Starwood Preferred Guest - Minneapolis: Chambers becomes LM - pre opening discussion

Starting February 1, Chambers Hotel becomes Le Meridien, with rates of $239 (queen) through $409 (executive suite) weekdays, $209 (queen) through $279 (executive suite) weekends, plus more suites up to $2500, but no special rates or promos for random dates. These rates seem lower than typical when it was an independent hotel, but not as good as some recent offers to groups such as weddings. It will be Category 4, like the other downtown Minneapolis properties (Ivy LC, W at the Foshay, and Minneapolis Westin), although these other hotels tend to offer better special rates.

This is a trendy boutique hotel (about 60 suites and rooms) with a lively bar scene and lots of contemporary art, including a small gallery devoted to special exhibits. Their restaurant was recently changed to upscale Italian.

I like the Chambers but its rates are so ridiculously high for the Minneapolis market (meaning over $200 per night) that I suspect it won't be long before the new LM drops its rates to be more in line with the Westin and the W Foshay. I am sure the Chambers was struggling as an independent hotel because of its high rates and the owners thought it would improve bookings to become affiliated with LM. Well, it won't help much with such high rates. The Luxury Collection Hotel Ivy was forced to cut its rates to stay in business, yet it still was placed into court-ordered receivership in August 2009.

Makes me wonder how the nearby Graves 601 Hotel is doing since it dropped its affiliation with LM a few years ago. It opened in 2004 as Le Meridien Minneapolis. Unlike the boutique-style Chambers Hotel, the Graves 601 is a high-rise hotel.

Until several years ago, Minneapolis didn't have much higher-end hotel space. Then a bunch of new downtown properties were opened shortly before the Republican National Convention: Ivy, Westin, W at the Foshay, aloft, the Minneapolis (Doubletree). Shortly after opening (and before the RNC), the Ivy was already beginning to greatly lower its room prices--sometimes it was quite empty and other times it was full, especially when it hosted corporate meetings and events--but the maximum prices posted in regular rooms (not suites) were a couple thousand dollars a night. Since the RNC, there seems to be excess capacity. However, my impression is that some properties like the Westin have highly variable rates, depending on how full the hotel expects to be that night. It's not hard to find weekends (i.e., when there's a sporting event in the Metrodome) when rates at the aloft are twice as much as the W, Westin, or Ivy. Chambers is unique, but it certainly has competition: the W, Ivy, the Grand, and Nicollet Island Inn, although all are different in style. It will be interesting to see how they do as Le Meridien. At this point, Minneapolis and its suburbs have a lot of Starwood properties, especially given how rare Starwood generally is in the Midwest.

Graves 601 seems large and impersonal. As pointed out, it's a modern high rise and gives the appearance of having identical rooms (as, surprisingly, the Ivy does). Perhaps its bigger problem is that the area surrounding it never developed as expected. Unfortunately, not only is Graves 601 not connected to the skyway, but it's also surrounded by a parking lot, an indoor pro-sports venue, and a bunch of strores and (fast-food-like) restaurants that cater to urban teenagers. The exterior doesn't seem at all promising for a good hotel. I'm almost surprised that they're still in operation.

Possibly all rates haven't been loaded yet. Couldn't find any AAA rates. Also couldn't find any C&P or Z2H, etc.

Also, there is no "Hotel Offers" link on the property's homepage.

FWIW, Graves 601 is joining the Wyndham Grand Collection.

What a change. Just a few years ago I had a number of meetings in Minneapolis and had to choose between the 4pts out in an industrial estate (not actually bad considering) or downtown at the Hyatt, Hiltons or Radisson.

The Press release on the news of the Chambers joining SPG tells a significant part of the story...

http://www.chambersminneapolis.com/pdfs/LeMeridien_Chambers.pdf

Owner of the CHambers also owns the W. The GM of the W has been acting GM of the Chambers as well for a few months. The GM will officially manage both hotels.

Actually would be an interesting comparison for a hotel owner. Open two hotels, one affiliated... one not. He would have real data as to the benefits of being part of a chain or being independent.

I'm guessing there really are benefits!

d.

Unfortunately, not only is Graves 601 not connected to the skyway,

Not correct. It is connected to Minneapolis City Center as well as the Target Center by Skyway, although indirectly. You have to walk through an inside door between the hotel and the "Block E" building (where the Kerasotes Stadium 15 Theater is located) and take an elevator up one floor to get to the Skyway.

