Birdie

The famed Greenbrier Resort in West Virginia has declared bankruptcy and a pending sale to Marriott.

http://preview.tinyurl.com/ctr5e3

It is known to be a gorgeous resort. I have never been. We have always gone to the Homestead since it is closer to us.

JanetKMR

I have been to both and Greenbrier was just a hair better than The Homestead IMO. I love both places. It really is a beautiful place.

Birdie

That is what I've always heard too, Janet. I have always wanted to go to the Greenbrier. I wonder how much it will change as a Marriott.

We're still waiting to see what happens to Kingsmill. I think it would be great if Marriott would buy it but Kingsmill is a very different setup and Marriott already has the location at Ford's Colony.

NeoPatrick

While I've never been to the Greenbrier, I have lots of friends who have. The one objection most of them had in the past 15 years or so was that it had become a major convention hotel -- more than it had ever been. Clients who used to do big family gatherings there had opted out saying they felt like they were lost in the huge convention crowds who seemed to have everything booked -- even all the tee times on the golf course. I'm curious if the economy hurting corporate America and supposedly a decline in luxury conventions was a major cause of this bankruptcy?

Birdie

I am sure the economy was part of it, Patrick, but according to the article, labor disputes were another. There were threats of strikes which caused some groups to cancel.

I think a lot of the large and medium sized resorts have sought out convention dollars in recent years. I have seen resorts build additions and structure their activities towards business. I've noticed this at the Homestead, Skytop, and Kingsmill.

JanetKMR

I think the combination of the potential strikes plus the economy was the death nail. Groups who may have booked were scared to.

And it definitely catered to groups...when we went there it was because Dh was a speaker for a Virginia Lawyer's Convention.

Birdie

I don't know how those big, old resorts survive to begin with. The overhead on those buildings must be huge. I look at the Homestead and wonder what their annual paint bill is.

charsuzan

It is a beautiful place.

LvSun

Have been to the Greenbrier several times over the years. It is gorgeous. Moreover, it just has the most charming Southern atmosphere. Yes, the threatened strike last year did make things even worse - a lot of groups cancelled. Also yes, the convention trade is what kept it alive.

In Nov, voters in Greenbrier County approved gambling in the county - gambling at The Greenbrier had been a hot topic. http://www.statejournal.com/story.cf...&storyid=46513

I'll be curious to see what the Marriott does with The Greenbrier.

girlonthego

We have been to both with a group as well. It was too costly to go just to go. We liked both and I will give the edge to the Greenbriar for a little better than the Homestead.
I actually had a stomach bug there and I was so glad the bathroom was so clean as I spent a lot of time lying on their floor... I think tea and toast was about 25 dollars delivered to my room. LOL
Wall Street doesn't send us on these great little junkets anymore...boo hooo! We haven't had a company trip of any kind since 2001. We were supposed to go to Palm Beach in Florida and 9/11 happened. The group all shifted to the Greenbriar. We were the only ones who took our kids. It was one week after 9/11 and I was not leaving the kids anywhere. The kids loved it (the bowling alley, movie theater, etc..)
So, not sure how wall street got into such a bind since they stopped taking us to great places over 8 YEARS AGO!!!!!
I collect Marriott points so that is a good thing.