Whoa there, let's not get a relevant thread about the quality of a specific property locked up.

I stayed there a few months ago on a business trip and was also slightly annoyed with kids in the lounge. However, this was at the beginning of the summer, and lets face it, Manhattan fills up with kids in the summer.

The fact that kids were in the lounge didn't necessarily bother me. Certainly if I had kids (or other guests), and was a Diamond or on the Executive Level, I would see my access to the lounge as a perk of my room or loyalty, and use it accordingly. What I had a problem with was the parents who seemed to think that the EL was their own personal childcare/playpen. When I was there, there were kids screaming and running around the lounge unattended - completely unacceptable.

After a few minutes, I politely mentioned to one of the staff up there that a) I was trying to get some work done and that some guests were being disruptive and b) the unattended kids were actually at risk of being injured, as they weaved around guests carrying plates and the food warmers under the hors d'ouvres. There is an EL policy stating that all guests must behave appropriately.

A manager was called, parents were located, and dirty looks aside, kids were corralled (and some chose to leave). I went about my evening.

It's a busy hotel, and as others have mentioned, there are many other/better choices within the Hilton family in Manhattan, so I won't be returning. But I always feel that if you're polite to the staff in your requests, they will at least attempt to help, to the extent that they can actually control other guests that they are equally obliged to help.

As an aside - I was a Gold during my visit and was given complimentary access to the fitness center, which I believe is standard for Silver+ at all properties where the fitness center is operated by the hotel. Had I not been offered this, I would have asked for it at check-in, and hit up the HHonors line had it not been provided.