Originally Posted by
bhrubin
I'd say there is LESS need rather than no need. Similarly, the PdG in Paris doesn't preclude the need for a StR in such a marquee city for such a marquee luxury brand. The StR Mexico City didn't preclude the beauty of also having the more boutique LC Las Alcobas, after all. The StR San Francisco doesn't preclude the nicety of also having the LC Palace Hotel, either.
Also, I doubt the service level at EG Milan is as good as that of the StR Florence (one of the highest rated StR hotels) or StR Rome. I've stayed at the EG and know better. So they aren't at the same level. The same level would include the Gritti Palace or perhaps the PdG.
The St. Regis in Florence is without any doubt a gem, it was so also before when it was the LC Grand.
The St. Regis Rome won't be my choice even for free. It is not likely that I will stay there ever again because of staff, rooms, service etc. . There were more issues than holes in an Emmentaler cheese.
Apropos issues: I know you have a stay at the Excelsior Gallia with some issues like nobody has told you how your phone aside the bed works, the heater at the terrace was too hot for you and cannot be switched off, nobody has told you that there will be an event at the terrace so there was a service issue and finally the concierge team has forgotten to fix a transportation service for you if I remember correctly. You should be aware that the terrace in reality is not the Gallia. The only real issue was the fault ( concierge team ) with the transport and this could also happened in all oft the other top notch ( starwood ) hotels in the world. errare humanum est...