When we were there a few days before Thanksgiving, we were unaware of any construction, although we were told that 3 floors of the hotel were not occupied. The hotel had closed for about 7 years after opening for a few months in 1997, and as the hotel gained a reputation and attracted more guests, we were told that additional rooms would come on line. Great that this is happening.
We did not eat at the lobby restaurant, but rather had breakfast on the Concierge lounge where the staff were very pleasant and extremely helpful. We did eat dinner at the hotel's fine restaurant in a wing that was directly across from the front door to the lobby, and the staff were very helpful. It is true that many in the hotel have trouble with English, but this hotel has been open for about 6 months. I expect the language skills of the staff will improve quickly. The staff made up for the poor English skills of some employees by their willingness to help and make up confortable. They did impress us. We would be more generous with a grade based on our experiences.
This is a property and a city that we want to return to in the very near future, and one of the few places where the US dollar goes very far!