Starwood Preferred Guest - aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga peropening discussion

Website is up:
http://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=3071

The pictures look great so far. I can't wait to try it. It is scheduled to open on July 1st, 2008

It will be the FIRST aloft to open in the world, along with

aloft Rogers-Bentonville - Opening July 1, 2008 (AK)
aloft Lexington - Opening July 1, 2008 (MA)
and
aloft Beijing, Haidian - Opening July 1, 2008 (China)

With any luck, I'll be in the area during the first week of July, instead of the last week of June.

In fact, the whole aloft website got revamped recently.

http://www.alofthotels.com/

They even have a map (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/hotels/index.html) of most (err.. many) locations.

How about we plan a mini "do"around this?
Anybody?????

How about we plan a mini "do"around this?
Anybody?????

I'll be there :) Although that will significantly decrease our chances of upgrade :mad: :D

I'm very excited about the opening. I'll probably come by on the weekend and stay one night to see how it is.

I am going to try and stay at the one in Lexington sometime in August when I am in Mass.

How about we plan a mini "do"around this?
Anybody?????

I'll be there :) Although that will significantly decrease our chances of upgrade :mad: :D

or maybe we should be watching our mailboxes for an invite to the official opening?

or maybe we should be watching our mailboxes for an invite to the official opening?

Maybe Starwood Lurker can hook us up ;) :D

I will more than likely try it out also that 1st weekend.

I drove past the other day on the way home (I live in the area) and construction is coming along great! One semi-off topic question and would like an opinion from you guys. They're building a "upscale city center" directly across the street from the a-loft with shopping, resturants, and "luxury condos" build on top. I went to take a look at them a few months ago and are in the 1st stage of development. I am considering buying a condo there but they don't start building until 2010. I'd just like an opinion or comments from anyone about this.

I'm already heavily invested in Ontario and Rancho Cucamonga (City directly north of ontario). I have a 3,200 sq ft home in Rancho bought in '79, A 1,300 sq.ft. house in ontario bought in '78, a 3,500 sq.ft. home (about 2 blocks west of a-loft) which is in a gated 24h secured community bought in '01, and most recently a 25,000 sq ft commercial building purchased in '05 in which I operate my business in.


The prices aren't cheap but much of the area has already been developed to cater to the "upscale" and business traveler in mind. What do you guys think ? Here is the website for the new project coming up.

http://www.piemonteontario.com/page.aspx

So what is the difference between a condo and a luxury condo. Other than the added price?

I suspect a good realtor would tell you more about the market.

This looks very much like "The Domain" they have built in Austin. It's very attractive to young professionals, and they have apartments from the $900 to $2200 range. I suspect most "young" professionals can't afford a $600-750K condo though. I think "high end" condos is where the current market is struggling. Getting a "jumbo" loan for a condo must be challenging.

But California real estate doesn't stay down for long

Maybe Starwood Lurker can hook us up ;) :D

cough (hint) cough :)

So what is the difference between a condo and a luxury condo. Other than the added price?

I suspect a good realtor would tell you more about the market.

This looks very much like "The Domain" they have built in Austin. It's very attractive to young professionals, and they have apartments from the $900 to $2200 range. I suspect most "young" professionals can't afford a $600-750K condo though. I think "high end" condos is where the current market is struggling. Getting a "jumbo" loan for a condo must be challenging.

But California real estate doesn't stay down for long

"luxury condo" is their marketing buzz word I guess. Typically I've only seen that term thrown around in areas where upscale shopping and 4+ star hotels are within the vicinity. Although in this area seems to be going in that direction. The one bedroom apartments in the area start at $1200 a month and many of the residents in the gated community where I bought a home look to be well off since almost everyone drives a MBZ or BMW including about a half a dozen ferraris, lambos, astons as well. It shows alot considering majority of Ontario residents are low income or have a HHI of under $45k.

You're right about the "high-end" condo market. At least in the US. I closed escrow on tiny condo (750 sq.ft) in Hong Kong last year that is built on top of a "upscale" shopping mall (LV, Gucci, Cartier, etc.) for approximately $1,000 USD per sq.ft. It sounds crazy, I know but the market over there is insane right now and still showing growth. The value of the property has increased 30% since I closed. While that type of growth rate
reminds me a lot of what happened to the US market, 80% of the building was purchased by foreigners mostly. My neighbor who lives in the 5,000 sq ft unit next to mine paid over $10 mil for it. So typically in the HK market very few are high risk.

Isn't the Inland Empire amongst the top three forclosure zones in California right now?
I think the developers will be scrambling to fill new construction of any condos,luxury or not.
The reason the IE saw such a population boom was cheap notes-easy financing for a lot of folks that should not have been granted big credit.They saw an oportunity to own the American dream-a single family residence(not a condo)-and now this is slipping away from them because they really could not afford it but were blinded by easy financing.
The building boom in the IE is over-Just look at KB's big loss this year.

