Starwood Lurker

From the Terms and Conditions for 2002 - which will not change regarding this particular subject in case anyone is curious:

"1. Upgrade to the best available room, including Select Standard Suites at time of check-in. Specialty Suites (such as, but not limited to, Presidential, Honeymoon, and multiple bedroom) are excluded. Upgrade is subject to availability at time of check-in and will vary by property."

So, yes; some suite types are not available for complimentary Platinum upgrade; however, I agree that when a hotel has the opportunity to make a good impression on a frequent guest, they should make every effort to do so. The only problem is that some hotels don't agree with how I feel about the subject.

Best regards,

William R. Sanders
Specialist, E-Communications Department
Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide

[email protected]

Force

The Sheraton Anchorage is kind of a dive. For a trip last year, I started my stays with the Sheraton. I didn't particularly like the hotel or its location. So I moved to the renovated downtown Hilton. It turned out to be a much more pleasant experience.

dbk10

Hmm, I'm staying at the Sheraton in Anchorage in June for the marathon. Am I correct that the club is not open on the weekends and they don't give platinums breakfast coupons? Is there a grocery store anywhere near this hotel so that I can have some food in my room to eat before the marathon?

I'm not really expecting any type of upgrade as I have a reservation for 2 double beds and am going during a sold out weekend. But the club is kind of important to me.

Is this hotel really that worn down; I know that most of the city is booked up b/c of the race, but should I consider staying elsewhere?

number_6

I rather like the Sheraton Anchorage. The rooms are much like a Motel 6 (even the suites) and the club is closed on weekends, plus they have no idea about Platinum, but the staff has a gung-ho attitude and if you propose something to them they will often go for it. Tell them what you want as a Diamond, and chances are you will get it (within reason). This hotel really has a bit of the wild frontier to it. As a point of comparison, the Captain Cook (which I always visit as they have a GREAT wine cellar) is negligibly better (same for anything else in ANC). Despite the poor hotels, I rate ANC as a top-5 destination in the US (truly magnificent country!). My fondest memory of ANC is a visit in December where the rental car door was frozen shut and could not be opened due to the cold.

Eastbay1K

Having been to Anchorage somewhere between 40 to 50 times, the Sheraton is one of the better properties, and sometimes only $10 or $20 more in the summer than the Days Inn or Holiday Inn which may be charging $250. That said, I wasn't exactly superthrilled with my last stay there.

Cloud Lounger

I agree with some that Sheraton Anchorage is not the best in town. They have large rooms, and service staff are nice, but not as "service oriented" as those from the Catptain Cook or the Hilton. Hilton had nicest room even if it wasnt as big as the Sheraton. Captain Cook appeared to really go out of their way to give good service.

dbk10

I just returned from my trip to the Sheraton Anchorage.

While taking a cab from the airport I couldn't help but notice that every other hotel was located closer to the downtown area and all of the restaurants than the Sheraton. I would suggest the Captain Cook and the Hilton for location.

Upon arrival to the hotel, I noticed that the lobby was nothing special. Their web site boasted of a $1 million jade staircase, but frankly, I only saw a waste of money; maybe I don't have a designer's eye, but it really didn't look like much to me.

I checked into room 1127 (club floor) and the room had two double beds (what I requested). Unlike some reports that I had read, the room did NOT look worn down and looked decently clean. The beds were much softer than the last Sheraton that I stayed at - Sheraton Premiere at Tysons Corner.

The first couple of days I had put the card on my bed requesting that my sheets be changed and housekeeping had no problem taking the tip off of my pillow, but they did not change my sheets (I put a dot on the corner so that I know when the sheets are changed). Also, the remote control in my room did not work, I didn't receive my newspaper the first morning, and there was a message for me that the hotel lost.

Upon returning to my room after my first full day there, I had a message from the local sales agent from the hotel asking if I'd be in the area for a while and asking if I would consider staying with them and to please call and they would arrange for me to have a special rate, etc... I guess they looked up my past trends that I usually stay in a hotel for at least a couple of months at a time. I didn't bother to call him back.

