rubystone

Just reporting out. Stayed here last week.

Positives:
Location
Extremely comfortable bed. Even better than heavenly bed IMHO
Attentive and helpful staff
Huge bathrooms
24/7 Room service
Access to so many restaurants in the area and shopping

Negatives:
Really no views from any where else
Room space could be utilized better
Furniture is a little dated (didn't bother me)
Room space could be utilized better. Lot of space but unusable due to how the bed is laid out.

CMK10

Yes but, any thoughts on the room space?

MGJ2727

I stayed here for two nights last week. Surprised that this would be considered a luxury collection, both in terms of the rooms (outdated and awkward.. seemed like no artwork in the rooms and lack of furniture in my suite). Lame amenities in bathrooms (no mouthwash, tiny bottles and soaps). And awkward to have to take two elevators to my room. Finally, the popup lounge was meh and breakfast was a madhouse and more than half the food items were gone when I went to eat. I had to go out and eat. Even the OJ was out of stock. It was a mess.

KENNECTED

Are you saying you have no view (to the outside/cityscape) from your room? Or no good views withing the room, to say the TV?


Well this was a Le Meridien before it was a Conrad and now a Luxury Collection. Not sure how the access to the hotel has anything to do with the brand designation of the hotel? There are are plenty of luxury hotel with dual entry points. Example: Park Hyatt New York; Conrad Miami. Not to mention there are plenty of properties where there is a long walk from street entrance to check in area. In many cases you have a long walk involving stairs, before arriving at the check in area. Then you must take an internal set of elevators to your room. Examples, Las Vegas; Waldorf=Astoria; Westin Peachtree; Westin Bonaventure. IMO, this is no different than taking a second elevator.

Personally, this issue isn't the elevator from the street or the mall to the lobby. The issue is that ONE SINGLE elevator is high traffic and the design should have been for two elevators. The wait for that elevator can be maddening!

playbbg

you hit the nail on the head. as for dual elevators, in Chicago alone, I'm fairly certain The Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Park Hyatt, and Peninsula require multiple elevator rides. However, they all have many elevators used to go to the lobby. It boggles my mind how few elevators they have to service every person going to the lobby and all of the event levels. I've had to wait frequently for an elevator. Also, there is only 1 mall elevator (for the whole mall) and no stairs option for the hotel, so you are forced to wait if you want to go to the mall or Michigan Ave.

UA-NYC

Just put in for a single night SNA in Oct...only options listed were Junior Suites.

Pretty sure this is a change from the last time I put in (where I was able to get a proper suite).

Lurkers - did something change with this property? Thanks.

Starwood Lurker IV

Hi UA-NYC,

According to the front desk agent we spoke to, nothing changed regarding the use of SNA.

The Junior Suite King and the Junior Suite King Terrace (available for SNA) are larger than the Premium ones and are among their top tier suites.

Best regards,

Alexis Lhopital
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

UA-NYC

Thanks much! The "Junior" terminology was throwing me for a loop as that's normally a step below standard suites at most properties.

playbbg

just so you know, that's a boldface lie. The Junior suites, while nice (esp the terrace one) are not proper suites (no door, hense "junior"). They do have deluxe and superior suites, which are quite nice (esp the 2 terrace suites) and when the property first went live, were options for SNA.

I continue to be frustrated with this hotel. I want it to be nice. I loved it as the Conrad. But the service and staff are simply not truthful and don't seem to care about guests, specifically elite members. Whether it be lying about availability, not confirming SNAs and now changing what is qualified for SNA, they aren't doing much to win repeat business. I rather they just be honest and say that they don't want to release their true suites to SNA.

Such a shame, this could have been a great addition to the Chicago market!

UA-NYC

Thanks for the clarification, I do agree with you. I was there a couple weeks ago, I did get great service & was pre-upgraded to a Deluxe suite IIRC (full separate bedroom w/door), and had a terrace. I'm holding off more judgments until after the renovation is done.

Looking at the site (https://www.starwoodhotels.com/luxur...ropertyID=4320) the Jr. Suite does seem like a step down from a proper suite (smaller/lacking separate room). And price-wise, the Jr. Suite seems to be cheaper than Deluxe/Superior suites.

So Lurkers, any follow-up? Thanks.

Starwood Lurker

None needed. The choice for SNA's at this property is now the junior suites, regardless of what it may or may not have been at some other point in time.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

jibi

Just as an FYI, the Gwen hired a new General Manager last month. The former GM at the Gwen was hired last September to lead the rebranding and renovations from the Conrad. She left the Gwen after 11 months and went back to her previous role as GM at The Blackstone, which will be undergoing a renovation and eventually joining the Autograph Collection under Marriott. I suspect some changes from the previous leadership will be made while finishing up the renovation of this property, so this may be an opportunity you've been looking for to voice your concerns and opinions about the direction under the previous GM.

danhunterpost

Any recent experiences here? I have a room booked for a few nights early in February. I stayed here last year and wasn't impressed with the lounge as I believe it was under construction at the time and a temporary one was set up.

jmanirish

Can you let us know how it went? Have an upcoming stay and considering the Gwen.

Keyser

how was the stay????i have an upcoming stay here later this month....