Common Scam-use caution
 

Using TheButlerDidIt's post hear as a point of reference-and I am not saying that this is the case....
If you get a call in your room regarding ANY personal or Credit Card information do NOT give it to them! Tell them you will call them back with the info.Then dial 0 (not an extension)and ask for the front desk-and give them the info.
This is how a very common scam in hotels works.Someone overhears your name/room number(or is fed that info by an unscrupulous desk clerk)and then gets your CC number using this technique.

Not saying that this is what was going on in this instance,and I am sure FT'ers are too savvy to fall for such a thing=but better safe than sorrry.

I actually went downstairs to the desk personally, for that reason. I couldn't understand the need to do it at that hour, and I was suspicious.

I'd watched this thread before making two separate stays at this hotel. After the first stay, I was going to post that you're all ga-ga over nothing. My second stay was much better, and the only difference had to do with room placement.

My advice is this: avoid a room on the front of the hotel. The up-lighting ussed by the hotel means that if your bedroom is on the front part of the builing you can practically read a book in bed even when you've dropped the blinds. I didn't realize that until it was very late and I'd unpacked my gear for the next day.

On my next stay I asked for a room on the back side of the hotel and couldn't have been happier.

The breakfast is nice. Didn't partake at the reception but I saw beer, burgers and wine.

This is a fine hotel and will easily compete for my Sheraton DTC business and replace my Four Points Hamden business.

Now about all that lighting for a 'green' hotel...!

Not to mention those empty full-sized refrigerators.

I am currently staying at this property with mwg25 (who is on FT on her laptop, sitting next to me as I type :p).

This is our first stay at an element, and we feel it is simply fantastic. We both love it.

For some perspective, we stayed at the Aspen St. Regis (a Category 6 property) last night, using a free weekend night - and we both like this element much, much better.

The decor is spot-on - one gets a friendly, "chill" vibe from the minute one walks into the lobby, which lasts all the way to the room (and continues therein). It seems as if this brand is to Westin what aloft is to W. The included full in-room kitchens (even in the standard studio we're in) are amazing. The whole building seems as if it's brand new (not sure when it was built, but it can't be more than a year or two old).

Unfortunately, we're only here for one night, and so we won't get to try out the fitness center or many other of this hotel's great amenities (like the Nintendo Wii in the front lobby). However, we're definitely looking forward to the complimentary breakfast tomorrow (which, by the way, goes even further towards making this stay an excellent value), and of the amenities we have experienced, the complimentary wi-fi is a great touch (and is sufficiently fast), and there are two computers hooked up to a printer (which is open to any hotel guest to use) in the front lobby, which came in very handy when we wanted to print out a coupon for dinner. There is a touch of Westin in everything (which is great, imho, as I love Westin) - from the Heavenly Bed to the earth tones in the rooms & hallways, but as previously mentioned, if the color scheme were changed as one blinked, one might think oneself in an aloft.

One caveat - for a "green" hotel, there's plenty of energy being wasted (our room had the a/c on when we walked in, set to somewhere in the 60s, while it was only in the low 70s outside), and as previously mentioned by other posters, if every room has a full-sized refrigerator... well, you can do the math on the energy consumption. Also, I felt bad because I had to waste a lot of water once I turned the faucet on waiting ~60+ seconds for the hot water to arrive - our room must be quite far from the water heater. I've seen that problem before in older homes where the water heater is in the basement on the opposite corner of the house, but I'd expect a "green" hotel to have better plumbing set up.

However, overall, after just 6 hours, this stay has been a fantastic hotel experience - and we haven't even slept yet! The studio room doesn't feel small at all - it feels larger than some of the cookie-cutter Sheratons, and certainly has more personality.

Looking forward to our next stay here (after mwg25 hits her Platinum status, so we can hopefully try out one of the 4th-floor suites)! Highly recommended for a stay in the Denver area if one has vehicular transportation available and doesn't feel the need (or want) to be right in the action downtown.

