Conrad Washington DC {US-DC}
Apr 16, 2019, 8:54 pm
#106
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Benicia, California, USA
Programs: AA PLT,AS,UA PP,J6,FB,EY,LH,SQ,HH Dmd,Hyatt Glbl,Marriott Plat,IHG Plat,Accor Gold
Posts: 10,820
I checked in earlier this evening for my first visit here. I'm underwhelmed, but I appreciate that I'll probably come off as an over-entitled tosser.
I booked a deluxe room and got just that. I wasn't offered an upgrade and I don't like to ask. This is almost the first Conrad property where I didn't get some form of upgrade (the Conrad NY also doesn't seem to do upgrades typically). And, there's definitely many rooms available this week, judging from a check on the website. That said, the deluxe room is attractive, substantial, and comfortable. It has a vaguely Asian Conrad feel. The lighting controls are very non-intuitive. After a few hours here, I still don't fully understand them and I consider myself pretty tech-literate. I had to call the services line to figure out how to turn off the lamp over the desk (there's a small button that perhaps I should have felt around for!).
I'm disappointed with the Diamond breakfast benefit. I was told that I'll get $25 per day to use at any of the food establishments. But, I gather that that amount won't actually cover breakfast.
Maybe the hotel will grow on me over the next few days, but I feel like I get more benefits and enjoyment from other Hiltons in the DC area. Given that I cannot find any government rate availability at the Conrad through at least September (except on weekends - not exactly when government employees are working), I don't expect to stay here again. I appreciate that the hotel is going for a very different demographic than government office workers. I feel lucky that I found the government rate when I booked many months back, likely before they worked out their rate structure in much detail.
I booked a deluxe room and got just that. I wasn't offered an upgrade and I don't like to ask. This is almost the first Conrad property where I didn't get some form of upgrade (the Conrad NY also doesn't seem to do upgrades typically). And, there's definitely many rooms available this week, judging from a check on the website. That said, the deluxe room is attractive, substantial, and comfortable. It has a vaguely Asian Conrad feel. The lighting controls are very non-intuitive. After a few hours here, I still don't fully understand them and I consider myself pretty tech-literate. I had to call the services line to figure out how to turn off the lamp over the desk (there's a small button that perhaps I should have felt around for!).
I'm disappointed with the Diamond breakfast benefit. I was told that I'll get $25 per day to use at any of the food establishments. But, I gather that that amount won't actually cover breakfast.
Maybe the hotel will grow on me over the next few days, but I feel like I get more benefits and enjoyment from other Hiltons in the DC area. Given that I cannot find any government rate availability at the Conrad through at least September (except on weekends - not exactly when government employees are working), I don't expect to stay here again. I appreciate that the hotel is going for a very different demographic than government office workers. I feel lucky that I found the government rate when I booked many months back, likely before they worked out their rate structure in much detail.
The $25 Diamond meal credit probably covers a basic breakfast like a bowl of granola and fruit. But my eggs came to over $40 after the service and other charges (which weren't mentioned in the menu) figured in.
I'd much rather that, with so many staff in and around the property, a couple more were placed at the front desk, to avoid waits when more than two guests need it.
Beyond that, the place has a cold kind of feel to it in terms of the design.
"Business center" desks' printer was improperly adjusted so that getting a document printed off of it was a hassle.
The very nice lounge area some have mentioned is indeed a substantial upcharge, if it even is available at all if you're in a basic room. (The guest services person I asked about it said there was no lounge, that it was part of a separate "hotel within a hotel" service.) So no lounge access unless you want to pay for it.
Now, the room is certainly nice and roomy, and that counts for a lot, and I didn't have quite the same problems as jefftiger figuring out the lighting. But I don't think I'll be going out of my way to go back there.
Apr 17, 2019, 11:58 am
#108
Join Date: Jan 2018
Posts: 82
For the folks who have stayed there already did you park there? Looks like they share a garage with City Center. Is the $60 valet charge billed to your room (ie is it considered a Hilton Charge) Looks like you could possibly book City Center using SpotHero and one of the discounts they occasionally have and self park cheaper.
Apr 17, 2019, 1:34 pm
#109
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
For the folks who have stayed there already did you park there? Looks like they share a garage with City Center. Is the $60 valet charge billed to your room (ie is it considered a Hilton Charge) Looks like you could possibly book City Center using SpotHero and one of the discounts they occasionally have and self park cheaper.
Apr 18, 2019, 6:12 pm
#110
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,625
pretentious in house restaurant at a business hotel to registered guests!