This is great news. The ice bar in the winter is awesome. The hotel also has a neat art gallery connected to it.

I've always wanted to stay at the Chambers on a weekend night, but never had any incentive to. Now I'm dying to check it out!

if im not mistaken this makes 5 starwood hotels in the general downtown area....
Le Meridien, W, Westin, Ivy, and aloft

very impressive!!

if im not mistaken this makes 5 starwood hotels in the general downtown area....
Le Meridien, W, Westin, Ivy, and aloft

very impressive!!

Yes, although aloft isn't exactly downtown. Plus there's a new Westin (Edina Galleria) in the southern suburbs. I can count four Sheratons in the MSP area and one up north in Duluth. Fortunately the old 4pts was sold and switched brands, although I noticed it recently being still featured on one of the in-room SPG channels. Maybe some hotel should upgrade to the current tapes?

Yes, although aloft isn't exactly downtown.

The aloft most certainly is located in downtown Minneapolis. It may not be as centrally located as the others, but it's still downtown and is within walking distance of the others (at least in the summer). I can say this because I am a native Minnesotan who lived in Minneapolis for 12 years.

The aloft most certainly is located in downtown Minneapolis. It may not be as centrally located as the others, but it's still downtown and is within walking distance of the others (at least in the summer). I can say this because I am a native Minnesotan who lived in Minneapolis for 12 years.

I think we have different definitions of downtown, but the aloft is located between downtown and the West Bank part of the Univesity of Minnesota campus. It's close to the new Guthrie theater and the Metrodome, but I would not call it downtown and I would not be happy at this location if I had been expecting a downtown hotel. I've driven past it four times in the last 24 hours.

I think we have different definitions of downtown, but the aloft is located between downtown and the West Bank part of the Univesity of Minnesota campus. It's close to the new Guthrie theater and the Metrodome, but I would not call it downtown and I would not be happy at this location if I had been expecting a downtown hotel.

Agreed, when I think of a property as being downtown, I think of it as being amongst the skyscrapers, which the aLoft certainly is not.

Each time this thread bounces to the top, I pull it up because I think someone is doing a review of the Chambers since it has become affiliated with Starwood. Imagine my buzzkill when I discover it's just another entry debating the definition of downtown Minneapolis.

Each time this thread bounces to the top, I pull it up because I think someone is doing a review of the Chambers since it has become affiliated with Starwood. Imagine my buzzkill when I discover it's just another entry debating the definition of downtown Minneapolis.

This ones for you JFKSFOLAX_friend! :D

Possibly all rates haven't been loaded yet. Couldn't find any AAA rates. Also couldn't find any C&P or Z2H, etc.

Also, there is no "Hotel Offers" link on the property's homepage.

Sorry, no review, but FYI it's the closest hotel to the Saloon, a big gay nightclub.....I hadn't seen that it'd changed to a LM till laaaate last night as I walked past. :)
Also, I did a check and there are now more reasonable rates now online for the LM Chambers-- e.g., $139 for Easter weekend, which is still higher than W-Foshay ($119), Westin DT ($99), Aloft ($79), but $10 cheaper than the Ivy.

Might be doing the Chambers in a couple of weeks; so it shouldn't be too long a wait for the review :]

^

Does this property have their C&P rates loaded? I have searched about 20 dates and have never seen one. Aren't properties required to offer SOME cash and points rates? (I was just thinking that since it is relatively new perhaps those rates haven't been loaded yet.)

Does this property have their C&P rates loaded?

Yes, it does.

I have searched about 20 dates and have never seen one. Aren't properties required to offer SOME cash and points rates? (I was just thinking that since it is relatively new perhaps those rates haven't been loaded yet.)

No, they are not. They can activate it or deactivate it as they desire.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I just booked a stay for this coming Friday... Will post a review shortly thereafter.

I'm really interested to see how "SPG Aware" the staff is with the hotel just recently turning over. The W Minneapolis is usually awesome in this department, as a Minneapolis resident I've burned lots of points throwing parties there... and can almost always count on an upgrade to a large suite up top, though I haven't gotten into the EWOW room yet ;)

With the same GM I'm hoping for a similar experience... I stayed here when it was Chambers for NYE 2 years ago, very 'zen like' suite, interested to see what has/hasn't changed.

Maybe red/white/blue is now an executive lounge?? :eek:

Anyone stay here yet? I was interested in hearing about your platinum upgrade successes...