Quick note on the breakfast: it was just about the best "standard free breakfasts" I've ever had. There were hot breakfast sandwiches (burritos, ham/egg wraps with condiments) as well as cereal, pastries, fruit, yogurt, a variety of juices, and coffee/tea. The layout was clean and attractive, and everything was plentiful (served 6-10 am). Unsurprisingly, china and silverware were used, though there were some to-go coffee cups. And there was a whole pile of paper bags, as if to explicitly encourage taking some things for a snack later. :)

All in all - a definite ^^ to this property and this brand. I hope that there are plans to build more than the current 7...

Me too. But, unfortunately for now, the list of new Element hotels seems to be getting a bit shorter. :(

Effective immediately, Element Toronto Downtown, located in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, is no longer part of Starwood Hotels and Resorts.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Online Guest Feedback Coordinator
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Dearest Starwood,
 

More Elements fewer Alofts.
Thank you.
Sincerely,Bigguyinpasadena

Excited to stay at this property next week, after all the good stuff I've read. Normally do Westin Tabor Center, I like it (more than most others in this forum it seems) but it's been sold out for early next week for almost a month now - no idea why!

i know what you mean....i normally stay at the westin tabor center as well but it seems to be sold out for most of october....

this time though i'm booked at the element for a 14 day stay in october....my client is in lone tree so it would make more sense to stay here over the westin....

looking forward to it....element is the only starwood brand i have not stayed in so far....

It's a good hotel for points or cash.

My son and I spent a couple of nights there last week and it was very good overall.

Have stayed at the Aloft in Broomfield within the year and the Element is better.

Since the hotel appeared to be full, I was worried about noise, but that did not become a problem. As an SPG gold I was recognized at checkin and was put on the second floor facing away from the street and facing the front range. That worked for me.

Didn't do much cooking but the full kitchen looked impressive. But only one cup of real coffee is sub standard for this type of hotel.

The beds seemed to be just what you would find in a Westin- really excellent.

The in room air conditioning kept up with the 100 degree outdoor temp but in either bed, it seemed as if the entire volume was blowing right at you. Very off putting.

I have already recommended this place to my friends and will plan on staying there again in the future. I'm not a perfectionist but I would hope the coffee and air conditioning get some attention.

One of My New Favorite Hotels!
 

Completed a Mattress Run stay at Element Denver and I was very impressed. Rate was only $20 more than my concurrent MR stay at Candlewood Suites, but wow, what a difference that made!

The "Eco-Chill" vibe of the hotel is well executed and not over the top, as I feel is the case with aLoft (then again, I'm not in my 20's anymore). My studio room was comfy, quiet, and nicely equiped (DVD player, flat panel TV, kitchenette with a decent and modern fridge, modern stylish bathroom fixtures that are nevertheless not form-before-function). Breakfast was great (breakfast burritos, strawberry smoothie shots, fresh muffins... oatmeal was too salty, though). The gym rocks, with modern and maintained cardio options, plus some strength machines: bench, shoulder press, lat pull down, quad, hamstrings. Nice rack of dumbbells (hey, nice rack!) and a multi-position bench. There was at least one yoga mat (in wicker basket by water cooler). Breakfast coffee was good, plus they have a pod-type machine available during the day. Pool looked like you could actually swim some short laps; don't think there was a hot tub.

I'll definitely seek out Element Hotels in the future, as the eco-chill extended stay concept "works" for me (though I am really not all that much of a granola cruncher). Clean, comfy, modern, well-equiped, free parking, free internet, free breakfast -- plus very professional and friendly front desk staff. Nicely done, Element Denver!

I originally delayed my summary of the Element Denver Park Meadows due to a pending customer service opportunity, but at this point I will go ahead and post my experience:

In October, I called Platinum Concierge to book 2 rooms at the Denver Element on an award stay (Points). I specifically called versus booking online, because in my situation I needed a room with the separated bedroom door and pull out couch (for my children to sleep separated as one is an infant and sleeps in a crib in our room). I also relayed that I would be arriving at or before check-in time. On the phone, the customer service rep was typing the instructions down as I specifically paid extra points to reserve the "suite". The second room did not matter as it was for the grandparents, and my only ask was that it was on the same floor and relatively close. Customer service read the instructions back to me word for word, so I am positive it was entered into the system.

