surprised to pay to stay in a shelter We have stayed at the Element many times over the past 10 years as it is located very close to family. We arrived this time to find a very different cliental. The family in the suite above us was very noisy moving furniture late in to the night and there was no room service at all. When we asked at the front desk, the only comment was that they were not able to comment. An search through recent reviews and the Boston papers revealed that this is now being used as a migrant shelter. Why did I still need to pay regular hotel prices when the majority of the hotel was staying for free? They are still struggling to maintain their above average breakfasts and I recognize the chef as having been there now for years. I am very disappointed that there was no prior knowledge of this situation There should have been a significant reduction in the nightly room rate.

If You Want Cultural Enrichment....Stay Here The staff seemed helpless as to the plethora of illegals migrants that seemed to be forced on the hotel by the city and state. I am not making an assumption regarding the status of the "illegal migrants" because that is the explanation received from the hotel staff when we asked about the chaos in the lobby every day. What was unusual from my many stays at the Marriott franchise was that people were lurking around dark hallways, cooking inside their rooms, having their doors ajar, walking around the lobby with no shoes and a bathrobe. We were unable to enjoy a coffee in the lobby or eat there because one would be swarmed by people watching over you. If the hotel is going to have illegal migrants staying there, perhaps they should let other paying guest know, hire extra staff and security. Nevertheless, we were not expecting this type of cultural enrichment. Going forward, we will contact the hotel in advance to check and book elsewhere. Moreover, there is no chance that we will stay there again.

If you want to stay at a homeless shelter I’m a Titanium Elite member and have stayed at both this property and also the Aloft across the parking lot in the past, since it’s close to family. This is now being run as a homeless shelter and I’m mad that that fact wasn’t conveyed when booking. I would never choose to stay at a homeless shelter, not alone or with my family, and left to stay at an independent hotel. Very sad turn of events. It makes me nervous to book any more Bonvoy properties, because how are you to know until you check in and see the other people living there?

The Worst Hotel Stay in Decades I've spent well over 200 nights at the Element and stayed as a Titanium Marriott level traveller for almost two decades all over the world. It saddens me to report that the Element this December was one of the worst hotels I've stayed at in the last decade. The management of the Element and it's sister property in the same parking lot (the Aloft) have taken rooms at the hotel and turned them into migrant housing. As such, the hotel feels more like a residence, and most or all services and personel have been cut back dramatically, cancelled, closed, or dismissed. I would assume at great savings. For example, the pool is closed, there is no lobby holiday decor aside from a tree, they have no coffee during the day, the once great breakfast is weird -- and little is left for regular paying guests even if you show up within the first hour. The front desk informede that they do the housekeeping because no one stays on a housekeeping position for more than a week or two. And the hotel longer clean rooms if you stay longer than a night anyway without a request -- even on an every-other-day basis. (Though they clean migrant housing three times a week, which is posted on signs in the hallway.) They don't even bring towels or take trash -- you have to take it to the desk. The noise above is significant. The rooms were already very tired, but the staff used to make up for it--at this point, the broken shades, leaky faucets, musty sheets, loud neighbors, and missing items no longer can be ignored even with the cherry desk staff and Alexis, the breakfast cook/serving staff and only saving grace of the hotel. All in all, it was a disaster. Most disconcerting, is the military guards there full time to keep the disorderly conduct from reoccurring. It is one thing to sleep in a dirty bed with broken shades and not get breakfast. It is another thing all together to wonder why military national guard has to protect the property and keep it safe. It is shameful that Marriott allows this hotel --.once a jewel in Marriott's portfolio -- to continue under their brand. And Lexi, the franchise owner, is clearly profiting at guests and many others' expense. The only thing I can conclude is that the state must be paying dearly for these rooms or they wouldn't be tanking the brand with such disregard -- only such a giant financial gain would warrant it. National Guard living there to keep the peace was perhaps even more frightening than the lack of cleanliness. And that was saying a lot.

Good experience with handling a challenge I ended up with a challenge regarding my reservation. I was very impressed with the way the manager dealt with it -- going the extra mile to make things right. I will give them my business next time just for that personal touch alone. And it's a nice place to boot.