Starwood Preferred Guest - Four Points, Tempe, Arizona [Master Thread]

I had a reservation at the Holiday Inn Tempe/ASU for Super Bowl Weekend. I read they were going under a renovation and new management (to be called Tempe in at Apache), so I gave the hotel a call today. To my surprise, the answering machine thanked me for calling the Four Points Tempe! Looks like this is a new addition to the starwood family. FYI the address is 915 E Apache Rd.

I do still need to make sure they have my super bowl reservation, so hopefully they call me back! :)

Good catch. It looks like it is now on their website (http://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3064), too -- and listed as a category 4! Yikes.

Hmmm, it says that they are accepting reservations for after 3/31/08. I think they are doing a huge remodel job on that hotel. They may have even closed the whole hotel to do the remodel. It was in bad need of a remodel though. Towards the end of it's life as a Holiday Inn it was one of the biggest dumps in the H.I. chain.........:( You better hope that your reservation during SuperBowl will be honored. That said, it's good to hear that there will be another option in the Tempe area................^

But the Cat. 4 nonsense is laughable. The much nicer (also newly rennovated) Sheraton Tempe (PHX Apt) is just 2.5 miles away and is only Cat. 3. Who in their right mind would pay 10k pts for a room at this 4 Pts when you could spend the same amount of points for a room at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass or Wigwam (Luxury Collection). Or just 2k more points for a room at the FAR nicer Phoenician or Westin Kierland most of the year. That's just crazy that they think they can command 10k pts. :( Plus the area right around the new 4 Pts isn't the best area in the world. The neighborhood just south (SE) of this property is fairly ghetto. Although the property is located in a great place if you want to be near Arizona St. Univ............................^ And maybe with the hugh renovation it will up the neighboring area as well.

I've passed by it many times when milling around campus. This is a surprise since there are no signs at all saying what is going on. The hotel looks to be gutted except practically the frame.

anyone hear anything about this new four points, i am considering for a stay march 7, they open march 6, should i fear opening may be pushed out and left hanging?

Can't help with opening date. But am curious what makes this a Cat 4. Will stay here after it opens if the rates are good.

It's a conversion from a Holiday Inn, but it's been ripped apart and almost completely rebuilt. Please see this thread for more info:

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=767671&highlight=tempe

Last I checked, I thought they were opening on March 31, 2008. I guess they moved forward their opening date. And I have no idea why this would be a Cat. 4 property when the recently rennovated Sheraton PHX/Tempe a couple miles away is a Cat. 3. :confused:

Just was booking a hotel room in Phoenix and noticed the opening date for
the 4 Points Tempe is now 4/1/08.

Oops, meant to include this in my first post.. I read the description of the Tempe 4 points and am wondering what makes this a cat 4 hotel, compared to the PHX Metrocenter 4 Points.. I have stayed at the latter many times and have always been upgraded to a pool side casita, and think the staff there is one of the best. What does the new 4 points have or offer that jumps it up to a 4?

...What does the new 4 points have or offer that jumps it up to a 4?

They plan to get more $$ for their rooms on an average daily basis. After all, that is what determines your category level for reimbursement/redemption purposes.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

I am trying to understand the logic of your reply. Sounds like the cat level is
determined by the room rate? Can this be true? I always thought it had a lot to do with the quality of the hotel/resort as much as anything. So, it will take twice as many points (at least) to stay at this 4 Points then at the Metro Center 4 Points because there averagre room rate is higher. I was hoping to read why this establishment rated a 4 because of the superior services ect, not because of a slightly higher room rate. It will be interesting see how this property does.

I am trying to understand the logic of your reply. Sounds like the cat level is
determined by the room rate? Can this be true? I always thought it had a lot to do with the quality of the hotel/resort as much as anything. So, it will take twice as many points (at least) to stay at this 4 Points then at the Metro Center 4 Points because there averagre room rate is higher. I was hoping to read why this establishment rated a 4 because of the superior services ect, not because of a slightly higher room rate. It will be interesting see how this property does.

