Hotels Near Of MeNew JerseyEssex CountyWest OrangeRooney Circle
8 Rooney Cir, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA
My family and I stayed overnight at the Courtyard Marriott West Orange and had an experience that was both disappointing and unacceptable. We booked two adjoining rooms, expecting a peaceful stay. Instead, we were met with unprofessional and biased behavior from Assistant General Manager Sebastian Alexander. Our children were in the pool for no more than 10–15 minutes when Sebastian abruptly told them to get out. When my wife and I went down to ensure they had exited, he told us it was due to a wristband policy—something we were never informed of at booking or check-in. While we were near the pool, Sebastian saw a few children still in the area (who were not with us) and ran to call the police—without speaking to us or asking a single question. He assumed they were part of our group and escalated the situation unnecessarily. When we tried to get clarification, he gave conflicting answers and handed us a printed sheet of policies we had never seen or signed. He also made a snide comment about us booking through Expedia, as if that made us less deserving of respect. There were other things that transpired during our stay that I won’t go into detail about, but overall, his attitude was rude and condescending from the moment we had contact with him. All children were under adult supervision and behaved appropriately. This wasn’t about enforcing policy—it was about poor judgment, false assumptions, and a lack of professionalism. We won’t be returning, and I strongly urge Marriott to reevaluate the kind of management they place in charge of guest experiences.
For local users in and around West Orange, New Jersey, who are exploring options within the "Hotels Near Of Me" category, the Courtyard West Orange, part of the Marriott brand, is an establishment that may appear in their search results. Located at 8 Rooney Cir, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA, and reachable by phone at (973) 669-4725, this hotel is a consideration for various travel needs. To provide an objective introduction, it is crucial to examine publicly available information, including customer feedback, which for this particular hotel presents a consistent and significant area of concern.
The general environment of a Courtyard by Marriott typically aims to be modern, functional, and suitable for both business and leisure travelers. These hotels often feature a lobby designed for working and socializing, a bistro offering breakfast and dinner, and recreational facilities such as a pool and fitness center. While specific details about the general ambiance of the Courtyard West Orange beyond customer service issues are not explicitly provided in the given reviews, the brand standard generally suggests a clean and well-maintained physical space. However, the customer reviews provided focus overwhelmingly on issues related to hotel management and guest experience rather than the physical environment itself.
Regarding services, the core offering of any hotel is accommodation, and the Courtyard West Orange provides rooms, including the possibility of adjoining rooms as noted by one guest. Beyond the physical rooms, the quality of service, particularly customer interaction and adherence to stated policies, becomes paramount. In the case of Courtyard West Orange, the reviews paint a highly concerning picture of the service delivery, specifically highlighting the behavior of a named individual, Assistant General Manager Sebastian Alexander.
Multiple accounts detail interactions with this individual that are described as "unprofessional and biased behavior," "dismissive and controlling," and akin to someone "on a power trip." Guests reported that rules, such as a wristband policy for the pool, were "never informed of at booking or check-in" but were abruptly enforced. The process of policy enforcement was also criticized, with claims of "false assumptions" being made without inquiry, leading to an "unnecessary" escalation, including the calling of the police for children who were not part of the guest's group. This indicates a significant breakdown in communication and guest relations.
Furthermore, the reviews consistently mention a "rude and condescending attitude" from this manager. Issues include "conflicting answers," being handed "a printed sheet of policies we had never seen or signed," and making "snide comment about us booking through Expedia, as if that made us less deserving of respect." Such descriptions suggest a severe departure from the expected standards of hospitality and customer service, where respect, clarity, and helpfulness are typically foundational. The sentiment that the manager was "more focused on asserting authority than actually managing the property with professionalism" underscores a critical failure in the service aspect of the hotel.
Concerning features, the hotel does offer a pool, which is a common amenity for a Courtyard property and can be a significant draw for families, particularly for those searching for "Hotels Near Of Me" with recreational options. However, the experience surrounding the pool, as detailed in the reviews, overshadows the benefit of its existence. The dispute over pool access and policy enforcement, combined with the alleged inappropriate managerial response, turns what should be a desirable feature into a source of considerable guest dissatisfaction.
The hotel is part of the Marriott brand, which typically carries a reputation for quality and consistent standards. One reviewer explicitly states, "I’ve stayed at many Marriott properties and never experienced anything like this," suggesting that the issues encountered at Courtyard West Orange are not reflective of the broader Marriott experience. This implies that while the hotel benefits from its association with a reputable chain, the individual management and operational practices at this specific location appear to diverge negatively from brand expectations, as perceived by these guests.
From a promotional standpoint, a hotel typically highlights its comfortable rooms, convenient location, amenities like a pool or fitness center, and positive customer service. However, based on the provided reviews, any promotional efforts for Courtyard West Orange would face significant challenges due to the severe and consistent negative feedback regarding management and guest experience. The strong urging for Marriott to "reevaluate the kind of management they place in charge of guest experiences" and the direct call for removal of the individual in question ("Someone like that has no business in hospitality. He reflects poorly on Marriott as a whole and should be removed") are powerful anti-promotional statements from real customers.
The overall tone of the customer feedback is one of profound disappointment and an absolute refusal to return. Phrases such as "Stay away from this hotel!", "We won’t be returning," and "Save yourself the headache and find somewhere else to stay!" serve as direct warnings to potential guests. These strong negative sentiments, originating from detailed accounts of personal experiences, would make it very difficult for any positive promotional message to resonate effectively with local users searching for "Hotels Near Of Me." The focus of the reviews is entirely on the detrimental impact of poor management and unprofessional conduct on the guest's stay, overshadowing any potential positive aspects of the physical property itself.
