debstravelreviews
Business · August 20258/10
Context: Business traveler, extremely Marriott-loyal (Ambassador Elite), pretty much only stays at Ws these days
I've stayed at this hotel 3 times in the last year, all for about a week each. I had n...Context: Business traveler, extremely Marriott-loyal (Ambassador Elite), pretty much only stays at Ws these days
I've stayed at this hotel 3 times in the last year, all for about a week each. I had never considered this property previously because I heard it was dark and in desperate need of a renovation. Well, W heard us loud and clear and they gave us that! The place is now gorgeous - the rooms, common areas, gym (one of the biggest and best). Much has been written on this, I don't need to reiterate it.
RATING
I score hotels based on how they deliver vs. expectation. I have low expectations somewhere like a Renaissance or a Courtyard. I have high expectations for anything in the luxury horizontal: W, Edition, St Regis, etc.
Here is where this W goes from 5 to 4: So, Marriott decided this would be the flagship W for not just North America, but GLOBALLY. This means this needs to be the most amazing W - not just from a physical standpoint - but also from a service standpoint. I cannot in good conscience give this 5 stars, when I have had better service at almost every other W I have stayed at in the last two years (London, SF, Punta Mita, Algarve, Barcelona.. maybe not Seattle, that one is kinda meh). On top of that, there is no buzz or energy at all - you walk into the lobby and it feels like a Renaissance. For the global flagship, I expected...excitement? Nice scents? Or at least a doorman? (they always seem to be missing??)
DECEMBER: (2.5/5)
Had to fight for my life for a barely-there upgrade despite what looked like availability on the app (biggest peeve given immense loyalty), and there was no breakfast benefit because there was no restaurant, unless you count mediocre pastries and coffee downstairs. Service was also really unimpressive.
MAY: (3/5)
Someone had coordinated an upgrade on my behalf which was then given to someone else before I checked in, I was given a room with concrete covering the window and then a super noisy room on a low floor, again had really unimpressive service (people talking poorly about their other coworkers, service fragmented across Welcome Desk and Insider, toiletries missing in rooms, no one responding to my email for several days despite reaching out first). On the bright side, they partnered with Devocion for free coffee and a pastry for the Elite breakfast benefit, so that feedback was taken into account, and I loved this perk.
AUGUST (this month): (4/5)
I spoke with both the GM (Christina) and Director of Ops (Alex). They helped me with my corporate rate and gave me the best upgrade on the highest floor - it was stunning and perfect and greatly appreciated. There were some new faces (Darina, Jessica) working who were so much friendlier and more professional than who I had encountered prior, who even found butterfly bandages for a broken nail I had (THANK YOU), and were very on top of it. And the restaurant was open for guests! But... the restaurant still had kinks to work out. Calling down to pre-order breakfast was a total disaster across reception and restaurant and I ended up being late to work, and with an incorrect order. Second day only a little better. Menu for elite breakfast is also really unimpressive compared to the other Ws listed above.
BOTTOM LINE
If you do not care about service, you will love this place because it's gorgeous. But my other Ambassador friends/coworkers who have stayed here feel the same and prefer The Edition a couple blocks away. I remain optimistic given how each stay has been better than the last and my love for the W.
Today, this feels like a luxury boutique instead of a full-service W - and definitely not a flagship one at that. Even little things, like really dirty mirrors in the elevator, or missing doormen at all hours when myself or others are struggling with bags, make the experience feel incomplete. I also think whoever was in charge of the reno didn't do any favors putting the bar (which I don't think is open) on another floor - the lobby Living Room bar normally adds life.
This is a W! Maybe we don't need club music anymore, but a heartbeat would be nice.Show More