It has nothing to do with quality, except for maybe in a collateral sense. After all, if a hotel has higher quality that usually means that it can charge higher nightly rates.

So, yes. It is all about how much a property can charge, as a daily average, throughout the year.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Just stayed here last night - the hotel just opened this week. They still have quite a bunch of kinks to work out (apparently a substantial number of rooms is not useable yet), but it was fairly nice.

Even during the night, they had a manager present to train the new employees on the respective SPG benefits and stuff...

The hotel is definetely more upscale than the "old" Four Points properties, nice big plasma TV in the room, modern decorations and stuff... so definetely a nice place to stay.

As to value, it does seem a bit overpriced as compared to the other Starwood properties in the area, but I guess we'll simply have to see how their occupancy levels evolve and thus their rates.

...

The hotel is definetely more upscale than the "old" Four Points properties, nice big plasma TV in the room, modern decorations and stuff... so definetely a nice place to stay.

As to value, it does seem a bit overpriced as compared to the other Starwood properties in the area, but I guess we'll simply have to see how their occupancy levels evolve and thus their rates.It sounds like they are trying to compete with the new Hyatt Place product (which is quite good, but charges double the rate compared to the Amerisuite product that it replaced). Tempe 4Pts is showing at double the Metrocenter 4Pts rate for the dates that I have checked -- and the Metrocenter is one of the best 4Pts in the US, so rather astonishing that they think they can charge such a hefty premium. Charging more than the Sheraton Tempe on most nights, fwiw. Interesting brand positioning.

Friends stayed here recently and were disappointed, as the hotel is apparently still working out kinks...and they didn't feel it was as nice as a cat 4 property should be. I know William said it is based on price...but you do have certain expectations based on the category.

They did complain to Starwood, who is crediting them back some of the Starpoints they used for the stay and has "promised" to rectify some of the issues they encountered. Supposedly the hotel also told them they were going to ask Starwood to drop them down to a category 3?

I had 2 recent stays at Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=954) and I am not overly impressed. The property was recently renovated and is in great condition.

The junior suites have an equal sized adjoining room with a wetbar, couch, TV and small dining table. The problem with the adjoining room is that is impossible to open the double lockout doors without opening one of them, putting a makeshift doorstop under it, then going to the hall door of the other room and putting another makeshift doorstop under the second door. The suite door hits against the smoke detector (no doorstop) which will eventually result in damage or triggering it. On my first stay one elevator was out of service and there was a horrible scraping sound when the one working elevator went between the 3rd and 4th floors. This was corrected by my second stay.

There are 2 free computers in the lobby with printer. On my first stay the anti-virus program was reporting that they were infected with several problems including a keystroke logger!!!! I reported this to the front desk manager and it was corrected by my second stay. The free wireless internet worked satisfactorily.

The room service menu is very similar to the Four Points by Sheraton Phoenix North (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1256) (aka Metrocenter) except the prices are about 25% higher. A huge difference is that the Four Points North gives Platinums breakfast buffets for 2 and 2 drinks at the bar. At the Four Points Tempe the buffet breakfast is $15+beverage cost+tax+tip each (~$24 all in). The North buffet offers a larger variety also.

The Tempe room rate when I stayed was about $30+ more than the North but I think they have cut back as BAR rates for tonight are $65+tax (North) and $75+tax (Tempe). Phoenix hotels are cheap in the summer and are great for mattress running. If they keep this price structure I expect it to go to Cat 2 or 3 rather than current 4. If you are a AAA member you can usually get a slightly better rate at both properties.

On my second visit the receptionist insisted at first that I was not a Platinum but I made her double check. She told me the room she was giving me was actually better than a suite but it was not. I checked in late and was leaving early and had no need for the adjoining room so I did not argue. There is 1 "executive suite" but it was not available.

The room has a 32" LCD TV with some HD channels. The SD channels are set up as stretched but that can be changed by a control on the right side of the TV. There is no aspect ratio control on the remote.