If you want to buy in a commercial strip in an area that will have problems suporting high end retail-have at it,but you might want to wait a few months for the prices to drop.

I just do not get anyone who does not have to live there wanting to live there.It is a filthy windy place with horrible air and nothing but strip malls (luxurious ones in some cases)and lots of nasty folks.

"luxury condo" is their marketing buzz word I guess. Typically I've only seen that term thrown around in areas where upscale shopping and 4+ star hotels are within the vicinity. Although in this area seems to be going in that direction.
And anchored by a Target, DSW, and Best Buy? Doesn't sound so upscale to me.

There's a new shopping mall near my house in Columbia, SC, that is laid out much like this one. It has outdoor walkways for the stores, condos above the stores, and some additional condo buildings mixed in. Sales seems to be struggling for the condos. Traffic into the mall area can be awful due to some stupid planning by the developer. The stores have a good appearance, but the retail tenants are not really upscale. And there are still some unoccupied retail locations after more than two years. The restaurants are hit or miss. The movie theater is the best in town. The main clientele on some nights is teens looking for a place to hang out.

This is the hot new shopping mall in the city, but when a new one is built in a few years or another one gets a makeover, will this one fall out of fashion? And then what does that do to the value of those condos?

I would pity anyone that buys a condo there and then finds themselves with a need to resell it before the builder has sold all of his units. And whenever the builder is done with his part, who could I trust to make sure that the whole development is maintained?

It is a filthy windy place with horrible air and nothing but strip malls (luxurious ones in some cases)and lots of nasty folks.

Doesn't that describe LA as a whole?

Doesn't that describe LA as a whole?

Uhm, 909 does not equal 310.

But I dont get how someone from Pasadena can throw stones at the IE's air quality. It's not much (if any) better in Pasadena says the guy at the beach.

Maybe Starwood Lurker can hook us up ;) :D

Regrettably, no, I can't.

Best regards,

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

guest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Uhm, 909 does not equal 310.

But I dont get how someone from Pasadena can throw stones at the IE's air quality. It's not much (if any) better in Pasadena says the guy at the beach.

Trust me-it is better where I live :D
Trees have a nice way of cleaning the air ^

Doesn't that describe LA as a whole?

Come visit Pasadena some time.

Doesn't that describe LA as a whole?

Speaking of throwing stones :eek:
Someone from Newark is posting this?

They even have a map (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/alofthotels/hotels/index.html) of most (err.. many) locations.

The blog has a map of the 2008 openings:
http://aloftagogo.typepad.com/aloft_agogo/2008-openings.html

Hmm -- Minneapolis (just in time for the RNC :rolleyes:) looks like the only one I'll probably have a chance to get to.

Regrettably, no, I can't.



cough (hint) cough :)

Maybe Starwood Lurker can hook us up ;) :D

Bliss: let's talk offline about crashing! ;) @:-) :p

I think I'll pass on staying opening weekend. Its gonna get ugly with all you SPG Plats wanting upgrades!

I think I'll pass on staying opening weekend. Its gonna get ugly with all you SPG Plats wanting upgrades!

I don't know if alofts have any suites :eek:

The website currently accepts booking for August 14 and later

Booked August 14 :D

Who else is in? ;) Shall we have a SPG DO? :D

I don't know if alofts have any suites :eek:

The website currently accepts booking for August 14 and later

Booked August 14 :D

Who else is in? ;) Shall we have a SPG DO? :D

I see $129 rates.... you get anything better?

Must be fancy, it's a cat 3 property.

I see $129 rates.... you get anything better?

Must be fancy, it's a cat 3 property.

No, that's the rate I booked....:(

Let's hope cash and points will open up in the near future ;)

Let's hope cash and points will open up in the near future ;)

I'm going to hold out for an invitation to the opening party. ;)

I like the concept. Hopefully, alofts will become available in markets where there is no SPG option or replace 4 pts where that is the only option. Rooms look quite small, however, and we are not yet clear on whether suites are available for booking and/or upgrades.

I do not really relish the idea of driving out there just to check it out, but I will eagerly await your reports.

Booked my reservation for the weekend of August 23 (the weekend before I'll be out of a town for a wedding).

I'll be sad to reduce the number of stays at the Sheraton Ontario, but I'm really excited about the aloft opening.

now accepting rez after July 14.....but still a few days after I will be in the area.

Had to move my reservation around, but still looking forward to spending the night there.

so they moved forward to their opening date to 7/14 now???

I just reserved for 7/11


Does anyone know if there's anything special for Plats? Club floor?

I just reserved for 7/11


Does anyone know if there's anything special for Plats?

A 250-point welcome amenity, among other choices.

Club floor?

