FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Kissel Uptown Oakland REVIEW - MASTER THREAD [Unbound}
Old Jul 17, 2022 | 3:37 pm
  #18  
PTahCha
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25 Years on Site
 
Join Date: May 1998
Location: CT/NY
Programs: UA Plat/1.5MM, AA PltPro, B6 M4 25for25, Marriott LT Titanium, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 7,271
Had an one night stay last week. Overall, I was underwhelmed by the service, and lack of actual benefits as a Globalist.

Valet parking: Like many hotels, it's the weakest part of the entire hotel operations. The person wasn't there when I arrived, and had to wait 5-10 minutes after check-in to hand the key to the valet person. They enabled the texting feature to retrieve the car, which worked the next day during check-out. Unfortunately, since there was only one person working, the guy disappeared again, and had to wait 10 minutes for the person to show up. There was another person standing in front of the valet stand, but he was only responsible as a bell man and did not have access to the keys, so that was not helpful at all.

Check-in: The front desk person was cheery, acknowledged Globalist status, but did not bother to look for an upgrade, offer late check-out, explain breakfast benefits, or offer bottled water.

Room: Got a basic standard room on the third floor, looking at the buildings across the street. The shower was nice, with overhead shower and hand held unit. All bath amenities were in larger size format bolted to the wall, including hand soap and lotion by the sink.

Dining: There is a rooftop bar, but it closes at 10pm on the weekday. Similarly, the lobby restaurant/bar closes at 10pm.

As for breakfast, the setup is to order at the bar, and they'll bring the food to you at the table of your choice. However, the server (feels like someone new to the hotel) did not know what the breakfast benefit for globalist was, and explained that just pay for the meal and the the front desk would provide a refund. Instead, I charged the meal to the room instead, knowing that's how most hotel breakfast benefit works. Again, the server did not know what the dollar limit was, but I had a plate of mini donuts with chocolate sauce dip, breakfast burrito with tortilla chips and chipotle salsa, and matcha latte.

Check-out: Since my room rate includes valet parking, I wanted to make sure I am not being charged for valet. The conversation went like this:

Me: Hi, I am in room XXXX, last name XXXXXXX, and can you confirm what charges are on my folio?
FD person: Folio?
Me: Yes. What are the charges to my room?
FD: What's your room number again?
Me: XXXX. Last name XXXXXXX.
FD: [typing] OK... looks like valet parking...
Me: No. There should not be a valet parking charge since my room rate includes parking.
FD: [panicking, turns to the person next to her] What do I do? He said his rate includes parking.
2nd agent, presuming supervisor/manager: [typing away, showing first person how to look up rate, confirming parking, removed parking charge]
2nd agent again: [to me] OK - we will email your folio to your email address on file
Me: What charges are on the folio?
2nd agent: It's just the room charge.
Me: OK.

Fast forward 6 hours later, they posted the bar charge from the night before.

Overall, it just feels like amateur hour, with the employees not fully training or supported. This could have been a much better stay.
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