They offer free airport transport which I did not try since I had a car. On neither stay did my 250 point Platinum amenity automatically post. The rooms facing Rural Road (mostly even numbered rooms) are noisy. The individual room air conditioning units are a bit noisy also.

I have stayed multiple times at all the current Starwood Phoenix properties and I probably consider the Four Points Tempe at the bottom of my list. Will I stay there again? Maybe if the rate is OK, especially if I don't have a car and need airport transport. The Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Tempe (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=954) may be a better value for Platinums when you consider the value of the evening snacks/drinks and breakfast at the lounge. It also offers free airport transport.

I just noticed the following in the "Special Conditions" popup. Makes it a better value than when I stayed in May.Summer Opening Special June 01 to August 31, 2008

All guest staying at the hotel between June 01, and August 31, 2008, will receive one complimentary breakfast in the morning and one complimentary cocktail in the evening. Please contact the hotel for further information.

I'm attempting to find an email address for the Four Points Tempe hotel management team. I've checked on the website and found only a telephone number - am I missing something?

I had an issue on my last stay there and would like to bring it up with the (local) management team.

Any ideas on how I can track down an email address?

Thanks!

Sean

https://www.starwoodhotels.com/preferredguest/property/overview/contact.html?propertyID=954 shows sheraton.tempe (at) sheratontempe.com but it does contain an error in the maito link. It has a space between the mailto: and the email address. This will not work with some mailers. Lurkers, this should be corrected.

Or you can send an email via the spg.com/Customer Support/Email link and ask them to forward it to the hotel.

I'm attempting to find an email address for the Four Points Tempe hotel management team. I've checked on the website and found only a telephone number - am I missing something?

I had an issue on my last stay there and would like to bring it up with the (local) management team.

Any ideas on how I can track down an email address?

Thanks!

Sean

There is no published email address for the management team at this hotel. Usually, issues are reported to customercare@starwoodhotels.com for passing along to the local management team.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

The junior suites have an equal sized adjoining room with a wetbar, couch, TV and small dining table.
I was considering between the Four Points Tempe and the Sheraton Airport but decided to go with Four Points due to the price and the Sheraton coffee creamer problem reported by another FTer. I am now in the junior suite as well. It is indeed just two linked rooms. Even the toiletries are the same and no mouthwash provided. I do not see the dining table you mentioned though I don't need it.
I will continue to stay here as there is no other SPG property that is close enough to my client's office and priced under $150. It's an okay hotel that have new beds, new furniture, and a brand new LCD TV inside each room. It's quiet and cozy but space is quite limited especially for a "suite". Walking in the narrow hallways feels like touring a prison..with each room like a cell from the outside. I tried to open the window to get fresh air but it wouldn't budge. The location is quite convenient though maybe not the safest area. Next time I'll try the two queen bed-rooms which are supposed to have a patio.. Hopefully I can get more fresh air next time.

I was considering between the Four Points Tempe and the Sheraton Airport but decided to go with Four Points due to the price and the Sheraton coffee creamer problem reported by another FTer. The Sherton PHX Airport "solved" that problem after I reported them to the health department by putting powdered creamer in the rooms. There is UHT creamer availlible in the lounge.I am now in the junior suite as well. It is indeed just two linked rooms. Did you have the problems with no doorstops for the connecting doors that I reported in post #1?

Did you have the problems with no doorstops for the connecting doors that I reported in post #1?

There is now a doorstop. I do not see the problem that you mentioned earlier. Though, I really don't see the value of having the second room... I would consider the Sheraton airport if they can offer a better price. Currently they charge almost twice as much as the Four Points. The price is about the same as the room rate at many resort locations..