No.

Best regards,

William

duplicate post

I think I'll pass on staying opening weekend. Its gonna get ugly with all you SPG Plats wanting upgrades!

During my tour of the Lexington, MA aLoft they stated that there will be no room upgrades. At the "Demonstration model" in Lexington, there are only two room types, the rooms in the corner of the "L" shaped building being slightly larger. I suspect that this is like Hampton Inns were, with the floor plan already designed as part of the overall franchise package that a customer (in this case the hotel property owner) buys, including the toiletries, loyalty program, reservation assistance, bed type, and architectural drawings (up to code in 50 states, I bet that took them a while...) etc... so I suspect it will be some time before we see variations. That being said, capitalisim is such a wonderful force for innovation... so someone will want to put a few suites in an aLoft at some point... and information is so viral, that I'm sure someone will post on FlyerTalk when it happens ;)

That said, I just ended up with a meeting in Ontario on 2x July and will probably check out this property then.

-- CaptainG

so they moved forward to their opening date to 7/14 now???

Just to update this thread, the website now says accepting reservations beginning June 30th, 2008.

Anyone up for this!
Throw out some dates folks,this will be fun!

aloft Rancho Cucamonga CA opened earlier today

Well, I think bigguyinpasadena and BlissWorld have a good idea. Time to go check out the new aloft. Made reservations for 8/14 & 15 at the aloft Ontario-Rancho Cucamonga. Afterwards, out to Palm Springs for the weekend.

Who's buying the first round of martinis?

Palm Springs in August???You are a brave soul Navy Chief :D

augest in palm springs?? WOO sounds like a HOT idea to me ;)

I like several others have been dying to see actual guest pics of either the new aloft in Montreal or Rancho Cucamonga. I had seen some pics that were posted of the prototype unit recently but I really was more interested in pics from a real live property. Surprise!!! I found some including a review (not overly positive and I am suprised by the comments about the bed and sheets....didn't they learn anything from W and what's the deal with only 2 tiny pillows on the bed!). Here's a link to a video on Hotel Chatter and also some pics from the posters flickr page:

http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/6/23/213622/966/hotels/Finally_The_Aloft_Hype_Ends_as_We_Go_Inside_Aloft_ Rancho_Cucamonga

http://flickr.com/photos/33005380@N00/sets/72157605781211138/

Wow. That looks terrible.

I was hoping the aloft product would be similar to Hyatt Place. Nope!

I hate the placement of the bathroom. It's wide open to the entrance, which means no privacy at all. If you open the door to the hallway, anyone coming down the hallway can look right into the toilet/shower area!

The overall decor looks like Ikea crossed with an older motel.

Very lame attempt at "cool," IMO.

I think that laminate wood will be dated tomorrow! And I wish the bathroom offered a little more privacy, but I guess most W hotels have the exhibitionist bathroom. But for the business traveler it would really not effect them. I wonder what the thread count is, in the review they complained about them being "scratchy". I am not saying I dislike it but between the laminate wood grain and the exposed air conditioner I am on the fence. And I am with free girl, the Hyatt Place is nicer.

...and if you saw my post I was as disappointed as everyone else seems to be...man *wood missed the boat on this one.

I'll take this any day over the pukey floral bedspreads and matching drapes with colonial furniture that are the norm at most other cheaper hotels.

That said, I've still not stayed at one yet nor Hyatt Place.

Did I see closet that have something resembling a shower curtain instead of a closet door? Reminds me of a motel 6 type operation :rolleyes:

Hi

Is it due to my PC? I cannot view the pictures on flickr.

Hmm..

apguest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Hi

Is it due to my PC? I cannot view the pictures on flickr.

Hmm..

apguest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

Given the reviews, maybe your PC has an obscene content blocker :D

It seems to be a spiced up motel. Anyway looked lot like a Hyatt Place where I stayed four/five times when Hyatt run a competitive Hyatt Place promo after launching the brand.

Given the reviews, maybe your PC has an obscene content blocker :D

Hey it works.

Next time I would just write to you.

LOL.

apguest.forum@starwoodhotels.com

After posting the pics link yesterday and reading the initial reaction to the design from other FT members....I am going to chime in with my reactions.

I too feel somewhat let down by the pics after all the hype the brand has experienced over the last couple of years leading up to the opening of the first two properties. I totally agree that I prefer the overall design of aloft when compared to the floral/colonial style that is present in many mid-range properties. However if you look at new properties of other mid-range hotels like Hyatt Place, Hampton Inns, HGI, CY, RI, etc. and even the 4Pts. properties the design is more updated and the floral/colonial decor is totally absent. IMHO the problem is that *W had a completely blank slate to start with when designing aloft and they missed the boat on some aspects that can hopefully be addressed before more properties are opened.

