Hilton HHonors - Comments on Omaha Doubletree Needed

I'm scheduled to stay at the Doubletree in Omaha, NE next week. Anyone who has stayed at this property please give me some insight on what to expect.

Thanks in advance.

Stayed in both the downtown Omaha DT and the DT Guest Suites out in West Omaha. The DT Downtown room was quite large, clean, and newly renovated. The top floors of the hotel were undergoing renovation and having a business center added. At the time of our stay there was no executive level. We were given breakfast coupons, but the bf buffet downstairs was not very good. The pool is quite small and the elevators very slow as I remember. The hotel offers a complimentary shuttle and pick up service to the Old Market which has alot of great eating establishments and neat shops. The Guest Suites in West Omaha are unfortunately in rough condition. Despite the website stating the hotel had been recently renovated it was dirty, delapidated, and smelly. We actually had roaches in our room. The pool was disgustingly filthy, and the staff indifferent . The breakfast buffet is awful!

The downtown Double Tree is just fine -- the Old Market area just gets better and better, and it's just a few minutes from the airport. Nonetheless, the Embassy Suites a couple of blocks away is nicer (and is among the nicer ESs I've stayed at).

The Double Tree Suites on 72d street is an old-style Embassy Suites that, for some reason, Double Tree acquired. It is substantially below the other DT Suites that I've stayed at. (Indeed, it's now substandard to the average ES.) There's a Homewood Suites down the street (72d) that provides roughly the same quality breakfast, but has nicer and more spacious rooms.

[This message has been edited by Pooh (edited Dec 01, 2003).]

I'm a consultant and spent many weeks in Omaha on a project. Had to stay at the DT in the Old Market once during the College World Series and it was one of the most horrible places I have ever stayed at. It looks like nothing has changed since the 70's. Dark and damp.

Definitely stay at the HGI just 5 blocks or so away. They have a free shuttle service that will take you anywhere within reasonable distance at any time. Ask for the "Alegent Health Rate"...just $99/night anytime! The free high speed internet can't be beat, and I consistently got upgraded to the whirlpool suite as a Diamond. Great breakfast too.:-)

Randomman

I echo the above... The Double tree is trying, but, they are not quite there. The elevators are being replaced, rooms renovated, but... HGI has free internet. And HGI has the best beds in the world (imho).

Either will do, but I will always stay at HGI if given a choice.

YES. I've stayed at the Omaha doubletree many times. We stay there because of the client corporate rate. Actually, I'm writing this from a room in the Omaha doubletree downtown.

1) Deskstaff - It is a mixed bag. Some of the managers are quite friendly, others such as D** have no idea what customer service mean. Let's just say the entire staff could benefit in customer service training.
2) Breakfast buffet - well, they spent money to upgrade the buffet counter, but then reduced the quantity, variety, and quality of the food. But nice new sneeze guards. For awhile they had an omelet bar, but apparently that is connected to whether or not the executive center is booked. Based on the last few months they had the omelet bar up and running about 3 mornings over that entire period.
3) Rooms. The big suites end in 32 - so there is one per floor. BIG, each has a hot tub, etc. Otherwise the rooms are small and dark. Functional and reasonably clean, but showing wear and tear.
4) Inconsistent service. Sometimes my bed is turned down, sometimes it isn't. Sometimes I get two free bottles of water per stay, sometimes two per night, sometimes none. Once I got four for one night.
5) Super old plumbing. Enough said.
6) Slow elevators. They are always fixing the elevators and often the wait in the morning is unbearably slow.
7) Odd upgrading. As a gold I was often upgraded to mega suite, but as a diamond I usually get a small room.
8) No executive lounge, etc.
9) Old market is not far away, but not easy to walk during winter. It is cold in Omaha!
10) High speed internet - they finally installed this in the rooms.

Hilton Garden Inn - newer hotel, more expensive than doubletree, rooms are very cookie cutter, free high speed internet, superior breakfast, closer walk to old market.

Food suggestions for Omaha: high end = V MERTZ. Middle: Jams, Stokes, Sushi Japan (surprisingly exceptional).

i pulled this thread up from 2003 and wanted to see if anyone else has stayed at either the DT Downtown or the HGI Old Market. i'm going to be spending three weeks in downtown and hope to get a pretty comfortable stay. also, what are the upgrade chances if one will be staying about 20 nights at both places?

DT is old. HGI is new. I was upgraded to a suite at the HGI as a gold. Always have to beg for an upgrade at DT.

There are things I like about each of these hotels, but the HGI wins out for amenities, Doubletree usually for price. Both have covered parking garages (unlike the ES down the street) which is essential in the winter in Omaha. HGI has an amazing steakhouse inside it featuring Omaha Steak Co. products. Doubletree has nice in-house shuttle drivers that take you to the Old Market if you don't feel like walking, where you can dine and shop at numerous places. The rooms at Doubletree were hit or miss (I was last there in April 2004), some are renovated that are quite nice, others darker and a bit worn. I like the options for the HHonors benefit of free cocktails in the evening at the bar or a free breakfast at this property, I often have business breakfasts when in town and didn't use my coupons in the morning. HGI offers standard free breakfast coupons. Workout facility is a little bigger, as is indoor pool, at the Doubletree. I have stayed at all 3 HHonors properties in the Old Market, rate ES as favorite overall, but rates are so high and am split between HGI and Doubletree just depending on the nature of my stay. I think you will find either acceptable and may want to split your time between the 2.