Update:
I checked into a 2 queen bed room this week. It is indeed bigger and does have a patio so that I can get some fresh air.
The downside is that it is much noisier(facing west) than the room I had last week(facing south). Also, there is no real "hot water" in the bathroom, at best I could only get "nearly warm' water.
The water is also "hard water" that doesn't work well with soap.
I switched to a different room today and am finally able to get hot water. However, the water is still hard but not as hard as the water on the 4th floor(SPG level). Now I wonder if all the rooms facing west have hard water.. I can still get "soft water" from the rest room on the first floor but it is not very convenient.

I am considering the Sheraton Crescent or 4Points Phoenix Metro
for the following weeks as they are both quite reasonably priced.
However, I am not sure if it would be a good idea to drive 24 miles on I-10 and I-17 to work every day. Has anyone done this before?
Sheraton Phoenix Airport is way over-priced in comparison...

I am not sure if it would be a good idea to drive 24 miles on I-10 and I-17 to work every day. Has anyone done this before?
Sheraton Phoenix Airport is way over-priced in comparison...

This is not an event that I would want to start my morning with.

The two times I've stayed there it was also two joining rooms. RM301 if I recall right. First stay I was given a free drink pass for the bar and a breakfast cert. 2nd stay - nothing except the 250pt for plat.


I was considering between the Four Points Tempe and the Sheraton Airport but decided to go with Four Points due to the price and the Sheraton coffee creamer problem reported by another FTer. I am now in the junior suite as well. It is indeed just two linked rooms. Even the toiletries are the same and no mouthwash provided. I do not see the dining table you mentioned though I don't need it.
I will continue to stay here as there is no other SPG property that is close enough to my client's office and priced under $150. It's an okay hotel that have new beds, new furniture, and a brand new LCD TV inside each room. It's quiet and cozy but space is quite limited especially for a "suite". Walking in the narrow hallways feels like touring a prison..with each room like a cell from the outside. I tried to open the window to get fresh air but it wouldn't budge. The location is quite convenient though maybe not the safest area. Next time I'll try the two queen bed-rooms which are supposed to have a patio.. Hopefully I can get more fresh air next time.

This is not an event that I would want to start my morning with.
Well, I tried it for two nights. It took me about 45 minutes each way to and from work, still a lot better than my "California experience". They offered a free breakfast coupon and 2 free drink coupons for each night. I was also upgraded to a suite by the pool.


I am staying at the Tempe 4Points this week. To my surprise, they gave me free breakfast coupons and drink coupons, too! It looks like they upgraded the platinum benefits at least in the Phoenix area. Considering the distance to work and the room condition, staying at the Tempe 4Points is a better choice to me.

Just curious if anyone else had a negative experience at this hotel?

I stayed here twice. First room had two beds, both with significant amounts of hair in them. I took pictures.

Second time I told the front desk at check-in about the previous experience (I had emailed the GM days in advance but never received a response). Front desk apologized (And I realize it wasn't their fault) and told me to call them if there were any problems. Lo and behold, I get to the room and there's hair in the bed. Go back to front desk, am given key to another room down the hall. This bed is cleaner (still a few hairs), but of course no water in the new room and I left the card key in the old one.

Front desk apologized for the hair issue and offered to comp the room. Of course I pull up my credit card statement and they billed it.

I called CS to report it, ultimately received an email from the GM who acted like he truly cared and said "the problem has been dealt with" and requesting that I give them another chance. I sent him a follow-up email which was never responded to (hence "acted like he cared").

Anyway, I'm still pretty bothered by them not trying to do anything to "make right" the first stay and his ignoring my emails, and I am not so sure after 4 beds, 3 rooms, and 2 stays with issues that I want to try them again.

So what's the deal? Anyone else had problems here or did I somehow luck out? I have had pretty good stays at the Sheraton PHX Airport (other than the bed being really lumpy once).

Their rates are good, location pretty convenient, and the ability to park there and shuttle to/from the airport is quite nice, but I have an issue with paying $100+ per night to find a bed with sheets that obviously weren't changed from the previous guest.

So what's the deal? Anyone else had problems here or did I somehow luck out? I have had pretty good stays at the Sheraton PHX Airport (other than the bed being really lumpy once).


