Starwood Preferred Guest - Westin Mount Laurel, New Jersey [Master Thread]

There is no Westin Mount Laurel thread, so I decided to start one for future reference. The new Westin Mount Laurel, South Jersey will open this June. What category will this new property be? When will we be able to book a room? Does anyone have some info on the construction status & progress. What's the area like? I'm not sure if I'm correct of not, but this seems like one of the first new "prototype" property for the suburban market that Westin touted about not so long ago. It looks like a nice concept, I like it.

I was a frequent guest at the Marriott (right next to where the Westin is being built in Mount Laurel) up until about 3 weeks ago. The location is on Route 73 at the corner of Fellowship Rd, near the entrance ramps to both the NJ Turnpike and I-295.

Given the progress of construction at the time, I doubt very much the property will be ready in June. They had the foundation and the steel girders / concrete walls in for 2-3 floors, but that's it. Interestingly enough, it appeared the lobby will be the former reception area of the banquet hall that was located there before Westin started work. The hotel rooms are being built adjacent and connected to the existing structure.

I was looking forward to staying at this new Westin. However, I contacted the Westin Mount Laurel and was informed by someone named Jeff that unfortunately the hotel will not be ready until September at the earliest. The hotel will not open in June as planned. I was not given any specific reason, but it might be due to a construction delay. I guess MileKing was accurate in his post earlier in this thread.

Update!
This place won't open this month afterall,
The opening date has changed again, isn't it the 3rd time?. What's going on with this project? With the mild weather we've been having this place should be open now. Anyway, the website now says; Now accepting reservations for arrival on or after February 14, 2008.

Update!
This place won't open this month afterall,
The opening date has changed again, isn't it the 3rd time?. . . Now accepting reservations for arrival on or after February 14, 2008.

The most recent opening date was April 3. I had a reservation for April 8 & 9 and just received a call from someone at the property and it now won't open until the 10th, so I'm on my own to find an alternative.

Some of my family lives less then a mile away.
I am sure this property will take much time as it is a former Wydham bunker that had seen far better days.It was tired and needed a miracle
Hopefully the Westin will be just what the doctor ordered
I have been staying at the all suite Hyatt Place down the road
with 42" flat screens.I snagged a 70 dollar rate just as it grand opened!
Haven't seen the rate since however it is a really nice hotel
Keep my eyes peeled on the Westin
Cheers

. . . I have been staying at the all suite Hyatt Place down the road
with 42" flat screens.I snagged a 70 dollar rate just as it grand opened!
Haven't seen the rate since however it is a really nice hotel. . .

So you like this HP? I've stayed in a few now and they all seem pretty consistent and very acceptable -- better than most Sheraton and Four Points properties. This one is an alternative I'm thinking about, so I'd be curious to hear any comments you might have.

My business is in Cherry Hill. Traffic-wise, would I be stupid to stay at the Westin in downtown Philadelphia? That's where I've re-booked, as I thought the evening options might be better, but I'm open to suggestions. My two preferences are Starwood & Hyatt.

My business is in Cherry Hill. Traffic-wise, would I be stupid to stay at the Westin in downtown Philadelphia? That's where I've re-booked, as I thought the evening options might be better, but I'm open to suggestions. My two preferences are Starwood & Hyatt.

Assuming you're going opposite the rush (out of Philly in the a.m. and returning in the p.m.) the traffic in NJ should not be that bad. The problem will be the traffic in the city which will be bad during both.

There is also a Summerfield Suites right across from the HP. You can compare rates to see which is cheaper. I have stayed at both and prefer the HP since it is freshly converted from Amerisuites.

So you like this HP? I've stayed in a few now and they all seem pretty consistent and very acceptable -- better than most Sheraton and Four Points properties. This one is an alternative I'm thinking about, so I'd be curious to hear any comments you might have.

