Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook - Birmingham AL [Master Thread]
Sep 18, 2015, 12:37 pm
#1
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook - Birmingham AL [Master Thread]
Supposedly opening in October 2015. Cat 8.
"The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook will mark The Kessler Collection’s first property in Alabama. Designed to celebrate creativity and inspire the soul, the 100-room luxury boutique hotel, located in the city’s Lane Park development and adjacent to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, will incorporate diverse offerings for both meetings and leisure stays including an on-site Grand Bohemian Gallery featuring national, International and local artists, interactive wine blending and cooking school experiences and a signature Poseidon Spa. Guests will also enjoy farm-to-table culinary offerings featuring regional ingredients and private dining for both business and social events at the vibrant rooftop restaurant and terrace providing breathtaking views of the sought-after Southern escape."
"The Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook will mark The Kessler Collection’s first property in Alabama. Designed to celebrate creativity and inspire the soul, the 100-room luxury boutique hotel, located in the city’s Lane Park development and adjacent to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens, will incorporate diverse offerings for both meetings and leisure stays including an on-site Grand Bohemian Gallery featuring national, International and local artists, interactive wine blending and cooking school experiences and a signature Poseidon Spa. Guests will also enjoy farm-to-table culinary offerings featuring regional ingredients and private dining for both business and social events at the vibrant rooftop restaurant and terrace providing breathtaking views of the sought-after Southern escape."
Oct 9, 2015, 7:23 am
#2
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,107
Marriott did a press release today on 3 new Autograph Collection properties. Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook was one of them.
"Located in the affluent Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook is a 100-room boutique hotel with a touch of bohemian inspiration and artistic offerings.
At the heart of the hotel is an on-site Grand Bohemian Art Gallery. Designed to inspire the collector in each guest, the hotel’s gallery showcases stunning works of art, exhibitions and art receptions by local, regional and internationally recognized artists including Georgian glass artist, Licha Ochoa, and French expressionist, Jean Claude Roy. Wine enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience the art of winemaking through wine blending sessions led by a team of expert sommeliers. This educational experience includes tasting and and blending a custom wine. Interactive cooking classes are also available at the hotel’s Kessler Cooking School. Other standout features include the signature Poseidon Spa and a vibrant rooftop restaurant and terrace with breathtaking views. The property’s 12,630 square feet of customizable event space provides unlimited options for special gatherings, meetings or events."
Cheers.
"Located in the affluent Mountain Brook suburb of Birmingham, Alabama, Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook is a 100-room boutique hotel with a touch of bohemian inspiration and artistic offerings.
At the heart of the hotel is an on-site Grand Bohemian Art Gallery. Designed to inspire the collector in each guest, the hotel’s gallery showcases stunning works of art, exhibitions and art receptions by local, regional and internationally recognized artists including Georgian glass artist, Licha Ochoa, and French expressionist, Jean Claude Roy. Wine enthusiasts have the opportunity to experience the art of winemaking through wine blending sessions led by a team of expert sommeliers. This educational experience includes tasting and and blending a custom wine. Interactive cooking classes are also available at the hotel’s Kessler Cooking School. Other standout features include the signature Poseidon Spa and a vibrant rooftop restaurant and terrace with breathtaking views. The property’s 12,630 square feet of customizable event space provides unlimited options for special gatherings, meetings or events."
Cheers.
May 7, 2018, 6:50 am
#4
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Houston, TX USA
Programs: United Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Circle
Posts: 569
Any experiences at this hotel? Curious about their treatment of Gold elites... I’m adjusting to my new reality as a fallen Platinum 
May 30, 2018, 11:34 am
#5
Join Date: May 2011
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriott/SPG Ambassador, Delta Diamond, Hertz Platinum
Posts: 215
This is one of my favorite Autograph properties in the world. Just an all-around beautiful hotel that’s high-end but unpretentious. There’s a massive restaurant on site that draws non-guests as customers, and breakfast for Platinums is included there.
Note: My last stay here was in August or September 2016, so the breakfast info may be outdated. Call to be sure, but aside from that I can’t recommend this property enough.