Many local companies have negotiated rates with these hotels. The company I was working for had deals with both. The strange thing was, the published rate at the Doubletree was the same as the negotiated rate. The HGI was cheaper, $99/night, I believe.

I liked the HGI best. I suggest you call the hotel, tell them who you're working for, and ask if they can offer a better rate.

This comment may be too late for you, but we stayed at the Doubletree in Sept 2004 as Gold and were upgraded to one of the "32" suites without asking, on a Friday night stay (I think it was 1032). It has a large living/dining area and 2 baths, pretty good condition, soft goods seemed fresh. No info on the standard rooms.

Front desk staff good, bartender good, bar is kind of an 80's flashback.

FWIW, I think there was a rodeo or farm show in town at the time, there were a lot of hats on display. :)

I actually prefer the Hilton Omaha better. I usually can get $99-$129 rates there, and the service is excellent. Plus the beds are great. I'd agree with the above comments on the Doubletree: dark, fixtures a bit old, and no valet(at least not later at night). The HGI is a solid choice, but the Hilton Omaha is only 2-3 blocks away from that, and attached to the Qwest Center.

I echo the above... The Double tree is trying, but, they are not quite there. The elevators are being replaced, rooms renovated, but... HGI has free internet. And HGI has the best beds in the world (imho).

Either will do, but I will always stay at HGI if given a choice.
I prefer the HGI they often upgrade me and they have a decent bar in the lobby.
TRoy

Stayed at the Omaha DT last week and got upgraded to one of the big suites, 1732. Huge room and hot tub. I agree with the comments that the lobby is a bit tired, but the room decor was fine and the room size was fantastic. Assuming they upgrade me regularly, I would definitely stay again.

As mentioned above the DT in Omaha on Cedar off of 72nd is a former ES.

Currently all exterior balconies are being replaced. Place is somewhat "tired". However, my room was clean.

WiFi for $10/24 hrs.

Must be something going on in town because this place is not worth $139 (before taxes).

This Diamond is in a king room with a full bath plus a dressing area (with vanity and running water).

Has Sweet Dreams bed, very, very comfortable.
Does not yet have the new alarm clocks (I could care less).

Given the location of my meetings I would stay at this property again.

I did not eat breakfast at the hotel (took the 1000 HHonors points instead).

Wi-Fi is still $10/24 hrs.

Front desk manager mentioned at check-in that the entire hotel was, after the summer season, going to be remodeled.

He did not know if it would be re-branded.

I did notice a lot of dust in the bathroom air vent.

Makes you wonder what the interior of the duct work looks like.

I echo the above... The Double tree is trying, but, they are not quite there. The elevators are being replaced, rooms renovated, but... HGI has free internet. And HGI has the best beds in the world (imho).

Either will do, but I will always stay at HGI if given a choice.
The HGI also has a few suites. I have been upgraded their a few times.

Need to be in Omaha in a few weeks...any opinions on ES compared to HGI?

ES is in better location unless you have event at Qwest Center. It is located immediately adjacent to Old Market District that has a lot of dining choices. This is a fun/safe area in the evenings and is easily walkable from the HGI.

I believe you will more likely be upgraded at the HGI.

Need to be in Omaha in a few weeks...any opinions on ES compared to HGI?
I have stayed at both the ES and Hilton but not the HGI. I would recommend either the ES or Hilton.

You will get many families/children at the ES on weekends, the Hilton is much quieter. Either way you are not far from the Old Town action and river walk area at the Hilton

Any recent comments about the downtown DT (1616 Dodge St)? I'll be there in early June for a conference. Will a HH Gold be treated well there? Or would I be better off staying elsewhere and walking to and fro every day?

I live in Omaha, the Doubletree is an older hotel that was a Red Lion for years, as mentioned here there are 2 relatively new properties very close; HGI and ES. HGI is closer (11 and Dodge), ES is in the Old Market maybe 3 blocks further away than HGI. Its a nice area for either very walkable.

It's been a couple of years since I stayed there, but as a Gold I was upgraded to a very spacious room (might have been a suite). Breakfast was a typical buffet - fine but nothing spectacular. Their van is available to take you to & from the Old Market if you don't want to walk. I would stay there again if I ever go back to Omaha.

Just thought I'd update the thread - currently staying at the Doubletree downtown (Dodge St)

I've stayed at the HGI and it's the usual HGI; also have been upgraded there before. There are a bunch of new hotels North side of the city, including a Hampton and Homewood. These are likely affecting pricing at this DT - I'm staying here for <$100/night, mid week.

Still can tell the hotel has been here a while, but IMO it's not bad at all. Older furniture in rooms and lobby; but bed, TV (32" plasma); fixtures (lamps w/outlets); and bathroom all nice. UG'd to a corner suite on a low floor - double door entry; nice coffee table which is doubling as a desk veranda; big desk; microwave, fridge, two free bottles of water; very roomy.

Full blown breakfast buffet free; free drink cert for each night staying; parking garage attached (and cheap); free HSIA.

Easy and nice walk (in summer) to Old Market - helps burn some calories. Or, Sullivans two blocks away.