Please advise:

Long Island Marriott or Marriott Islandia? I am looking for great service for a big dinner event, so I need both a large reception space and rooms for guests. The ideal place would be centrally located.

Thanks!

Liz,
Your Marriott selections seem to indicate that you're not from Long Island (they're 30 miles apart) so it begs the question, centrally located to what?

Other choices you might want to consider:
Near the Islandia Marriott (and used to be a Marriott property) is the Wyndham Wind Watch Hotel and Hamlet Golf Club.

Centrally located between Riverhead, Long Island (where the Island forks) and NYC is Melville. There, you'll find the Melville Marriott and Huntington Hilton.

Service, food and accommodations at these hotels are can vary. From my attendance at functions I'd rank them as follows:
1. Melville Marriott
2. Wyndham Wind Watch
3. Huntington Hilton/Islandia Marriott - tie
LI Marriott - IMHO, not very good.

If you want the best on Long Island, take a look at the Garden City Hotel. Elegant, professional and more expensive.
hth,

Thanks, MJ. We tried the Garden City Hotel and they were booked for the evening we need to have our event.

I know you ranked the LI Marriott last, but did you do so because it is awful, or just not your favorite?

And you are right, I am not from Long Island, so any advice you can provide would be wonderful.

Liz: Check out the Roslyn Claremont Hotel in Roslyn, L.I. Upscale section of Long Island and Upscale hotel. Their website is roslynclaremonthotel.com.

Frank! You are the best! Someone mentioned the claremont and I could not find it on line anywhere...perfect!

Thanks again.

Liz

Liz,
Also look into the Wyndham Windwatch in Hauppauge (close to Islandia Marriot). We stayed there last year for our wedding and it is a lovely hotel, although not sure about hosting an event there. You'd need to see the rooms yourself. I can only speak for the hotel rooms with down comforters and great accomodations. Also a great golf course on the premises. Good luck.

LI Marriott was fine for a high school reunion last year (actually food better than expected, but I wouldn't call it great), but not "great service for a big dinner event". If the event is really special, I would look elsewhere

Ahh yes, the Claremont is excellent, on the same quality level as the GC Hotel, maybe a bit better. It also pricey and not excactly centrally located but only ~20-30 minutes from La Guardia or Kennedy airports.

LI Marriott is pretty old 25+ years and is geared more towards conventions. As such, it provides adaquate service for the masses but clearly nothing "special" in either decor, service or food. It reminds me more of an airport hotel.

I have a reservation at the Roslyn Claremont for my wedding night...good choice? They said they have rooms with a harbor view.