
Nish said,
Coffee, Cookies and people watch
Stephanie said,
Enjoy a cup of coffee and sit back and watch the people
naroowal said,
Enjoy a beer or wine, chit chat with friends and surf the wi-fi because it is free in most lobbies.
- naroowal
Crash said,
People watching is the best!
Melissa said,
Have a drink and check email.
Rose said,
Grab a drink and use the free wifi!
ron said,
My favorite thing to do is just to pass through it on my way outside or to my room.
Erik said,
Drink coffee and get to some e-mails.
DavidAL said,
I usually try to get work done in the lobby if I’m traveling with the family. It’s a little quieter down there than in the room with kiddos!
Barbara said,
My favorite thing is to people watch while looking at the stack of tourist brochures I grabbed on my way in. I can’t help it, I LOVE looking at all the kitschy options and figuring out if I can fit something outlandish into my trip!
Ang said,
My favorite thing to do is to grab a drink at the bar while waiting.
Becca said,
My favorite thing to do in the lobby is people watch while I read with a drink in the other hand
Dave said,
People watch!
MJ said,
Breathe deeply and relax because I am on my way to my room and getting out of the hub-bub of a business trip or getting ready to rest after a long day of sight-seeing.
Elle said,
People watch, no question.
Sue said,
Usually waiting on friends so use wifi and people watch
Jeff W said,
I love to get my morning coffee and sit and relax while people watching. Great way to start the day!
John said,
Use free internet!
Amy said,
Read and people watch–preferably by a fireplace. Delicious!
Helen said,
My favorite thing is to eat breakfast.
Chevy said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is people watch.
Chris said,
People watch of course!
Gary K said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is have a cocktail, people watch, and catch up on the latest scores or current game!
Joe said,
Eat breakfast!
Khar said,
Have a drink, of course. But typically, I am there working as I find I’m more productive in the lobby than in my room. I stayed at an updated Courtyard in Spokane and liked it.
Kelli said,
People watch!
Krista said,
People Watch!
Ari said,
Favorite thing? Finding out about an upgraded room
Sil said,
Definitely People Watching. There is , at times, more drama at the Hotel lobby than my workplace! And my workplace is soap opera.
Louise said,
I love to meet friends in the lobby and just hang out, especially when the manager is having a free drinks wine-and-cheese reception. Good people watching!
GREG Z said,
reading paper
James H said,
I like to people watch when not using the free internet.
Tracy CH said,
I love to get a good cup of tea and relax by watching the people.
Laura said,
People watch!
Abby S said,
Read the paper.
Aurora said,
Grab a drink at the bar while doing a little email or reading a trashy book on my Kindle.
Greg H. said,
Drink my coffee
bkjones said,
HOTEL LOBBY? Fave thing is walking through on my way to head home!! thanks RW, you rock.
RaeDavenport said,
Sit with the newspaper, a journal to write in, and let myself be distracted by the people watching. They can arouse some interesting thoughts to go into the journal. Also, get local restaurant recommendations from staff.
Barney said,
Drink a beer and people watch
JJ said,
People watching on the way in, thinking about home on the way out.
Stephanie said,
I love to grab some coffee and just use the laptop!! It’s nice to have another space to get some work done.
BT said,
Coffee and reading.
Ty said,
Wifi + Ipad + Beer =
paulietaho said,
When I sit in the lobby I generally try to organize or summarize my day. Preferably with a cup of great tea, and of course with the obligatory people watching and wondering what, who and where they are going.
Ric Garrido said,
I like to read the paper and drink free coffee.
Chirag said,
free coffee!
zasm said,
People watching. Perhaps with a drink or a coffee to sip, as well.
AS said,
Surf the internet while munching cookies
heidi said,
Get a drink at the bar!
SW said,
Surf internet; make plans for the next day.
Steelsnow said,
Chill until check-in time when I am able to get in early and enjoy one of the cookies!
GM said,
Check-in for free using with rewards points
pog said,
People watching for sure.
Patrick said,
Drinking a coffee or tea while catching up on emails!
dan said,
my favorite thing to do in the lobby is to cocktail and scope chicks as the guests check-in!
Andrew H said,
People watch and have a drink at the bar
oneeyejack said,
Use the wifi
Aaron said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is to people watch while drinking coffee and surfing the internet on wifi.