My business is in Cherry Hill. Traffic-wise, would I be stupid to stay at the Westin in downtown Philadelphia? That's where I've re-booked, as I thought the evening options might be better, but I'm open to suggestions. My two preferences are Starwood & Hyatt.

AZ - where is your business in Cherry Hill? If it's in the Western area (near Garden State shopping center, Cherry Hill Mall, etc. then none of these properties along Rt. 73 will save you much time versus coming from the City.

As you've probably learned, the only SPG or Hyatt options in that part of NJ are just these two mentioned.

If you need to be in the Cherry Hill East area (closer to the I-295/Rt. 70 interchange), then these wouldn't be a bad choice at all. Traffic isn't horrible if you stay off 295.

On a separate note about the Westin Mt Laurel, NJ - I am very unimpressed with the overall design. It looks more or less like a shoebox. I'm sure the rooms and common areas will be very nice, but I'm surprised that they didn't make it a more interesting design. This property looks like it could fly a Holiday Inn flag at any moment with little effort.

On a separate note about the Westin Mt Laurel, NJ - I am very unimpressed with the overall design. It looks more or less like a shoebox.

Regarding this architectural design; the new Westin style & element style is very understated and minimalist at this time, but that's also what's IN right now in design and architecture. (Glass, rocks, wood, water, etc...)
Very ZEN-ish.

On a separate note about the Westin Mt Laurel, NJ - I am very unimpressed with the overall design. It looks more or less like a shoebox. I'm sure the rooms and common areas will be very nice, but I'm surprised that they didn't make it a more interesting design. This property looks like it could fly a Holiday Inn flag at any moment with little effort.

Regarding this architectural design; the new Westin style & element style is very understated and minimalist at this time, but that's also what's IN right now in design and architecture. (Glass, rocks, wood, water, etc...)
Very ZEN-ish.
I drove past the place this morning as I have many times during the past few months. The exterior facing Fellowship road is essentially complete but there is still some work going on ouside at the rear of the property.

I agree that the architecture is a bit uninspired and tends toward the minimalist. The other thing that makes me wonder is the surrounding businesses. Its right next to a gas station and a dated Marriott and across the street from a Super 8 Motel. There's nothing much along Fellowship other than low rise office buildings. Route 73 in that area has little to brag about and I wouldn't try to cross it on foot (unless I had a death wish). I suppose its good for access to the turnpike and I295, but other than that why bother?

Because right down the road on Rt 73 are several office parks that have business travelers in and out each week.

Having grown up in Moorestown, just a few miles from this new Westin, I can't help but chuckle at the "Bermuda Triangle" of hotels in the general area of 73 and Fellowship Rd. One of the Holiday Inn chain's original hotels was just across the street and was THE place for Sunday breakfast in the 70s. It has changed hands numerous times and is now, I believe, the Super 8. The Wyndam was a Travelodge, the Marriott (closed now?) on 73 was a Hilton, and about three other properties if memory serves. As for the Westin, we knew it as the "Executive Motor Lodge", where it was told lots of "Executives" motored in with, um, "guests" for the afternoon; but it also had a great bar and club. The bar served many of us high schoolers all we wanted no questions asked (it was the late 70's and early '80s). It fell into disrepair and became something else, I think.

Anyway, I was nothing short of shocked when I saw what they'd done to this place. It's beautiful, IMO. I'll be interested to see how it prices out. It's great to see Westin has put so much into redeveloping a great piece of hotel real estate.

I imagine Westin will be using what looks to be an enormous ballroom for weddings and banquets and they will have no problem selling it. As for the "why bother" question, there's a lot of demand for hotels. While there are many secondary and discount brands, the area lacks a pristine midscale-to-upscale hotel. A fresh new Westin with fresh new amenities will bring in the SPG loyalists and a lot of business travelers.

Anyway, I was nothing short of shocked when I saw what they'd done to this place. It's beautiful, IMO. I'll be interested to see how it prices out. It's great to see Westin has put so much into redeveloping a great piece of hotel real estate.