I also received a phone call and email from Platinum "Ambassador" team a couple weeks before my stay to make sure everything was correct. Again, I relayed that I had specifically paid extra points to ensure a suite in one room, with the crib set up and confirmed that I would be arriving before 3.

We actually arrived at 1pm, and when I went to check-in, started the conversation with the FD with, "I know it is not 3pm"... but if there is a suite open early, I have two cranky under 4 year olds that would love a nap. I also reconfirmed with her the reservation asks, including the crib, pull out sofa in the suite and second room on same floor and preferably close. The FD agent said at 1pm, no problem, we do not have any of those requests on file but we are just waiting on housekeeping to finish the room, it will be ready as soon as possible. I immediately thought, great... 15-20 minutes left and we are in! 45 minutes later, I walked back to the front desk after having the kids try to behave in the lobby... asked again... "we are waiting on housekeeping, should be ready any minute". I asked her how long it normally takes to clean a room, as I would hope this one could be expedited as we had made a special request, Ambassador had confirmed it, and we were waiting in the lobby, and the FD lady again said, I'll call back up there, but I am sure it would be any minute. I walk away.

10 minutes later, I wanted to find out if the contact with housekeeping had been made... the FD lady said yes, and that the room would be ready at 3pm. So now, at 2pm, we had been waiting in the lobby for an hour because it would "be ready any minute", and now it won't be ready for an hour. Next thing you know, my son throws up in the lobby. So here we are looking like the Clampetts camping out in the Element lobby, and I ask if there is any way we can expedite the house cleaning service for that room. She mentions the second room could be ready if we didn't mind being completely on the other end of the hall, to which I asked, well how close will the second room be if we wait for both, and she said adjoining rooms in that case, so we again decided to wait.

Fast forward to 3pm, I walk up to the front desk now for the 4th time, and ask to go ahead and go to my room now, as we had been in the lobby for 2 hours at this point. She again calls someone and this time, she tells me that the guest in our suite still has not checked out yet, and it is his platinum privilege to stay until 4pm! I of course knew these rules as I am a platinum, but I just about blew a gasket! If I had known that the guest was still in the only suite available that I had paid points for... I would have gone and enjoyed Denver for a couple hours and let the kids sleep in the car! I asked for a manager at this point, and the FD lady himmed and hawed about calling, so I picked up the phone and called Starwood Platinum to ask about switching hotels. While on my cell phone in the lobby calling Starwood Platinum, the manager (actually all three managers at this point) all come out to see if there was a resolution. I gave them a brief review, as the original FD lady went to the back room. By the time everything was said and done, it was close to 4pm when we actually got into our room. About 2 minutes within arriving in our room, as expected the crib was not there, and the linens for the sofa bed were not there either. At this point, I called down again, and asked that the items be sent up. They were within 10 minutes, and shortly after putting my son down to nap, we got a call from the GM. He apologized to my wife, and offered her compensation of the first two nights in starpoints. I thought this offer was extremely generous, in fact more than I expected, and mentioned that it was a miscommunication on both ends.

Unfortunately, that is not where it ends... I have come to expect starpoints delivery to be almost immediate, but I don't like to hover over my computer to watch my points post. Every 2 weeks or so I will make sure everything is correct and not worry about it between those times... so at 2 weeks, figured no big deal, at 4 weeks they had not posted yet, so I thought I might inquire. Finally heard back close to 6 weeks later, and they posted 1/2 of what they had verbally agreed to provide me. If you are going to go to the trouble of offering goodwill points to someone, why would you only post 1/2 of what you asked?

Anyway, at this point I just want to be done with this property. It seems like the whole communication string between the Platinum line, the "Ambassador" program, the hotel management, and the customer are broken. I love Starwood dearly, and think they are still the best house on the block... but this one was tough.

Rant over!

On one of my stays here, I was told by the surly FD guy that checkin was 4 pm when I asked if my room was ready. I laughed and said "I didn't even see you check to see if it was ready" and he feigned providing customer service and then said "it isn't ready; please come back at 4:00. The guy I'm talking about has blond hair and he is about the least approachable front desk agent I've encountered, and he's been there for quite a while. He also was the same one who refused a late check out request on me on another stay.