Hilton HHonors - Doubletree Hotels Adds Commerce, CA, Property

Press Release Source: Doubletree Hotels

Doubletree Hotels Adds 20th Hotel to Southern California Collection behind Legendary Castle Wall in Commerce, Calif.
Wednesday August 8, 2:08 pm ET

COMMERCE, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Doubletree® Hotels (NYSE:HLT - News) welcomes its 20th Southern California hotel to the brand's upscale, full-service hotel collection with the addition of the Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Commerce. The hotel is located inside The Citadel, a California landmark that combines name-brand shopping at the Citadel Outlets with a touch of Hollywood cinema history. The Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Commerce and the adjacent business park are surrounded by the Assyrian-style castle wall that was used as a backdrop in the 1959 epic movie, Ben Hur. Located just eight miles from downtown Los Angeles along the busy Interstate 5 Commercial Corridor that connects Los Angeles with Orange County, the Doubletree also is located just two blocks from the famed Commerce Casino.

The 201-room Doubletree is operated by W2005 WYN Hotels, L.P. under a franchise license agreement with Doubletree Hotel Systems, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Hilton Hotels Corporation. The hotel is managed by Surrey Hotel Management, LLC.

Press Release (http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070808/20070808005873.html?.v=1)

They must be rebranding the existing Wyndham.

Recent stays?

about a month ago. It was nice. They had hot chocolate/hot cider available in the lobby at the check in. As a diamond, I got breakfast coupons and an upgrade to a suite. Can't complain.

It wasn't a huge issue for me, but every time I rode the elevator, people complained that the elevators took forever.

--Sioux

Recent stays? I'm particularly interested in the fitness center. Looks good in pictures.

Doubletree Hotel Los Angeles/Commerce (http://doubletree1.hilton.com/en_US/dt/hotel/LAXCMDT-Doubletree-Hotel-Los-Angeles-Commerce-California/index.do)
5757 Telegraph Road, Commerce, California, United States 90040
Tel: 1-323-887-8100 Fax: 1-323-887-4343

AAA Rating: none Hilton HHonors Reward Category: 3 (25,000 points per night)

I stayed at this sheep-dipped Wyndham last week. The fitness center looked OK, though I arrived late and departed early the next day (business stay.) I stayed at a state Government rate, and they charge the state maximum per diem rate - $110. (OTOH, I stayed in the Mission Inn Resort & Spa in Riverside the previous night - $84 for a much better property, albeit somewhat quirky, but endearing quirkiness.)

This property is aging and in desperate need of cleaning up and refurbishment. The staff was welcoming, the breakfast buffet was proffered as Diamond and was OK - but the halls and corridors are worn to the point large sections of wallpaper were sagging down off the wall in places. In the room, grottiness and doubly so in the bathroom - it could easily serve as a CSI / forensics training facility. The Sweet Dreams bedding was welcome, and I dozed off as soon as I Hit the sheets - at least those appeared clean and fresh.

The closet was minuscule, everything was looking like it was purchased at a tag sale. The bathroom was pre-2000, with a straight curtain rod, and of normal size. The usual Neutrogena amenities were provided, two bottles of water were given with the choco chip cookie at checkin, and the usual ironing set etc. were provided.

The property is immediately off Interstate 5, and the building orientation (north-south) and single-pane windows practically assure you will be bombarded by traffic noise. It is next to the Citadel Outlet mall.

There is a courtyard connecting the lobby portion of the building with the hotel tower where they show classical movies at night ("Ben Hur" the night I was there) with free popcorn - the courtyard is worse than filthy, with grease, spots, popcorn bits and cockroaches (the Floridian "palmetto bugs,") to boot. I stopped at a table to use my cell phone for some calls, and this brogan-sized baby scuttled around searching for grub. :p

The ONLY reason to stay here is if you have nearby business, and this is what your client books for you, as in my case. Even then, I'd think twice or maybe thrice, given a HGI is a mere 1.5 miles away and an Embassy Suites 4.5 miles away. (OTOH, my points posted promptly...)