1. Privacy could be an issue with the new room design as mentioned by others. If someone opens the door (like the maid) they will be looking right into the bathroom. How many times have you been in the shower with the door locked and the only thing that stopped the maid from entering after she knocked (but you didn't hear her or couldn't get to the door because you were standing under the shower) was the safety latch bar? With this design the safety latch bar will keep the maid out but she will be staring directly into the bathroom area.

2. Laminates!!! How will those bed side tables hold up?

3. Bedding - Evidently the sheets are an issue and I still cannot believe they only have 2 pillows on the beds. One of the big reasons I stay at Starwood properties is all the pillows.

4. Lighting - Everything seems a bit dark in the room area. Maybe it is just the video but I think others have complained about the lack of lighting.

Reminds me of a motel 6 type operation :rolleyes:

At the risk of getting flamed.....when I first saw the aloft picks and those bed side tables and all the other laminated furniture I too thought of the new Motel 6 Prototype images that were released a couple of months back:

http://accor-na.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=image_gallery&cat=13

Same designers? Please don't kill me!!! :D

after looking at the hotel pics posted.. I am curious how many people are going to book this property to actually rate how good/bad it is? Also, how many people have cancelled their booking after the real pictures have been posted?

I’m more impressed with the Motel 6 prototype referenced by christianj. Especially when a weekday night at the aLoft in Rancho Cucamonga is $149 and the motel 6 is $56 (of course the Motel 6 is not a new one)

Wow, even I would have to give that Motel 6 prototype room and edge over aLoft, but Starwood knows things like bars, food, marketing, branding, amenities (Bliss) and bedding better.

Clearly Starwood scored a home run with the public spaces, with some corners being cut in the rooms. I think they took a risk that business/airport travelers are not going to spend a lot of time in the room. Time will tell, but at the opening party they showed us how modular the components in the room are, so things like the laminates, headboard, curtains, etc can be quickly changed based on the season/locale (or feedback). One thing we can count on is that the rooms in the other 498+ aLofts won't look like Montreal and Rancho Cacamonga.

I like the (faux) hardwood floor of the Motel 6 room better, and frankly was surprised the aLoft rooms didn't have that. I think the combo desk/diner-style table in the Motel 6 prototype is a winner too.

I stay at the Ontario Airport Sheraton when I have business out in the Inland Empire. For the price of the aLoft, I think I will stay at the Sheraton where I am usually upgraded to the Club floor and even ocassionally to a nice corner suite.

Onedog

I booked a one night stay at this aloft since I'll be in the area, just to try out the new brand... but these reviews are making me reconsider now... :(

... Clearly Starwood scored a home run with the public spaces, with some corners being cut in the rooms. I think they took a risk that business/airport travelers are not going to spend a lot of time in the room.

When I’m on business and stay at Marriott Courtyard, HGI type places I’m not in the room that much because… I’m at work :p. After work usually involves going out to diner with colleagues. Never, ever do I hang out in the public spaces of a Courtyard/HGI type place other than to check in or perhaps eat breakfast. I can’t see that changing with an aLoft.

I'll give a couple of locations a try when they open up. However, from what I've seen in the photos I'm not particularly impressed. Obviously they are going for a Hyatt Place look and clientèle, but they may have missed the mark with their effort.

It seems to be a spiced up motel. Anyway looked lot like a Hyatt Place where I stayed four/five times when Hyatt run a competitive Hyatt Place promo after launching the brand.

I agree that the aloft public areas are a bit like Hyatt Place. But the Hyatt Place guest rooms are WAY better. Among other things, they have a nice big sectional sofa in them, which is really comfortable for relaxing and watching TV, or even entertaining a couple of colleagues. The aloft room seems too small to even have a comfy chair, much less a sectional sofa.

All in all, just a real disappointment.

When comparing the design aspects of the aloft with a Hyatt Place I two prefer the Hyatt Place overall design but I really wouldn't compare the two directly with each other when looking at space in the room or lounging comfort. Hyatt Place sells itself as a "suite" type property and aloft doesn't. I would think that based on what we have heard and seen about the future element hotel brand coming next from Starwood that they would be more likely to be comparable to Hyatt Place when looking for roominess and in room lounging comfort. If you look at the renderings for the element Lexington on the Starwood website the rooms have a more spacious feel with a sectional seating area. SCARY for me is that the images of the bathroom for the element look almost identical to those at the aloft!!:( Anyway..still not impressed by the aloft rooms.

Lets hope that our friendly Starwood Lurkers have sent a link of this post to those responsible for the design of the rooms.

It doesn't appear to even have blackout shades!!!

Lets hope that our friendly Starwood Lurkers have sent a link of this post to those responsible for the design of the rooms.

you can count on the aLoft and Element teams reading this thread! The question is how the comments here mesh with the focus groups and research of the target audience.