There are no tv services at this hotel, meaning, you can't check your bill on the tv nor check-out via the television. And their web site advertises that they offer massage services (I was in town to run a marathon and these services were highly desirable), but the hotel doesn't offer such services.

Upon calling the helpdesk, I was pretty much dismissed and even after reporting everything, I never heard back from the help desk (they didn't even bring me a new remote until I called back again to SPECIFICALLY request one).

The hotel staff was not very knowledgeable, although I will admit that I was offered my platinum amenity at check-in. They didn't seem to be aware of what was available in the area and were no help in offering suggestions of local attractions. Also, the marathon expo was in one of the hotel's ballrooms, upon check-in, I asked if they could give me the times and the room of the expo and the guy told me that the front desk staff hadn't been given that information yet. I asked for him to get me someone else that may know and the new desk agent pointed to a piece of paper that was in front of the original guy's face which listed the room and the times and they also had handouts behind the counter to give to all of the marathoners.

When checking out, the front desk agent didn't even ask me how my stay was. After checking out I started to tell her about all of my problems and she was like "you should've told me before I was checked you out and I could have done something for you." I told her that usually the front desk agent asks me how my stay was, which she didn't do. So she checked me back in and as a "token of Sheraton Promise goodwill" removed my phone call and the $6 breakfast I had on the bill for my troubles.

I was not at all impressed with this hotel and probably will not stay there again if I ever return to Anchorage.

I'll try to post a trip report of Alaska in the Alaska forum some time this week.

Platman

I stayed in Anchorage June 2003 and was also very disapointed. When I asked about the Platinum amenity, they told me my SPG number was already in the reservation. Then they checked me in to an occupied room. Nice security. Then the staff blammed each other for the messup, barely saying they were sorry. My room rate was wrong as well. The club breakfast is a joke...poor selection and a tiny setup area that has everyone on top of each other. My business associated stayed at the Hilton and questioned why I would want to stay at what is pretty much a dump. I have a three week trip later this year, and as a SPG Platinum, I am going to stay at the Hilton anyway for this trip.I am tired of dealing with a clueless staff.

fly co to see the yanks

when i stayed there i got the sense that this place has a bit of a captive market. people are going to come in the summer because it is beautiful. starwood preferred guest members will want to stay here for the credit. it's like if starwood had a grand total of one hotel on cape cod. in the summer, the staff could be indifferent. it would still sell out.

the above report by dbk10 is brutal and i only hope that it is reported to customer care at 800-328-6242. if it's not reported, it won't be fixed. the sheets not being changed (while the tip was taken) is really disgusting.

[This message has been edited by fly co to see the yanks (edited 06-24-2003).]

johnep1

Any recent experiences with this hotel? I'll be there for one night in late July and was wondering if this hotel has improved in the past year.

Of course, I'm using 3,000 points for a Friday night stay that would have cost $207 + tax, so I'm not going to complain if the hotel hasn't improved at all.

ajnaro

I've stayed at the Sheraton Anchorage exactly twice. As everyone says, it's not the world's greatest hotel, but it's not the worst either. I would say it is a rather typical Sheraton. The first time I got an upgrade to the closest thing they have to a suite, but I had to negotiate. The second time they gave me the same sort of suite without negotiation. But negotiation was necessary to get coupons for breakfast on the weekend. The strangest thing about the hotel is that the bell staff double as concierge.

dragonmp11a10

Was there 3 weeks ago, booked thru priceline. Standard 3* establishment with a somewhat friendly staff, was told the club lounge was closed on weekends so that sucks. Nothing much more worth mentioning. Free parking is a perk, however there is free shuttle town downtown (only) as well.

Telecom Dave

I am going to Anchorage next week and I need to know if the Sheraton in Anchorage is better than the Marriott?

mtacchi

I think you will find them both equally unimpressive. That is not to say they are poor, just basic hotels. Nothing exciting at either.

Meerkat

Had one night there last year as part of a ridiculous RTW MR. Was pretty unimpressed. Thought the staff weren't really into their job and didn't really think I got much in the way of platinum recognition. The room was pretty tired, but it was clean. At the time I was just overjoyed it had thick enough curtains to blot out the midnight sun!!! All in all, it did the job, and I would stay there again even if only because of spg.