Jordan said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is people watch while “working” on my iPad and drinking coffee!
Pegs said,
I enjoy people watching.
oneeyejack said,
using the wifi
Chris said,
Just enjoy the atmosphere.
Amy C said,
My favorite is to people watch!
Jon said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is check in and also use the computers available.
Nathan said,
I love hanging out in the bar..
Aarash Fakhori said,
I’d totally people watch!
barry said,
Relax, get waited on & enjoy meeting people at the bar.
Dean said,
Getting away from the hustle & bustle.
Bob said,
Get a drink
Neva said,
People watch!
Edmend said,
I’d love to enjoy wifi, if it is free
Sara said,
I like to sit around with friends and meet new people. Exchanging stories and meeting people from all over is always fun! I ALSO like to guess what people are doing there!
mike said,
hit the bar
Karlyn said,
My fav activity in a hotel lobby is to watch the tour buses full of school children unload while their chaperones go crazy trying to keep them monitored
Lorie said,
I used to travel a lot for business. Now it’s almost all pleasure. I like watching my two young daughters, excited to be staying at a hotel, sitting in the lobby trying to act like big girls. I love all the giggles we all have while they do it.
MDAccount said,
My favorite thing to do in a hotel lobby is wait for someone I haven’t seen in a long time…
Patti said,
Telecommute! One of the hidden perks of my job is being able to travel mid-week without taking leave time. But I think my customers are in cahoots with the airlines because it never fails— there’s always one last conference call to join between hotel check-out time and flight time. Or one last support issue to resolve. You’ll frequently find me huddled in a quiet corner of the lobby, working! This is also why I seek out flights with gogo wifi— I can still work, and stay logged into my IM, and travel tons without burning up all my vacation.
Rick said,
Check facebook
Jethro said,
Browse the gift shops
Henry M. said,
I love to just people watch and enjoying the comings and goings of the staff and hotel customers.
Pearl said,
Use their printer
Angela said,
Read newspaper
Gary said,
Free wifi
Dave said,
I like to people watch while waiting for my wife to handle anything that needs to be done at the front desk.
Monica said,
My favorite thing to do in a lobby is a have a drink and people watch!
David said,
Eat a hot breakfast!
Michael said,
I love a nice, well appointed airport hotel lobby instead of a coffee shop or restaurant for a business meeting with the business partners scattered around the country. I’ve saved probably thousands of dollars in paying for event rooms by meeting at the Marriott lobby near O’Hare — I fly in from DC, one partner from Madison, and another drives in from Bloomington. We can very cheaply and pleasantly get done what needs to get done in the comfort of a living room — all for the cost of a couple of cups of coffee or Diet Cokes.
James said,
My favorite thing to do is check in. That means I just got there and have something exciting planned.
Chris said,
The bistro in cortyards is real cool!
Brendan said,
Hopefully find that they have a bar off the lobby (or in it)!
patrick said,
Have a drink with my wife!
BrewerSEA said,
Drink a gin and tonic and talk to the bartender.
Martha said,
Love to watch people coming and going, and wonder about what brings them there at that point in their day (or life!)
Nick said,
Get a drink at the bar.
Christopher said,
Look for cookies or fruit and read local paper.
Raul said,
inter-web
geologysue said,
I like to work with the background noise of other people.Oh, and the cookies are a real bonus.
Mark said,
Get wasted!
KP said,
Get between my room & out the door as soon as possible, grabbing a cookie along the way if they have em.
Andy said,
read boardingarea.com on wifi
Tina said,
Check the facility to know what items are offered.
mike said,
My favorite is to goof off with my girlfriend while we talk about our past and upcoming adventures.
laurent said,
nice freshly brewed coffee!!!
Sil said,
WHO wom?
Lynn said,
Smiling face and helpful manner at check in.
Krissy Rouse Higgins said,
People Watch! Me and the kids LOVE to make up stories about the people we see, trying to guess who/what they are, and what they are doing there.., its fun!
Kris Ziel said,
I’d say use wifi on my iPhone, but usually I don’t bother connecting and use 3G.
Todd Pointasaurus said,
I like to do nothing, check in and move on!!!
MJ said,
Imagine how I could redesign it so as to make it more functional.
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