jix

There's a lot of good Chinese restaurants within walking distance.

Flews

There are dozens & dozens of restaurants within easy walking distance, many Asian, but lots of others also. This property has three pools, two of them indoors, and access to a connected fitness facility. Little in the way of shopping though, unless you like stuff imported from China.

Cheers,

danhunterpost

Just checked in here as a SPG Gold. Great front desk staff. Initial room had been smoked in prior to me and smelled terrible, they tried to "spray" but didn't help. Front desk moved me to a corner suite a few floors up. I have a 6 day stay so was surprised to be upgraded to a suite for the whole 6 days as a SPG gold. For reference I was not matched from Marriott.

Happy SPGer here so far.

Antonio8069

I am not surprised you were upgraded. Did that give you lounge access? IMO, the lounge is the best!
What did you mean "not matched by Marriott"? As a Plat member, I linked my accounts to get the equivalent. You did not?

danhunterpost

I earned SPG gold for the last few years which is what I meant but I wasn't matched by marriott. Was just upgraded to the suite. Didn't get lounge access with the upgrade. Wish I did. But secured a good rate that included a full breakfast and the buffet is pretty good IMO.

Cerberus

My current experience at this hotel is mixed at best. But for everyone else's information, I'll write out what happened.

Short version: Highly annoying front desk clerk hell bent on departure times; no acknowledgement of status or upgrades; given downgraded room; crappy HVAC; complained to SPG Platinum and hotel fixed situation by upgrading.

I'm SPG Platinum for what its worth.

I'm on a travel assignment with a Big 4 consulting firm, so I basically live in hotels Sunday to Thursday. I've been staying at the Westin Prince for the last few weeks, and decided to try the Sheraton Parkway last week and this week. By default, my firm books us into king sized beds with club access, etc. So not the top of the line but not near the bottom either, so with status we usually get upgraded anyhow.

Last week was ok, nothing special decent room on 9th floor with club lounge access but no upgrades offered.

This week was a .... show starting at check-in. On check-in, the desk clerk was more interested in knowing down to the minute when I would be checking out on Thursday despite the fact that standard checkout is 11am, and Platinum can do late check-outs. Personally, I don't care because I leave early, work at the client site, and head to the airport in the afternoon. But this irritated me to no end considering she harped on it. There was no mention of my status, upgrades, points, club lounge, etc. Gave me my room key which was on the 7th floor.

Went upstairs, and it was a double queen facing a garbage filled alley and industrial park. Don't really care, not there for the view after all. Sunday was already a long day, I was tired from flying and everything else so I hit the sack. Notably through the night, the HVAC was pretty much on full blast at the lowest setting spewing out heat -- even off, it wasn't any better as you can't open a window.

Feeling pretty unrested and highly annoyed the next morning, I dropped a note to SPG Platinum's email address with the above information. I received an email from the Assistant Front Desk Manager who apologized and offered to move me to a premium king 1 bedroom suite on the 10th floor upon my return to the hotel that evening. Also offered a gift or something too. (All of this by email, badly written, bad grammar, etc.).

When I did get back to the hotel that evening, I packed everything up, called the front desk who indicated they would send someone up with a key straight away. I waited 30m and just as I was about to call the front desk again -- they showed up at the door.

Anyhow, I did get placed in the nice king 1 bedroom suite on the 10th floor. All in all, it's nice.

I'm booking my travel shortly for the next few weeks; don't think I will be trying Sheraton Parkway again for a month or two just based on this experience. I had nothing but solid service, good rooms (even non-upgraded ones), etc. from Westin Prince. But I'll give Sheraton another shot in a month.

Cerberus

BTW -- club lounge isn't an automatic benefit of SPG gold, but of platinum. Some hotels will include it with certain types of rooms though -- surprised that a suite didn't include it!!

danhunterpost

Thanks for letting me know, I was a little surprised as well. I just booked a trip to this location for next week and booked a club suite so it includes club access. I booked a AAA rate which alos included breakfast in the lobby restaurant. When I called to confirm with the hotel that I got lounge access they told me they could only provide one or the other (lounge access or breakfast). Does that sound right?

Based on the rate I should get full breakfast buffet in the lobby and based on the room type I should get access to the lounge, right? Am I missing something?

Thanks.

Starwood Lurker IV

Hi DanHunterPost,

Appears as if something went awry here. If your confirmed rate plan included specific benefits during the stay (AAA rate, granting breakfast in Lobby), and your specific room type also includes additional benefits (club floor room, granting club floor benefits), you should not have to pick and choose.

Please send us a PM or email with your stay details so we can step in to further understand and assist.

Best regards,

Christopher Carman
Social Media Specialist
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Antonio8069

I had a follow-up one night stay this month.....
On the plus side, the SPG lounge on the 9th floor of the York Tower is superb:
- ample hot & cold hors d'oeuvres : perogies, chicken tenders, Thai salad, cheese, fruit, veggies, cookies and fruit bars;
- solid breakfast incl. hot & cold options (as previously reported);
- good selection of canned drinks, incl. soda water.
- the exercise & steam rooms in the squash club are good.
On the less than positive side:
- renovations underway in the York Tower, very noisy;
- daily newspapers no longer available;
- the footprint of this property is huge, makes for a lot of walking!
- suite upgrades (9th and 10 floors) are hard to score (2nd time my request has failed).
Toronto has become one pricey place to stay. This property offers lower rates "just beyond the fringe". PM me for VIVA transit information and/or hotel contact for upgrade requests.

Flews

I was here again for a couple nights earlier this week. Generally agree with the above. The lounge fare is quite good, especially evening, although I found breakfast to have less variety in the way of cold cuts & fruit than previous visits.

Lots of free newspapers in the lounge and at the elevators. Seems they just don't leave them at the door anymore.

Did receive a nice upgrade to one-bedroom suite. Renovated room with jacuzzi tub in the bath. Took advantage of green choice.

Great service as usual.

Cheers,

pWei

Drink menu (incl alcohol) is available at the lounge, though there is a charge. Be aware it takes some time for it to be brought up. Fees are reasonable.

Cerberus

I try to stay at this hotel about once a month instead of the Westin Prince but only if my company (Concur) system shows they have at least King sized beds available.

My upgrades to junior king suites are a bit hit or miss. I think I've had two upgrades over the last 6 stays in the last 6 months at this hotel.

Overall, the hotel is quite nice. I've only been in the lounge a handful of times but the food is pretty decent.

Only thing that bugs me is at Check-In, they usually only have two people during busy times and no one manning the SPG side. If there is no point in having a separate line for SPG, why have it?

IluvSQ

I have experienced this, but I just wait by the side where the SPG check-in
should be. If they call the next guest from the regular line, I just point out
that I am a plat waiting in the priority line, and have always been served
immediately.

DH

I had a short one night stay over the weekend and I had a few minor issues. There were nail clippings on the carpet next to sofa that maid missed to vacuum. The TV didn't have video just sound. I used the lounge for the breakfast (not evening reception) and I was presented with a bill with waiver. FD told that the hotel instituted the practice recently as accounting measure. Since there was attendant at the door of the lounge asking for the room number as I entered, I thought that was unnecessary. The breakfast offering was better than average North American property breakfast offerings. Anyway FD gave me 10% for house keeping issues.