I think the place you're thinking must have been fully demolished. The Westin was new construction from the ground up.

I think the place you're thinking must have been fully demolished. The Westin was new construction from the ground up.

I haven't been by the site in over a year, but from my earlier post I noted that it appeared the lobby will be the former reception area of the banquet hall that was located there before Westin started work. When I last saw it, the hotel rooms were being built adjacent and connected to the existing structure. So, from shinbal's description, it sounds like they kept not only the lobby, but also the ballroom(s) that formed the banquet hall.

I've only driven by it on Rt. 73. It looks like the reception/ballroom is on the opposite side, which would explain why it always looked like a ground up construction (which the main tower is).

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=mount+laurel,+NJ&ie=UTF8&ll=39.932693,-74.959669&spn=0.001855,0.004098&t=h&z=18&iwloc=addr

I suppose its good for access to the turnpike and I295, but other than that why bother?

Because right down the road on Rt 73 are several office parks that have business travelers in and out each week.

My point is why bother making it a Westin? A Sheraton maybe, a Four Points for sure, but a Westin? When I think of Westin properties I think of higher end locations with some features that are outstanding. Not minimalist architecture dropped into a bland lot next to a gas station with close access to a bunch of nondescript office parks and a turnpike.

Is the Westin Mt. Laurel open or not? Has anyone stayed there? I need to book a room in Mt. Laurel in mid-June for a party in Moorestown.
Does anybody in Philadelphia know anything????
Thanks for your help!

Is the Westin Mt. Laurel open or not? Has anyone stayed there? I need to book a room in Mt. Laurel in mid-June for a party in Moorestown.
Does anybody in Philadelphia know anything????
Thanks for your help!

They seem to be taking reservations for tonight at westin.com, so I'm fairly sure they are open. ;)

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I called the Westin Mt. Laurel and the man who answered said they had been open about two weeks. He said he knew of no special promotions.
I am hesitant to book a room in this property in June without a review from this august body!
Thanks.:)

I was at the Marriott next door (former Radisson)

The westin, while "zen like" is very bland looking. The windows are at most, what you see in a high school. Now the inside may impress, the outside does not.

Eager to see if the is a club floor as the Westin in Charlotte, the GM told me they did not need one to keep people happy!

Stayed there last night. Very mediocre Westin. Rooms are nice, 26 inch LCD, brand new. Outside very bland, on a very loud street, especially trucks. (get room on opposite side of street) The area is not great either, right across from the Super 8. There were only a handful of people there. They supposidely have a club lounge but I was denied access as a a platnium member. I was later told (after I called the Platnium desk), that the lounge is closed and they gave me a breakfast coupon for a continental breakfast. Gym had about 8 treadmills with TV (typically Westin Workout). All in all not worth the additional money.

Stayed at this property earlier this week. Property layout is kind of confusing as there is no parking near the main entrance. On the side of building is what looks like the main entrance but that is entrance to the ballroom. You have to park in the rear and find the small single door that gets you into the lobby.

Checked in at 11:30 at night and the place was dead. The FD clerk took 10 minutes to check me in and create key cards. Was told they had no King beds and I settled for a 2 bed room. Strange as the parking lot was not close to being full.

Rooms are nice with flat screen tvs and large work area. The next morning I checked out the lounge on the 7th floor for breakfast. Again, it was dead as no one was there except the attendant. Continental breakfast offerings were very skimpy but they had plenty of drinks and juices available.

Overall, the newness of the rooms are nice but I was not overly impressed. I still prefer the Hyatt Place nearby.

The Westin was new construction from the ground up.

I am not sure how accurate it is however on travelpost.com this property shows built 1991 renovated 2001 previously known as Ramada Plaza Hotel Mount Laurel:confused:

I am not sure how accurate it is however on travelpost.com this property shows built 1991 renovated 2001 previously known as Ramada Plaza Hotel Mount Laurel:confused:

The Westin renovation took the existing structure down to the bare bones. Basically they re-used the steel structure and concrete floor decks but pretty much everything else was stripped away.