In conclusion, while Courtyard West Orange exists as an option for "Hotels Near Of Me" in the West Orange area, potential guests must be aware of the serious and consistent concerns raised by multiple reviewers regarding the management and overall guest experience. The accounts suggest significant issues with communication, policy enforcement, and professional conduct, which appear to have severely impacted the stays of the guests who provided these reviews. Objective information suggests that while the property may offer standard features, the reported service experience is a critical factor for any prospective traveler to consider.
8 Rooney Cir, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA
Get directionsMy family and I stayed overnight at the Courtyard Marriott West Orange and had an experience that was both disappointing and unacceptable. We booked two adjoining rooms, expecting a peaceful stay. Instead, we were met with unprofessional and biased behavior from Assistant General Manager Sebastian Alexander. Our children were in the pool for no more than 10–15 minutes when Sebastian abruptly told them to get out. When my wife and I went down to ensure they had exited, he told us it was due to a wristband policy—something we were never informed of at booking or check-in. While we were near the pool, Sebastian saw a few children still in the area (who were not with us) and ran to call the police—without speaking to us or asking a single question. He assumed they were part of our group and escalated the situation unnecessarily. When we tried to get clarification, he gave conflicting answers and handed us a printed sheet of policies we had never seen or signed. He also made a snide comment about us booking through Expedia, as if that made us less deserving of respect. There were other things that transpired during our stay that I won’t go into detail about, but overall, his attitude was rude and condescending from the moment we had contact with him. All children were under adult supervision and behaved appropriately. This wasn’t about enforcing policy—it was about poor judgment, false assumptions, and a lack of professionalism. We won’t be returning, and I strongly urge Marriott to reevaluate the kind of management they place in charge of guest experiences.
May 18, 2025 · Javaughn StephensonMy stay at Courtyard Marriott West Orange was completely overshadowed by the behavior of Sebastian A, the Assistant General Manager. From the moment we interacted with him, his attitude was dismissive and controlling. He carried himself like someone on a power trip, using his title to talk down to guests rather than assist them. Instead of creating a welcoming environment, he created tension and confusion. He threw out rules that weren’t mentioned at booking or check-in, made assumptions without asking questions, and responded to concerns with arrogance instead of solutions. It was clear he was more focused on asserting authority than actually managing the property with professionalism. Someone like that has no business in hospitality. He reflects poorly on Marriott as a whole and should be removed. I’ve stayed at many Marriott properties and never experienced anything like this. The energy he brought to the situation was completely unnecessary and inappropriate. Do better.
May 18, 2025 · Jaiden StephensonFriendly, professional and efficient staff. Very clean throughout. The lobby areas are very comfortable. The seating options are great to relax, meet or work. The beds are so-so. I've stayed at my share of Courtyards and at this one several times. The West Orange location ranks near the top.
Apr 10, 2025 · Steven GreenburgAssistant General Manager Sebastian Alexander at Courtyard Marriott West Orange is a clear example of someone who lets a title go to his head. He was completely unprofessional, rude, and on a clear power trip during my visit. It’s obvious he enjoys using his position to belittle guests instead of helping them. He gave conflicting information, enforced rules that were never mentioned during booking or check-in, and escalated situations unnecessarily—completely lacking the basic people skills expected in hospitality. He’s not only bad for business, he’s damaging Marriott’s reputation. This type of behavior is unacceptable and reflects poorly on the entire brand. Sebastian Alexander should be removed from his position immediately. No one should be treated the way I witnessed.
May 18, 2025 · OnnieBlatantly Discriminatory Experience at Courtyard Marriott West Orange I’ve stayed at this hotel before and expected a professional experience—but what happened during our most recent visit was completely unacceptable and honestly traumatic. My husband and I booked two adjoining rooms to accommodate our family and a few guests. We are Bonvoy members and repeat customers, but this time we were treated as if we didn’t belong there. Our children were in the pool for less than 15 minutes when Sebastian Alexandra, the Assistant General Manager, abruptly told them all to get out. When asked why, his only explanation was, “You need wristbands.” This was the first time we were hearing about this policy. It wasn’t shared during booking, check-in, or anywhere on the Marriott website. My husband and I went down to the pool to ensure everyone had left, and while there, we briefly greeted someone we recognized—who was not even with our group. Sebastian saw a few kids still near the pool (only about three, and not with us) and immediately ran to call the police without saying a word to us. He assumed they were with our party and escalated the situation in a way that was completely unnecessary and clearly biased. When we questioned him further, he gave inconsistent information, and handed us a random sheet of paper about the rules that we had never seen, agreed to, or signed. One of our guests even asked, “Did we see or sign this?” And the answer was no. To make things worse, when looking at our booking, Sebastian commented that we “booked through Expedia”—in a condescending tone, as if we didn’t deserve the same level of respect because we didn’t book direct. Completely uncalled for. All children were under responsible adult supervision and well-behaved. Yet instead of addressing any concern with professionalism, he chose to call the police on a group of Black children, some of whom were not even staying with us. If this was truly about policy, then why weren’t we ever asked to leave? This wasn’t policy enforcement—this was targeted, discriminatory treatment. Update: I contacted Expedia to request a refund. They reached out to the hotel, and Sebastian refused, claiming the situation occurred because “the children were causing a commotion.” This is completely false. It’s disappointing that instead of taking accountability, he doubled down on false accusations to avoid issuing a refund. This entire experience was humiliating and hurtful. We will never return, and I urge Marriott to investigate and take meaningful action.
May 18, 2025 · D B12 Rooney Cir, West Orange, NJ 07052, USA
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