The Draftsman, Autograph Collection - Charlottesville, VA [Master Thread]
Mar 3, 2018, 3:46 pm
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2002
Programs: UALifetimePremierGold, Marriott LifetimeTitanium
Posts: 71,110
The Draftsman, Autograph Collection - Charlottesville, VA [Master Thread]
Opening April 2018. Cat 8.
Hotel website:
https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/tr...ph-collection/
The Draftsman is a distinctive Autograph Collection hotel situated on West Main Street in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, with easy access to the University of Virginia, UVA Medical Center, surrounding wineries and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The perfect setting for vacation, business meetings and special events, the hotel features a farm-to-table restaurant, lounge, 2050 square feet of meeting space and a penthouse fitness center with views of the Blue Ridge mountains and the university campus. The Draftsman offers full connectivity, complimentary wireless Internet, on demand entertainment in guest rooms, mobile check-in and is pet friendly.
Charlottesville is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 100 miles southwest of Washington DC. It is home to the University of Virginia, the UVA Medical Center, Monticello (Jefferson's home) and the Monticello Wine Trail.
Hotel website:
https://www.marriott.co.uk/hotels/tr...ph-collection/
The Draftsman is a distinctive Autograph Collection hotel situated on West Main Street in the heart of downtown Charlottesville, Virginia, with easy access to the University of Virginia, UVA Medical Center, surrounding wineries and the Blue Ridge Mountains. The perfect setting for vacation, business meetings and special events, the hotel features a farm-to-table restaurant, lounge, 2050 square feet of meeting space and a penthouse fitness center with views of the Blue Ridge mountains and the university campus. The Draftsman offers full connectivity, complimentary wireless Internet, on demand entertainment in guest rooms, mobile check-in and is pet friendly.
Charlottesville is located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains approximately 100 miles southwest of Washington DC. It is home to the University of Virginia, the UVA Medical Center, Monticello (Jefferson's home) and the Monticello Wine Trail.
Jun 1, 2018, 6:00 am
#2
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: USA
Programs: 1K 1MM; Bonvoy Ambassador; Nat'l EE; Hertz PC; Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 2,465
This is so incredibly welcomed. I've looked on from my rooms at the Courtyard across the street for 18 months while they built the place. My work travel to Charlottesville has slowed now, but I still can't wait to get down there and check this place out, maybe for a wine weekend.
Jul 13, 2018, 1:12 pm
#3
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
I am quasi-local so I popped in for a drink at the bar a while ago while in town. The lobby is quite nice - they put a lot of thought into the build-out and into incorporating local touches and design elements which allude to the history of the area. Some might think it to be a bit over-the-top, but I personally like it. A colleague of mine did an overnight stay and gave very positive remarks on the rooms themselves.
The bar and restaurant seem to be a bit of an afterthought. The physical space is OK in terms of square footage and allocation thereof, but it looks like they really rushed it to open. It's really drab and the bar looks like it was built in a day. Makes me wonder if they were hoping for a local partner to take the space and build it out, but couldn't find anyone and had to wing it. The beer list was solid, though, and the cocktails looked good, so it serves its purpose, I suppose.
Most importantly, it's a super welcome and long-overdue addition to CVille's hotel scene, and is going to be extremely popular with business travelers and people recruiting out of UVA. I've always been completely bewildered by the lack of good hotels in the city and surrounding area, given the insane amount of money in the region and how many people travel there for events (weddings, university events, etc.). Since the dawn of time it's basically been the Omni or the Boar's head and that's it. I think the city could support at least a few more high-end properties...
The bar and restaurant seem to be a bit of an afterthought. The physical space is OK in terms of square footage and allocation thereof, but it looks like they really rushed it to open. It's really drab and the bar looks like it was built in a day. Makes me wonder if they were hoping for a local partner to take the space and build it out, but couldn't find anyone and had to wing it. The beer list was solid, though, and the cocktails looked good, so it serves its purpose, I suppose.
Most importantly, it's a super welcome and long-overdue addition to CVille's hotel scene, and is going to be extremely popular with business travelers and people recruiting out of UVA. I've always been completely bewildered by the lack of good hotels in the city and surrounding area, given the insane amount of money in the region and how many people travel there for events (weddings, university events, etc.). Since the dawn of time it's basically been the Omni or the Boar's head and that's it. I think the city could support at least a few more high-end properties...
Sep 19, 2018, 3:55 pm
#5
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: CLT
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Posts: 438
Just checked in today. Great location for walking around for food or taking in UVA.
Valet is $15. Doesn't seem to be self parking nearby, though I could have totally missed it.
Tried checking in right at 3pm. Was offered points or $10 food/Bev credit at restaurant for Plat benefit. Took points. Also proactively given 750 points since there is not a lounge. Found no King beds were available. Said it would be about 10 minutes, and she asked if I wanted to grab a drink on the house at the restaurant. Thought this was a nice gesture! While I was at the bar she came by with my key and I was all set. Very pleased with how that was handled.
