MSPeconomist

s0ssos

For those who know Springhill Suites, that is what he means by partial walls. But no, they have real suites at this hotel, with a closing door, some with a sink, separate bathroom, etc.
You might want to check if they have some event going on here though, as it can get noisy.

MSPeconomist

Neric

The rooms MSPeconomist calls Junior Suites are what we have stayed in most of the time, as long as they are available we've been upgraded to them.

We've stayed in the mega huge suites on the top floor, and they are just excessive. But that means I can vouch for their existence as well I have had problems with noise and adjoining rooms which is how I ended up getting to know the staff. I don't usually bother to get club access, because the breakfast in the dining room is amazing and I'm not yet top tier.

MarkOK

I know what you are referring to, the hotel calls them "1 king bed deluxe" right now, and does put them in a suite category online. I am talking about the "executive suites" which have a windowless living room, a big bathroom, and then a separate, doored off, bedroom with windows that face the Loring greenway. They are not lockouts either.

sdadept

we got the exec suite plus the adjoining 'premier' room on 5. So we had plenty space for all of us! Big conference going on here now though so none of the top floor suites were available. I wonder how one gets those other than just being lucky?

MSPeconomist

Apparently last weekend, guests found electronic/recording devices in some rooms (plural). Police are involved and aren't giving many details, but more than one local TV news program is reporting that these were small cameras connected to the internet.

The hotel has expressed concern and is working with local police. Management claims that no further devices were found after all rooms were inspected.

ADDED: The guests who discovered the devices were students (no grade or ages mentioned) on a field trip from Madison, Wisconsin. The school employee accompanying the group has reportedly been put on leave as the investigation continues.

GUWonder

Why was the Madison school employee put on leave? Is the accompanying school employee suspected of putting in the devices?

I have stayed at this hotel a bunch and it used to be one of my major Hyatt mattress run locations, but that was mostly years before electronic recording devices became so cheap and prevalent as they are now.

MSPeconomist

That seems to be the innuendo in local TV news and also an article published in today's print edition of the StarTribune. Minneapolis police said from almost the beginning that hotel employees aren't implicated. Moreover, the devices were found only in rooms occupied by the students in this group, although if we're parsing words, I haven't seen a statement that there was a device (presumably the same device) found hidden in every one of the student rooms. The police are refusing to say what school group it was or the ages (and perhaps genders) of the students, but it does now seem to be a suburb (named but I didn't catch the community) of Madison rather than Madison's city school district.

I've been trying to imagine how/why a school staff member serving as a chaperone, coach, teacher or whatever on the trip would have access alone to all of the student rooms. It's also curious that the students seem to have told each other when the device was initially found in one of the rooms rather than approaching the adult responsible for them during the field trip. Could the students have already considered the school staff member to be creepy? [Note that the person is being referred to as a staff member and not a teacher or coach, so I wonder whether we can infer anything from that choice of words, other than the fact that it doesn't appear to be a volunteer parent chaperone.]

Neric

Update on this hotel during covid times. I talked to mgmt, they are only operating on floors 3, 4 and 5. The kitchen is completely shut down, the web site is correct unlike Bloomington. Guess that's because this is a corporate location.

They are seeing an average of 5 check-ins a day.

MSPeconomist

However, the material about parking on their website is incorrect. They don't have valet, just what they call "contactless" valet, which means that you park right in front, in their carriage entrance.

BTW are you at the HR downtown bow?

MarkOK

Sounds like a ghost town.

With all those greenway suites on 3, 4, and 5, wouldn't the globalist upgrade be guaranteed!

Neric

If bow = now - I'll be there this evening. And ya for glob free parking you park in front and they'll give me something to put in dash. It'll be nice to avoid driving up the spiral drive to park.

That's pretty much what I was told, I'm already checked in and my room is one of those suites (I've stayed in them many times)

MSPeconomist

Just remember to leave a trail of breadcrumbs so that you can find your way out. These floors are like a maze.

Neric

Lol sure it's a long way around, but we've been there plenty so not a problem for us ;-)

We were in 3116, it's part of the zig-zag so the windows are interesting.

3116 Windows



Seating area


The lobby was so dead compared to what it's normally like, the extent of the market is pictured: (sorry for the blurry picture, the swedish fish I got later. so they are not there )

Market Pantry

The normal shop is completely closed down.

Closed down store

I did learn that recently they had an event that took advantage of all the floor space they have to hold a dance event. Was really good since they were able to bring more staff back but it's back down to a skeleton crew.

You can't get in from the skyway or the garage, only one entrance and they have to buzz you in. I was told they had a bunch of Globalists there, I figure folks going after the double nights bonus.

We've stayed at this hotel many many times over the years, they've always taken good care of us.