Note: My last stay here was in August or September 2016, so the breakfast info may be outdated. Call to be sure, but aside from that I can’t recommend this property enough.
Nov 1, 2018, 7:43 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: Delta Flyer
Posts: 227
Eh
I really wanted to like this place. Several observations make my recent two night stay mediocre, at best, a poor quality for my money at worst.
-valet/check-in service confusing and slightly unorganized. Plenty of staff but a lot of needless running around and not a whole lot of door opening. Most of the time I like handling this by myself, but I needed help this weekend and none was to be found.
-no upgrade for plat premiere. I understand perhaps the hotel was filled up? But it’s always nice when there’s an explanation.
-BREAKFAST. The complimentary breakfast here is an $8.00 credit per person or a “coffee, toast or English muffin.” And the buffet is not cheap (for Birmingham). It’s almost insulting the inconsistency to which breakfasts are applied across brands now. The manager seemed to apologize but pinned the blame solely on Marriott corporate.
Roll-away bed-$20 a night? Come on.
all in all a slick looking hotel — sort of. Reminiscent of Turkish boutiques in many respects, but without the service charm. For context, Rooms were going for $800 week before check in. If I’m going to pay st Regis prices, expect something close to that level of service
I appreciate what the Kessler group is trying to do, but my stay raises the question — is the quality of this brand more than skin deep? Based on prior reviews, I wanted to believe... but I just can’t.
-valet/check-in service confusing and slightly unorganized. Plenty of staff but a lot of needless running around and not a whole lot of door opening. Most of the time I like handling this by myself, but I needed help this weekend and none was to be found.
-no upgrade for plat premiere. I understand perhaps the hotel was filled up? But it’s always nice when there’s an explanation.
-BREAKFAST. The complimentary breakfast here is an $8.00 credit per person or a “coffee, toast or English muffin.” And the buffet is not cheap (for Birmingham). It’s almost insulting the inconsistency to which breakfasts are applied across brands now. The manager seemed to apologize but pinned the blame solely on Marriott corporate.
Roll-away bed-$20 a night? Come on.
all in all a slick looking hotel — sort of. Reminiscent of Turkish boutiques in many respects, but without the service charm. For context, Rooms were going for $800 week before check in. If I’m going to pay st Regis prices, expect something close to that level of service
I appreciate what the Kessler group is trying to do, but my stay raises the question — is the quality of this brand more than skin deep? Based on prior reviews, I wanted to believe... but I just can’t.
Nov 3, 2018, 6:29 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Houston, TX USA
Programs: United Platinum, Marriott Plat, Hilton Diamond, Avis President's Circle
Posts: 569
I really wanted to like this place. Several observations make my recent two night stay mediocre, at best, a poor quality for my money at worst.
-valet/check-in service confusing and slightly unorganized. Plenty of staff but a lot of needless running around and not a whole lot of door opening. Most of the time I like handling this by myself, but I needed help this weekend and none was to be found.
-no upgrade for plat premiere. I understand perhaps the hotel was filled up? But it’s always nice when there’s an explanation.
-BREAKFAST. The complimentary breakfast here is an $8.00 credit per person or a “coffee, toast or English muffin.” And the buffet is not cheap (for Birmingham). It’s almost insulting the inconsistency to which breakfasts are applied across brands now. The manager seemed to apologize but pinned the blame solely on Marriott corporate.
Roll-away bed-$20 a night? Come on.
all in all a slick looking hotel — sort of. Reminiscent of Turkish boutiques in many respects, but without the service charm. For context, Rooms were going for $800 week before check in. If I’m going to pay st Regis prices, expect something close to that level of service
I appreciate what the Kessler group is trying to do, but my stay raises the question — is the quality of this brand more than skin deep? Based on prior reviews, I wanted to believe... but I just can’t.
-valet/check-in service confusing and slightly unorganized. Plenty of staff but a lot of needless running around and not a whole lot of door opening. Most of the time I like handling this by myself, but I needed help this weekend and none was to be found.