Stayed here for one night recently on C&P. They do have a westin executive club, but it's closed on the weekends so I have no idea how it would be. On checkin, I asked if they have any suites available, and she said "I don't have any" which I thought might mean that they don't physically have any at all. She 'upgraded' me to the club level (whoop-dee-doo, I get to be on the same floor as the locked club room) in a corner room. I asked if they give breakfast vouchers and she looked at me kind of strangely and said no... which is fine, but I saw someone post earlier that they got one, so I figured I'd ask. Anyways, got up to the room, nothing too exciting, and the view was of an empty construction lot... not so nice.

Later, I checked online on a whim and saw that they were selling 'junior suites.' We were out at the time, but I went back and told the front desk that I saw that it is available and asked why I wasn't given one earlier. The new FD agent waffled a bit and said... well ok, but we don't usually move someone after you've been given a room (well they wouldn't have to if they did it right the first time) and then he tried to say "oh it's just a regular room, it just has a couch" as if he were trying to dissuade me from getting that room. I persisted and got the new room, and while it was indeed just a room with a couch (a bit bigger, had an L shaped sofa with a full sleeper sofa on one section), it's the principle of the matter, not to mention I wanted to let y'all know how it is there. Same ugly view, same small TV...

The gym was alright, but I can't help but think they did a half-baked job with a lot of things here. The attitude is not great, and it should be better, seeing as how the hotel is in the middle of nowhere... I actually heard a front desk person calling someone and informing them that they were at 25% (I assume this means occupancy, although this number seemed a bit high, since we probably saw less than 10 people there the whole time). The elliptical was not constructed well, as the handles wobbled several inches in each direction, ditto with the handle on the shower. One of three LCD TV's on the treadmills was smashed, and the TV's on the other machines had marginal reception at best. Didn't get to use the pool, and it looked small, but at least there is one and a jacuzzi by it.

In short, I don't think I'll be stopping by at this Westin anytime soon, but it is fairly clean. Oh wait I forgot about the hair and stains on two of the bath towels... well, let's say mostly clean-ish. Cheers!

My point is why bother making it a Westin? A Sheraton maybe, a Four Points for sure, but a Westin? When I think of Westin properties I think of higher end locations with some features that are outstanding. Not minimalist architecture dropped into a bland lot next to a gas station with close access to a bunch of nondescript office parks and a turnpike. That is a very high end location actually. I stay at the Double Tree all the time across from it. They tape the NFL highlights show a block or two away. A lot of the ex NFL guys stay their and hang out in the lounge on Monday nights after the show.

So sitting here in the Westin Mt. laurel.

From the outside, it looks like a school or hsopital.

Once inside, it is grande.

Parking is not convenient, most likely to encourage use of the valet.

Booked a standard, upgraded to club level. FD denies presence of suites. This is same as the Westin BWI, no suites and properties of identical design and look. FD clerk says the Westin chain is DOING AWAY WITH SUITES???Room is decorated nice, 26" LCD/HDTV, but it is bolted to the wall and can not be spun to face the chairs??

My room has a tub and seperate shower, typical heavenly bed. Lounge is locked before and after hours.

Booked a standard, upgraded to club level. FD denies presence of suites.

Okay. Pardon the edit, but I figured out that they may be on the up and up on this. They only have two standard suites in-house and they look to be taken out of inventory for refurbishment at the time being.

Apologies.

FD clerk says the Westin chain is DOING AWAY WITH SUITES???

Sounds like the FD clerk doesn't know what he/she is talking about. :rolleyes:

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

William,

Thanks for the as usual, prompt reply.

When I checked in, he promptly informed me I was upgraded to the club. I casually asked about suites. His reply was Westin is geared toward business travelers, and they are doing away with suites. I took this to mean in new construction, which I was not shocked about as BWI does not have any either.