Just stayed there. I asked and was offered an upgrade to Sakura club for $150, with no discount (as a Diamond). There was no reason for me to take it for a short stay. I was told they would take $15 off bill as the diamond benefit, but I did not see that taken off the bill. I love Conrads and my room was nice, but it was not upgraded at all and there were a few other things I found disappointing.
- We went to the restaurant shortly before 5:00 PM. It was completely empty. However, we were told we could not have a table without a reservation. By the time we left it was still largely empty. I can understand they had many reservations but that seemed very odd.
- We tried the lounge where we were told they had a full menu. Most of the tables there had reserved signs. We did eventually find an open table in the bar area that was not the greatest location and the menu was not actually the same as the restaurant. That .
Now the ranking is #123 of 147 hotels in Washington DC-- And this is Traveler ranked , not the best value advertising commission hungry push by Trip Advisor
Trip Adviser poster ( multiple posts-- not a one hit wonder)
( bold emphasis mine)
Check in went well, reception and room impressed me.
However- dinner ug. Before going to eat, I checked Open Table at 8:45pm. Showed several available times- within 10 mi utes of our going downstairs. Going to request seating, the hostess asked,” do you have a reservation?” Which I said,”no, I saw numerous slots so just came down.”
She replies,” well no, we dont have anything until 9:45. But, you can sit at bar area and order dinner.”
We went to bar but cannot order food there, only bar food.
So.. I don’t take snobbery very well, even attempted snobbery.
I went to Open Table, still showing several slots,& promptly chose the 9:15.
Walked back over (a few feet from my seat, and checked in.) Hostess says,” yes, I saw your reservation & we can now seat you.”
Really?? Trying to create a false sense of capacity is rude and ridiculous. While being seated, there were SEVERAL empty tables. This is not what I expect from a Luxury hotel.
End Trip Advisor review
So an expensive business oriented hotel, not located in a in a hip or happening neighborhood, turns away, or at least is hostile, to their own paying registered hotel guests.
Hey why accommodate your guests and gain revenue at the same time, when you can have a perishable commodity go to waste.
Does management think that a empty restaurant where you can shoot a canyon and not hit anyone, is the way to create buzz and hype for what t hey think is the "It" restaurant in DC?
Apr 18, 2019, 6:32 pm
#111
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: ORD (formerly SAN)
Programs: Hilton Diamond; IHG Platinum; Bonvoy Gold; AA Platinum Pro and United Premier Silver (DH = AA EXP)
Posts: 1,929
https://conradhotels3.hilton.com/en/...ve-lounge.html
Apr 19, 2019, 8:20 am
#112
Join Date: Oct 2004
Programs: HH Diamond; Marriott Tit, LTP;Omni Black;IHG Spire; Hyatt Glob
Posts: 124
Tripadvisor poster had similar experience at the restaurant.
...
However- dinner ug. Before going to eat, I checked Open Table at 8:45pm. Showed several available times- within 10 mi utes of our going downstairs. Going to request seating, the hostess asked,” do you have a reservation?” Which I said,”no, I saw numerous slots so just came down.”
She replies,” well no, we dont have anything until 9:45. But, you can sit at bar area and order dinner.”
We went to bar but cannot order food there, only bar food.
So.. I don’t take snobbery very well, even attempted snobbery.
I went to Open Table, still showing several slots,& promptly chose the 9:15.
Walked back over (a few feet from my seat, and checked in.) Hostess says,” yes, I saw your reservation & we can now seat you.”
Really?? Trying to create a false sense of capacity is rude and ridiculous. While being seated, there were SEVERAL empty tables. This is not what I expect from a Luxury hotel.
End Trip Advisor review
...
However- dinner ug. Before going to eat, I checked Open Table at 8:45pm. Showed several available times- within 10 mi utes of our going downstairs. Going to request seating, the hostess asked,” do you have a reservation?” Which I said,”no, I saw numerous slots so just came down.”
She replies,” well no, we dont have anything until 9:45. But, you can sit at bar area and order dinner.”
We went to bar but cannot order food there, only bar food.
So.. I don’t take snobbery very well, even attempted snobbery.
I went to Open Table, still showing several slots,& promptly chose the 9:15.
Walked back over (a few feet from my seat, and checked in.) Hostess says,” yes, I saw your reservation & we can now seat you.”
Really?? Trying to create a false sense of capacity is rude and ridiculous. While being seated, there were SEVERAL empty tables. This is not what I expect from a Luxury hotel.
End Trip Advisor review
Apr 19, 2019, 10:26 am
#113
Join Date: Nov 2000
Location: New York City, United States.