Room is what I would consider standard sized. Nice shower--no tub. Bigelow bathroom amenities.
Fitness center is also pretty average sized on the 10th floor. A few treadmills and bikes along with standard dumbbell set.
All in all, I think this is a welcome option in town and I would not hesitate to return.
Valet is $15. Doesn't seem to be self parking nearby, though I could have totally missed it.
Tried checking in right at 3pm. Was offered points or $10 food/Bev credit at restaurant for Plat benefit. Took points. Also proactively given 750 points since there is not a lounge. Found no King beds were available. Said it would be about 10 minutes, and she asked if I wanted to grab a drink on the house at the restaurant. Thought this was a nice gesture! While I was at the bar she came by with my key and I was all set. Very pleased with how that was handled.
Room is what I would consider standard sized. Nice shower--no tub. Bigelow bathroom amenities.
Fitness center is also pretty average sized on the 10th floor. A few treadmills and bikes along with standard dumbbell set.
All in all, I think this is a welcome option in town and I would not hesitate to return.
Feb 8, 2019, 8:25 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2017
Location: MCI
Programs: Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 27
pleasant stay here earlier this month.
location is great. we brought the puppy, and the courtyard across the street i always stay in isn't dog friendly. combine that and an extremely low rate for the draftsman (have seen it lower than the residence inn downtown and the courtyard in recent searches for multiple different dates—are they struggling to sell rooms?), figured it was worth a try. even with the $25/ night fee for a dog it was cheaper than the residence inn downtown.
my impression of the hard product and soft product are consistent with the above. there was a lot of available floor space for a puppy play pen in even a standard room. the staff was friendly. no upgrade was offered [PPE] but i didn't ask (or care). i was offered the nightly points for no lounge, and also took the points as the benefit over the breakfast.
a few minor disappointments... we booked a "long term rate" that came with some kind of a food and beverage credit, and the front desk couldn't really tell me anything about how it worked on check in. received conflicting signals about cleaning, as we were explicitly told we had to request for anyone to come in the room to clean it since we had a pet, but then they pounded on the door despite the do not disturb sign while i was in the shower for a solid 5 minutes. and the workspace in a standard room is pretty bad, with a glorified bar stool next to a very insufficient desk. finally, the stay didn't post to my account within 2 weeks so i had to request that through the website; when it did it was a handful of points off, which was a minor annoyance but not worth following up (again) on.
a solid option for the area, but anyone looking to get work done in the hotel room will be disappointed. i wouldn't pay more for this than i'd pay for the courtyard, and i didn't expect that to be the case given the brand differential.
location is great. we brought the puppy, and the courtyard across the street i always stay in isn't dog friendly. combine that and an extremely low rate for the draftsman (have seen it lower than the residence inn downtown and the courtyard in recent searches for multiple different dates—are they struggling to sell rooms?), figured it was worth a try. even with the $25/ night fee for a dog it was cheaper than the residence inn downtown.
my impression of the hard product and soft product are consistent with the above. there was a lot of available floor space for a puppy play pen in even a standard room. the staff was friendly. no upgrade was offered [PPE] but i didn't ask (or care). i was offered the nightly points for no lounge, and also took the points as the benefit over the breakfast.
a few minor disappointments... we booked a "long term rate" that came with some kind of a food and beverage credit, and the front desk couldn't really tell me anything about how it worked on check in. received conflicting signals about cleaning, as we were explicitly told we had to request for anyone to come in the room to clean it since we had a pet, but then they pounded on the door despite the do not disturb sign while i was in the shower for a solid 5 minutes. and the workspace in a standard room is pretty bad, with a glorified bar stool next to a very insufficient desk. finally, the stay didn't post to my account within 2 weeks so i had to request that through the website; when it did it was a handful of points off, which was a minor annoyance but not worth following up (again) on.
a solid option for the area, but anyone looking to get work done in the hotel room will be disappointed. i wouldn't pay more for this than i'd pay for the courtyard, and i didn't expect that to be the case given the brand differential.
Feb 9, 2019, 11:29 am
#8
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: DCA
Posts: 7,769
Agree with the above. The property is nice and the staff are friendly and professional. When I stayed a couple months ago (completely forgot to write anything up here) I was given a top floor studio suite, which was quite nice - well laid-out and designed in keeping with the historical/regional theme while still feeling sufficiently modern. Gym was fine, I don't even remember what the breakfast benefit was because I simply went to Bodo's (duh). Parking being valet-only is indeed understandable given the spot.
I will completely second the point that they totally whiffed on the workspace in the rooms. It seems that they may have targeted an upmarket leisure customer - people in town for weddings, party weekends, sports, reunions, etc. But the bulk of the year, and especially weekdays, I'd think that they'd get plenty of business travelers, between the hospital, university vendors / visiting academics / etc., and company reps coming to do recruiting on-grounds. The current setup would be impossible to use; I'd find myself at another hotel or camping out in the stacks at Alderman Library.
