Column on Marriott Hotel

Having just reread Martinez’ article (April 3) on his visit to the new Warner Center Marriott Hotel, I find a disturbing trend in the three major articles that to this date have found their way into what passes for social and society commentary.

I withheld my thoughts when Doug Smith cynically reviewed my Annual St. Andrew’s Day Celebration and later did an unadulterated hatchet job on the Valley Cultural Society’s efforts at improving our community. After all, he is entitled to his opinions, and to complain about his views would have appeared self serving, since I host one and actively support the other.

But enough is enough. The Marriott is not my company, nor do I have any vested interest therein, except as an enthusiastic customer, like the other 1.5 million Valley residents. A city the size of Dallas, and until now the Sheraton Hotels in Universal City were the only vestiges of first-class accommodations available to us! Finally we actually get a big, world-class innkeeper to locate, not on the fringes, but right out in the center of our wonderful Valley, and the best our world-class newspaper can do is to pan and knock everything that is naturally loose at the occasion of a new opening, not mentioning even one positive characteristic that such a momentous event really merits.

I have attended over eight major events in the hotel in the first two weeks of operation, and found all to be well run and basically equal to similar affairs at major Beverly Hills hotels, which have enjoyed years of practice. The Marriott is so fully booked that hardly a date on a weekend is left unscheduled for its ballrooms until early 1988. The phase in of guest rooms and restaurants has been well thought out and, while not without the normal start up problems, basically very smooth--particularly when you consider that except for top management and administration, they hired our kids to run the place. That’s right! Valley kids and adults got the jobs--almost 800 of them. And the enthusiasm and esprit created by the Marriott is an example to corporate America on how to get a job done--and done right. Considering the speed of takeoff, it is surprising they could train anyone. Not since a hotel on Long Island has the Marriott Corp. enjoyed such a fast start (per Mr. Marriott himself, who came to oversee the grand opening).

My disappointment with the Times editorial staff’s treatment of the fantastic new Marriott and what it means to our community is compounded by what I feel is an unbelievable lack of perspective, a cynical desire to belittle and be cute and a totally tabloid mentality that says, “Don’t confuse me with facts or viewpoints of the community; my mind is already made up.”

I hope in the months to come that someone from your department has the good judgment to tell the story of this great company and the catalytic effect it is having on the business success of Warner Center. If they don’t know where to start, try asking Mayor Bradley, our Councilwoman Joy Picus or any of our civic and business leaders.

JAMES R. GARY

Woodland Hills