eternalX

Were your rooms the refurbished ones or still the nasty ones?

tw1tch

I don't think it's refurbed, it doesn't look THAT new, especially the bathroom. I'm on the 50th floor this week.

Checking into the W TS tonight, they have suites available online right now, so I'm hoping I can upgraded to one. (I believe even point paid stays as Plat. the upgrade policy still applies?)

ac/elite

I'm at the Sheraton NY now and have been here for a few days. The lounge is now closed for breakfast on weekends. I was told that this new policy started a couple of weeks ago. Too bad, because as others have mentioned it really is a great breakfast spread that they offer and the staff are excellent.

caymancanuck

Thanks for the update on the Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers, I am booked to stay in a week and may switch to the Westin TS as I believe they still have the weekend breakfast.

Have to agree the spread was nice at the Sheraton.

sbtinme

So, with a closed lounge (which blows my mind since this hotel is so massive -- when I have been there on weekends, the lounge was always packed), do they offer breakfast coupons for the restaurant?

ac/elite

No. I specifically asked if they offered an alternative for breakfast and they said that breakfast is no longer a club level or Platinum benefit on weekends.

Zontar

Just stayed there on the weekend. They charged me 12K a night, which I thought was a lot of points for that property. Finally got an Plat upgrade after this being my 8th stay there. Room was very tired and need of an upgrade (19th Floor). Furniture was broken, tv and phone did not work properly and had to be serviced. Climate control units were quite disgusting.

Staff was very good at the hotel though. No complaints there.

Not one of the best Sheratons I have ever stayed at.

sbtinme

OUCH! That's a significant step back for one of the planet's largest and most visible flagship Sheratons.

nologic

This hotel is really going out of its way to attract SPG elite and Towers guests. It is intentional. It recognizes that we all have many options in NYC -- SPG and otherwise -- and wants to develop a reputation as the place to go...

sbtinme

How so if they indeed have closed the club on weekends and have killed the long standing tradition of comp breakfast to Plats and club guests for the weekends?

I'm still reeling from reading that news. That is a HUGE step backwards and will most certainly affect where this SPG Plat guest chooses to stay in NYC in the weeks to come.

TimMeineke

I was so stunned by this news I had to call the hotel and find out for myself. According to the woman on the 44th floor, the reason they closed the lounge on the weekends was that many Plats had given them negative feedback about the Club Lounge being too crowded on the weekend and thus diminishing the experience. I pointed out to her that closing the Lounge does nothing to enhance that experience.

She also check with the Manager and there is no compensation for those of thus who made reservations for the weekend expecting the lounge to be open. Worse yet, I used my one-time 50% off to book this hotel on the weekend.

A very big boo to Starwood on this one. At the very least you could post on the website that the lounge is closed on the weekend - it is very, very misleading. BTW, Starwood, the lounge at the Hilton NY, which is ACROSS THE STREET, is open on the weekend.

sbtinme

As the OP of this growing thread, I must rescind some of my glowing review of this property based on the very recent decision to close the lounge two days a week with NO other consideration given to Plats in the process.

Having been galled this past summer at the Sheraton Le Centre Montreal's club lounge where I was asked to pay $8 +tip for two very tiny club sodas, I was pleased this past January to find that the Sheraton NY operated a great lounge with no nitpicky charges for anything but alcohol.

Indeed, the quality of their offering was so substantially above my expectations that I came away from that stay feeling especially good about my stay there.

In large part, the lounge staff and offerings were responsible for my review here on FT.

If those significant benefits have been taken away on the weekends, then I give a significant thumbs down to that decision. If for no other reason, because this is Sheraton's flagship hotel in a city where a legitimate club lounge would never close on weekends.

One wonders if the Sheraton Manhattan across the street is still offering breakfasts in the restaurant downstairs still as a Plat benefit.

Once again, for the record, a substantial to the Sheraton NYC for this recent change.

TimMeineke

"One wonders if the Sheraton Manhattan across the street is still offering breakfasts in the restaurant downstairs still as a Plat benefit."

I did check with the Sheraton Manhattan (now called "at Times Square") and they said yes, they do have breakfast for Plats on the weekend

tommy777

Ehh... I think most FTers agree that this hotel is their last choice in NYC...

I stayed there last November..

Upgrade = None. My room almost didn't fit the king bed.
Old & worn = Yes
Paper thin walls = HELL yes!
Construction going on all night on the north side of the hotel = Yes.
Rate= USD 465, the only SPG hotel that had availability.

I hope the upgraded rooms have new walls..

I'm not going back

caymancanuck

I was due to check-in on Friday at the Sheraton H&T, but given the Club change on weekends I cancelled and am now at the Westin TS. I have made other colleagues aware of the change and from my firm alone this will likely cost the hotel 70-80 nights this year that will go to the Westin TS. Unfortunately given the lack of rooms in NYC this change will probably have zero impact on their occupancy.