I will completely second the point that they totally whiffed on the workspace in the rooms. It seems that they may have targeted an upmarket leisure customer - people in town for weddings, party weekends, sports, reunions, etc. But the bulk of the year, and especially weekdays, I'd think that they'd get plenty of business travelers, between the hospital, university vendors / visiting academics / etc., and company reps coming to do recruiting on-grounds. The current setup would be impossible to use; I'd find myself at another hotel or camping out in the stacks at Alderman Library.
Mar 11, 2019, 8:32 pm
#9
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
Has anyone tried to challenge these guys on their lack of meeting Marriott's breakfast benefit? They are trying to tell me they don't have a lounge and don't have to give breakfast as a benefit if they give 750 points which is a load of crap and against the T&C. They aren't in the exclusion list either. WHY MUST WE FIGHT FOR THIS MARRIOTT?
Mar 12, 2019, 1:14 am
#10
Company Representative, Marriott Bonvoy
Join Date: Feb 2019
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy
Posts: 1,088
Has anyone tried to challenge these guys on their lack of meeting Marriott's breakfast benefit? They are trying to tell me they don't have a lounge and don't have to give breakfast as a benefit if they give 750 points which is a load of crap and against the T&C. They aren't in the exclusion list either. WHY MUST WE FIGHT FOR THIS MARRIOTT?
For hotels of Autograph Collection brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift for Platinum Elite members and above will be 1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 food and beverage ("F&B") credit per Stay. For resorts of this brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift will be 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per day of Stay for Member +1.
As The Draftsman, Autograph Collection is not a resort, it does not offer breakfast as an option of Elite Welcome Gift.
We are not sure what the 750 Points are about. If you could provide more details to us via private mail here or by email below, we are happy to look into this.
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
Mar 12, 2019, 4:22 am
#11
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Washington, DC, USA
Programs: UA MM, MB LifeTit
Posts: 1,830
I stayed one night here a couple of weeks ago. The hotel is fine. Location is great, staff are nice, gym has room for more equipment (no problem in February). I got a standard room, which is pretty good except anyone in need of a real desk won't be happy. Now for the downsides. No points posted and no folio emailed, but I've learned my lesson and got a printout on departure, so I was able to send it in. I got points for the room and welcome gift, but none for a bar tab (which was on the folio) and no 750 points for no lounge/breakfast, which was promised at check-in. It's not enough to fight over, but I'm getting pretty tired of this.
Mar 12, 2019, 9:13 am
#12
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
Hi jfulcher,
For hotels of Autograph Collection brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift for Platinum Elite members and above will be 1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 food and beverage ("F&B") credit per Stay. For resorts of this brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift will be 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per day of Stay for Member +1.
As The Draftsman, Autograph Collection is not a resort, it does not offer breakfast as an option of Elite Welcome Gift.
We are not sure what the 750 Points are about. If you could provide more details to us via private mail here or by email below, we are happy to look into this.
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
For hotels of Autograph Collection brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift for Platinum Elite members and above will be 1,000 Points per Stay or U.S. $10 food and beverage ("F&B") credit per Stay. For resorts of this brand in United States, the Elite Welcome Gift will be 1,000 Points per Stay or breakfast in restaurant per day of Stay for Member +1.
As The Draftsman, Autograph Collection is not a resort, it does not offer breakfast as an option of Elite Welcome Gift.
We are not sure what the 750 Points are about. If you could provide more details to us via private mail here or by email below, we are happy to look into this.
Best Regards,
Christina Zhou
Specialist, Social Media
Marriott International
[email protected]
Mar 12, 2019, 9:17 am
#13
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: RDU, Delta GM/1MM, Hilton Diamond (for now), Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 3,443
I stayed one night here a couple of weeks ago. The hotel is fine. Location is great, staff are nice, gym has room for more equipment (no problem in February). I got a standard room, which is pretty good except anyone in need of a real desk won't be happy. Now for the downsides. No points posted and no folio emailed, but I've learned my lesson and got a printout on departure, so I was able to send it in. I got points for the room and welcome gift, but none for a bar tab (which was on the folio) and no 750 points for no lounge/breakfast, which was promised at check-in. It's not enough to fight over, but I'm getting pretty tired of this.
Mar 12, 2019, 10:46 am
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Sounds as though the 750 points is (implied by them as) a hotel-specific amenity, above the welcome amenity points and $10 f&b credit choice? However, what makes the most sense to me would be that they mistakenly believe the Autograph welcome amenity is 750 points.
Bottom line is that if you received welcome amenity points, or $10 credit, that's it: they are not required to cover a restaurant breakfast in full.
Bottom line is that if you received welcome amenity points, or $10 credit, that's it: they are not required to cover a restaurant breakfast in full.