-no upgrade for plat premiere. I understand perhaps the hotel was filled up? But it’s always nice when there’s an explanation.
-BREAKFAST. The complimentary breakfast here is an $8.00 credit per person or a “coffee, toast or English muffin.” And the buffet is not cheap (for Birmingham). It’s almost insulting the inconsistency to which breakfasts are applied across brands now. The manager seemed to apologize but pinned the blame solely on Marriott corporate.
Roll-away bed-$20 a night? Come on.
all in all a slick looking hotel — sort of. Reminiscent of Turkish boutiques in many respects, but without the service charm. For context, Rooms were going for $800 week before check in. If I’m going to pay st Regis prices, expect something close to that level of service
I appreciate what the Kessler group is trying to do, but my stay raises the question — is the quality of this brand more than skin deep? Based on prior reviews, I wanted to believe... but I just can’t.
Very questionable if I would return.
-CLG
Nov 3, 2018, 12:28 pm
#8
Join Date: Dec 2011
Programs: Delta Flyer
Posts: 227
Sorry CLG for your similarly odd stay.
I did not have a chance to observe the housekeeping staff as I opted for the $10 at the bar. Unfortunately, I had to call back and ask for the credit as you are supposed to present the hanging card at the restaurant at the time of payment. That information did not appear evident on the card though.
I travel regularly to towns where Grand Bohemians are located. With respect to geography and stay preferences, I am likely the target consumer.
I am even more upset given that this brand has so much great potential.
You won't catch me at one again. So much that could be right, but so much that is wrong.
I did not have a chance to observe the housekeeping staff as I opted for the $10 at the bar. Unfortunately, I had to call back and ask for the credit as you are supposed to present the hanging card at the restaurant at the time of payment. That information did not appear evident on the card though.
I travel regularly to towns where Grand Bohemians are located. With respect to geography and stay preferences, I am likely the target consumer.
I am even more upset given that this brand has so much great potential.
You won't catch me at one again. So much that could be right, but so much that is wrong.
Jan 12, 2021, 8:19 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2007
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Gold and Current Platinum, Hilton Gold
Posts: 280
Checked in around 8pm and out around 8am so experience wasn’t extensive but a few comments.
Location is great. The town of Mountain Brook is a beautiful small town with dining, shops, etc., as well as the park, and this property is right in the edge of town. Walkable to everything you’d want to check out in the village; quick drive to other parts of the city (downtown ten minutes away).
It’s a new build hotel - would guess it’s about five years old. Tudor exterior that feels a little more like the hotel from The Shining on the outside than you’d like. Inside feels like it was decorated by your weird stylish uncle. Cool, but def weird. Some eclectic art for sure. It won’t be for everyone, but personally I liked it for the most part though some of the styles clash with each other which lends a jarring vibe. The Porte cochere is under the hotel and feels a little underwhelming.
Check in was easy and contrary to the comments on the thread service the whole stay was excellent. Friendly and knew what they were doing. Upgraded us to a soaking tub room on the top floor. They handled the dog fee well and gave our pup a treat.
We slept well in the room - great hard product - and when we woke up we experienced the highlight of the stay: the breakfast. As platinums, breakfast was included, and I’d gotten a card to cash in for it when we checked in. I went down to the restaurant in hopes of getting the breakfast to-go so we could eat in the room. Not only was the restaurant happy to oblige, the service was above and beyond, and the breakfast was delicious and very large - eggs, bacon, sausage, fruit, toast, coffee, and juice. With so many properties cutting back on amenities it was awesome to see these guys really step up. We were very impressed.
One design note and comment. Because of Covid we didn’t hang out in the restaurant and bar, but the facilities were awesome and we want to go back once we are vaccinated. There’s a cooking school, a large bar, a nice restaurant, a billiard lounge, a wine tasting room, and a beautiful patio for drinks. Really great setup. The one weird thing is that all of this is totally separated from the hotel - separate entrance, isolated on the third floor, and only connected to the hotel through what could only be described as a service corridor at the end of one of the hotel room floors. Just a strange design decision.
All told this was a great albeit brief stay and we look forward to returning.