Now I feel lucky that I don't have your bad experience.
I had the same "hair" problem last year at FP Harrisburg during my first stay. That was even in an SPG room...I thought it might have been due to their laundry process..
So far I've only experienced that 3 times. (twice with FP and one time with Hilton's Homewood Suites but it was on a hand towel)

My worst experience with the Tempe FP was during my second stay. The room I had was next to the street and was quite noisy. Also the water was "hard water". This week is my third stay. So far I have no major problems.
I like the coffeee and breakfast at the Metrocenter FP better but since it's free... I won't complain.

If I can get a more reasonable rate at the Airport Sheraton I would stay there.
However the price is over $200 all the time and that's way over my company's travel guideline. I know they have a good rate for my previous employer...but I'd rather not to cheat.

. . . I have an issue with paying $100+ per night to find a bed with sheets that obviously weren't changed from the previous guest.

Could it have been the hair of the housekeeper that you were seeing?

Could it have been the hair of the housekeeper that you were seeing?

Could the room have been cleaned as a stay over?

It looks like they have raised the price significantly. I guess they are doing so because other mid-tier chains are doing the same. The service has improved a bit though. I got a quiet room as requested and I did enjoy the free breakfast and free coffee every morning. I'm glad that I booked early for a much lower rate. Their current rate for my company is the same as the rate at the Marriott Tempe resort, which also offers free breakfast and free parking to elite members..

Staying here for the weekend.
Rate was significantly cheaper than the other SPG properties($76 aaa rate)
reviews here and on TA seem mixed to negative.
I will report back.

I'll be there tonight too. Hard to pass up those cheap rates.

Could it have been the hair of the housekeeper that you were seeing?

Sorry, didn't see this until now...

Unless the housekeeper was naked while cleaning, I'm pretty sure some of the hairs I found would have never made it into the sheets... :eek::p

Sorry, didn't see this until now...

Unless the housekeeper was naked while cleaning, I'm pretty sure some of the hairs I found would have never made it into the sheets... :eek::p

Ewww. I'll pay attention when I pull back the sheets tonight and report back next week.

One of the noisiest properties I have ever stayed in.For a rebuilt from the studs property this means they used subpar building materials in the redo and got cheap on the things most would consider standard for a modern property.No double glazed windows-windows don't even have adequate tinting and little if any sound proofing between the Sheetrock walls and in the doors.

Breakfast coupon(one)was given with a free drink coupon.

Upgraded to a two room suite as described above-did not even use he second room as it is pretty stark and unapealing.

At $75 the place is priced right for weekends.-I should have payed a little more and stayed at a nicer property.
Let's see if the management post a eply on TA to my review :rolleyes:

One of the noisiest properties I have ever stayed in.For a rebuilt from the studs property this means they used subpar building materials in the redo and got cheap on the things most would consider standard for a modern property.No double glazed windows-windows don't even have adequate tinting and little if any sound proofing between the Sheetrock walls and in the doors.

Breakfast coupon(one)was given with a free drink coupon.

Upgraded to a two room suite as described above-did not even use he second room as it is pretty stark and unapealing.

At $75 the place is priced right for weekends.-I should have payed a little more and stayed at a nicer property.
Let's see if the management post a eply on TA to my review :rolleyes:

We were there the same night as Big Guy (though we missed each other) and I have to agree on the noise issue. There were a ton of families there for a girls basketball tournament and they could be heard at all hours in the halls. We were not so lucky on the upgrade and only got a standard room on the SPG floor. The room was nice enough and even a bit stylish for a Four Points. However, our A/C did not work. I tried calling the front desk and no one ever answered. When I went down to tell them, they said they were sold out so they'd send up the maintenance guy. He couldn't fix it so we finally left to go get dinner. When we got back, they had moved us to the room next door, which was also a standard room. I was a bit peeved that they wouldn't do that to begin with even if they planned on having the guy fix the thing as it seems like bad show to have repairs going on in a room while the guest is in there. The new room had a functioning A/C though it blew right on my face when I was in bed. At least there wasn't any hair in the bed. :)

Otherwise, I thought it was a decent property. The lobby is bright and spacious with a nice bar, sitting area, and restaurant. Free breakfast and cocktail coupons for Plats made the already cheap $67 rate seem even better.

