Marriott Creates Camelot in Oklahoma City

I have probably stayed in a minimum of three thousand hotels over the years. Sometimes its been for business, sometimes pleasure. While there is normally a type of uniformity in the chain hotels, repeat visits to several of the same properties over a period of time can reveal consistent inconsistencies. That is why when a particular property stands out, kudos should be given. One such property is the Marriott located at 3233 NW Expressway in Oklahoma City. Recently, my daughter and I attended the Beta Sigma Phi State Convention held there. At the same time,I was also trying to fit in a SAT Seminar across town and put together a special weekend for my daughter who had just turned thirteen. Soon she would be off to college. I wanted to have a "girls day" she would never forget.

Timing was tight to get to the various ceremonies and lectures. While I am well aware of the check-in/check-out times of the various hotels, I also know it never hurts to ask if you can check -in early. Normally you will be accommodated provided that the front desk clerk is not having a bad day. We checked in at 7am, just in time to get get registered at the convention and race across town for the first seminar. I explained to the front desk clerk that I was trying to check in early to avoid a crowd when we would once again be in race mode to get back for dinner that night. She politely explained that the hotel had been filled the night before and wouldn't be able to register us until a room was available. About that time, the night manager came out and cheerfully told us he could check us into the VIP suite. I figured he was joking since we definitely didn't fit any VIP profile but it could be a quick way to get us into their system. We were not members of Marriott's frequent guest program. Maybe he just took pity on us as we stood in the lobby. Our Goodwill attire made an unwelcome statement in the land of flight crew uniforms that populated the lobby at that time of day. The manager and the desk clerk took our information and told us to just stop by and get the key when we returned.

Traffic was heavy on our way back to the Marriott after the SAT seminar. We grabbed all of our things out of the car and quickly stopped by registration to grab the key. The new clerk handed me the key and asked several times if we needed help with our luggage. I didn't understand her point. We were dragging a tattered suitcase with an equally sorry looking hang up bag. The aftermath of 9/11 had decimated my job and our lives have taken dramatic turns.
The chances to have a glimpse of our previous lives are few.

Up the elevator we went. We proceeded down the hallway that was impeccably clean. This is not necessarily a common occurrence in a lot of hotels.Slowly my daughter inserted the key card and opened the door to the room. Then she yelled out a Woo Hoo of delight. We were actually in the VIP suite! The room, with a complete dining area, wet bar, two sitting areas, two bathrooms and not to mention an exquisite king size bed, was bigger than the hovel we now call home. Robes awaited us in the closet and big fluffy towels presented themselves to us on actual furniture in the bathroom. A huge garden tub lended itself to a late night bubble bath. The personal amenities-once a staple at many hotels now sadly absent in many cases - were carefully arranged in the bathroom and the wet bar area. The sofas were so comfortable we almost forgot we had a dinner to attend. We escaped to the balcony area afterward to look over the lights of the city and listened to each others' hopes and dreams for the future. The formal design of the entire area with the regal red and gold furnishings, took us back to another time and place. For one brief night we were able to to have a glimpse of a life for us that no longer existed .

I want to commend Marriott on their exquisite taste, excellent customer service and attention to detail. My daughter will never forget her thirteenth birthday and I will never forget your kindness. Thank you, Marriott, for a very special memory!