Posts: 2,625
This game is practiced by lots of restaurants. I've had this line given to me several times. Once I even stood there by the desk, signed on to Open Table, made a reservation in front of a very POed hostess, who then welcomed us and gave us a table. Management makes the rules, staff get the grief. Artificial scarcity will in the long run harm the restaurant. Many premier hotels have failed restaurants, for example the NYC Park Hyatt.
I'd be curious to find out if the restaurant in the Conrad is a concession/tenant
The Willard hotel has two restaurants. Both Tenants.
The Hudson hotel on West 58 th street in Manhattan had a trendy club years ago. It was hard to get in , but exceptiond were made if you showed a hotel key. Then automatic admission with no waiting.
The same with Brava club at the El San Juan.
Do you think this B.S policies tarnish the guest experience at the hotel?
Play the game with non registered guests , but if there is an actual table available, immediately seat guests.
The hotel should insist and police this.
Apr 19, 2019, 10:50 am
#114
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
A couple thoughts...
1) Interesting that the mystery TripAdvisor poster has the same writing style, grammatical errors, and unique line break structure as the completely-unrelated FT poster here. Also interesting that said FT poster was so moved by reading this one, unrelated TA review that it inspired them to take up this stranger's noble cause and champion it here. Hmm...
2) Yes, restaurants play this game, yes it's annoying. Sometimes it is legitimate - there can be no one in the place at 630 but they have a bunch of reservations at 730, etc. Hosts can always do a better job of communicating. OpenTable adds complexity because it's a third party - my understanding (anecdotally, not having worked in a restaurant) is that there is not always complete transparency between OT and the restaurant front of house in real time.
3) Not really sure who would have more power in the relationship here, the hotel or the restaurateur. This place is a Voltaggio establishment, so honestly they have quite a bit of clout. Also don't know the relationship as to who owns the building versus runs the hotel and restaurants; there could be some complexities to the legal structure. They may just all be co-tenants; the restaurant might not be structurally subordinate to the hotel.
4) Either way, if I was staying at a hotel and wanted a seat in the restaurant, my first instinct would be to call the concierge, not initiate a strange cloak-and-dagger game using OpenTable.
1) Interesting that the mystery TripAdvisor poster has the same writing style, grammatical errors, and unique line break structure as the completely-unrelated FT poster here. Also interesting that said FT poster was so moved by reading this one, unrelated TA review that it inspired them to take up this stranger's noble cause and champion it here. Hmm...
2) Yes, restaurants play this game, yes it's annoying. Sometimes it is legitimate - there can be no one in the place at 630 but they have a bunch of reservations at 730, etc. Hosts can always do a better job of communicating. OpenTable adds complexity because it's a third party - my understanding (anecdotally, not having worked in a restaurant) is that there is not always complete transparency between OT and the restaurant front of house in real time.
3) Not really sure who would have more power in the relationship here, the hotel or the restaurateur. This place is a Voltaggio establishment, so honestly they have quite a bit of clout. Also don't know the relationship as to who owns the building versus runs the hotel and restaurants; there could be some complexities to the legal structure. They may just all be co-tenants; the restaurant might not be structurally subordinate to the hotel.
4) Either way, if I was staying at a hotel and wanted a seat in the restaurant, my first instinct would be to call the concierge, not initiate a strange cloak-and-dagger game using OpenTable.
Apr 19, 2019, 9:34 pm
#115
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 89
We only stayed one night, so couldn't try lunch.
For the folks who have stayed there already did you park there? Looks like they share a garage with City Center. Is the $60 valet charge billed to your room (ie is it considered a Hilton Charge) Looks like you could possibly book City Center using SpotHero and one of the discounts they occasionally have and self park cheaper.
Apr 20, 2019, 6:56 am
#116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 18,027
The Sakura Club thing is confusing. It seems like a rather expensive up-charge. I see they have food service three times a day and whiskey in the evening. Is this all included in the charge? I might be able to make back the fee in free whiskey 
Is there any relation to the JAL Sakura Lounge?
Is there any relation to the JAL Sakura Lounge?
Apr 20, 2019, 8:52 am
#117
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
No relation to JAL.
Apr 20, 2019, 9:09 am
#118
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 18,027
Apr 20, 2019, 9:27 am
#119
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Apr 21, 2019, 5:14 pm
#120
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,723
Well, I can assure you that there is at least one TA review in there that mentions having afternoon tea, at least briefly ;-) Afternoon tea was available from 2-4 on at least on the first Saturday they were open. We checked in and did that first thing after checking out the room.