Just back from a one-night stay (Sunday night). While it is not a luxurious hotel, the geographic proximity to ASU made up for a lot. The main lobby is nice, with a full bar, small restaurant, and even smaller front desk. (Perhaps the smallest front desk I've ever seen in a hotel -- more like the size of a bellman's desk.) We showed up two hours before designated check-in, but they had no problem supplying a poolside room with queen beds, which is what we'd requested. The corridor heading down to the rooms is rather dismal -- you are really reminded of the antecedents of this hotel as a Holiday Inn -- but the room itself was clean and bright. Maybe a little too bright -- the C.F. bulbs were a little harsh. Beds were fine, and the bathroom was nicely clean. A small patio with a couple of chairs finished it off, though a wall about 8 feet long left us with only an indirect view of the pool. The only downside is that they have a Sunday afternoon pool party clearly directed at the 21-30 crowd, and the DJ played awful music very, very loudly. (Even college-age kid thought it was an awful selection.) The music could be heard even with the patio door closed, but luckily it ended at 6PM. I think they're doing this on many Sundays this summer, FYI.

The room remodel was largely cosmetic, and not particularly elegant. They're going for a hipper, IKEA look, with about that quality. It worked for us, but it isn't quite what I think of as a Four Points setup. The hotel runs a shuttle that goes back and forth to Phoenix airport, and in-between airport runs it will take guests anywhere in a five mile radius. Parking is free. It is a Pepsi joint, so if you're a Coke fan, BYO. We could never get the tap water to be anything cooler than tepid, but that was the major annoyance.

The helpful and friendly attitude of the staff made up for a lot. If you're looking for something close (very close) to ASU, it is fine, and the price ($68) was great.

lupine hits the nail on the head, exactly on the room the decor and the noise, but for the money just fine

I (usually)pay to sleep in a hotel.
As I was unable to do so at this property I would never endorse it as"fine"regardless of the price.

Just stayed here last week. No breakfast coupon, no drink coupon and wasn't asked if I wanted 250 points as my Platinum amenity. :mad:

However the rooms are new and in nice shape.

Couldn't find a thread about this hotel yet, thought i would give my 2 cents:

1) rooms were very very small (mine was at least) even for a 4 points.
2) as spg gold, was given a card for a free drink at the bar or free breakfast.
3) hotel just opened, so everything seemed new-ish, but still felt like i was slumming it.

imho, the only reason to stay here is the price (65/night) and you can walk to asu campus.

As far as I can tell, the Mission Palms is the only nicer hotel adjacent to the ASU campus. Unfortunately, the other hotels seem to be several clicks down from the Four Points and less convenient.

This is not a hotel I'd choose to stay at for vacation or for business, but in terms of having a kid in a nearby dorm (and a huge dorm complex is quite literally across the street) with very helpful staff and flexible shuttle service, Four Points Tempe is a pretty good deal, particularly on weekends when there are games and parking is otherwise very, very difficult.

Stayed here on July 4th weekend for a night before heading to Sedona & Grand Canyon. Overall, nice clean hotel. I did not have any issue with noises. I was placed on 4th floor with parking lot view. Here are some pics

http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1705.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1707.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1706.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1713.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1717.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1755.jpg
http://i470.photobucket.com/albums/rr64/sestar78/IMG_1754.jpg

Stayed here on July 4th weekend for a night before heading to Sedona & Grand Canyon. Overall, nice clean hotel.

Nice job with the photos. ^ You did an excellent job of capturing all the essential aspects (minus parking lot view ;)) of this property.