I stayed at this property recently. It used to be my favorite W in NYC, but has slipped to AVOID status along with W New York on Lexington.

First of all, like the previous poster, during one of my previous stays, the room service staff added approximately $15 of additional tip without my permission. Upon check out, I noticed the amount was incorrect and brought the attention to the front desk staff. After digging out the check, they confirmed an additional service charge was added. I told them I did not authorize this tip. The charge was removed without an apology and that was that. Apparently the staff has been doing this on a regular basis. @:-)

Then, on a recent stay, I booked a travelzoo rate on spg.com (a fully eligible rate) and was denied benefits. I was told that I booked it on travelzoo and thus was a third party website and not eligible for benefits. After spending an excessive amount of time telling them all travelzoo promos are being directed to be booked on spg.com and it is a fully eligible rate, they told me it's not but would extend the benefits to me an an one time exception (Don't you just love it when they make up rules and pull the one time exception stunt?). I told them to consult with SPG.

Later, another associated called to to tell me that I was correct and should have been offered full benefits. Although I appreciated the phone call, the whole thing ruined my check in experience.

I wrote to customer care to let them know that travelzoo rates booked on spg.com would be an eligible rate and to communicate with their staff so this could be avoided with future guests and got a half @rse response from the GM saying that they "graciously" offered my Platinum amenity after verifying the rate was booked on spg.com. Really, graciously? They either just don't get it or don't care.

The room itself was fine, except the bathroom wreaked of fried grease. I'm assuming the vents were connected to the hotel restaurant. It was quite disgusting to spend any time in the bathroom. I had to keep the door closed the whole time.

For the above reasons, this property is now on my AVOID list of NYC hotels.