Friends, I just returned from the Westin after 3 nights at this hotel. I prepared for my stay by printing out the comments that you all have made and went well equippped with knowing what I should expect and what I would be offered.

When I checked in, I was told that I would be given a fantastic king room overlooking the lake. I told them that according you the comments I had heard, especially from "fly co to see the yanks", I would be dissapointed with the room they were offering and that I expected a suite. The desk clerk said he would look, and within a few seconds came up with a suite. I then pointed out that Suzy1K said that she had trouble sleeping because of the "whoosh" from being next to the elevator-he looked a few seconds longer and told me that I would not hear the "whoosh". He then handed me the key to junior suite 2636, and before heading to my suite, I validate that I had my voucher for bottled water that "fly co to see the yanks" did not receive.

Junior suite 2636 was just across from the elevator, and I did not hear the "whoosing" that Suzy1K heard. At first I heard the "whoosing" from the AC, but after I determined it only heated my room, I turned it off. At that time the temperature was 76.4 degrees, so I opened 2 windows and went out to dinner. On return the temp was 76.2 degrees, so I had a restless night. Next morning I complained about the temperature and was told that the heat was turned on, and all I could accomplish by using the A/C was pumping warm air through my room. The staff offered me a couple of choices (a) change my room to a non-suite on the lower floor where it might be cooler, (b) or to use a fan that they would provide for customers who felt too warm. I opted to try again,with the windows open all day, and although the temperature did not significantly change, I again had a restless night with my 2 windows open. Upon arising at 6 AM, I asked for a fan to be delivered which solved the problem for my 3rd night, and I slept relatively well, despite the wind howling through my room and the curtains flying out in the breeze 26 floors above the street. (On a trip down to the lobby, the lady in the next room commented to me that her room was very very warm,and she was quite unhappy. I recommended she open the windows).

I also noted the exercise facility was still under construction. I asked the desk clerk about the sale of the property as noted by others in this thread, and he said the hotel would continue to be operated as a Westin. Although much of the hotel has been revitalized since my last stay, the single outlet- shower in the bathtub did not deliver water with much intensity, but rather like I was standing in the rain.

On the positive side, as others have noted, the front desk staff did their best to please.

Next week and the following week, I will be at the Westin River North, and will let you know what my most recent impressions are with this property.

Although I was dissatisfied because of the heat in the room, I did not ask the hotel for compensation. I did pass out my print-out of this thread on Flyer Talk to the desk clerk, after he had assigned me to my room!