The Nines, Luxury Collection in Portland, OR [Master Thread]
 

Yep, I stayed there on the first night (10/20) that they were accepting online reservations and I'm back again this week. The hotel is absolutely fantastic! One of the nicest Starwood (non-resort) properties I've seen in years. The rooms, lobby, gym, exec/club lounge, and restaurant are amazing. I would reccomend this hotel to anyone staying in the Portland area; after many stays over at the Westin nearby, this is a very welcome addition to town with incredible upscale quality and top-notch service. ^^

Welcome to FlyerTalk and the Starwood forum, happy_spg_plat. Thank you for the first report on a stay at this hotel.

Walked by the hotel....noticed there were alike 6-7 valet/bellboys, some of them previously working at the westin.

Will try them out next time in town.

How's the rooms/lounge? The westin is in need for some updates.

I have booked the Nines for 5 nights the end of May for our first trip to Portland. The reviews of the hotel have made me happy with that decision. But now I need to know what the area around the hotel is like?

Is there a lot to do in walking distance? Good food, preferably vegetarian or heavy on the vegetables? Microbrewery? Can we enjoy the area without a car? Thanks for the help.

Tons to do in the area, it is actually right across the street from Pioneer Square and is less that a block away from the MAX station stop to grab public transportation. You can easily walk from the hotel up to the Pearl District which has a ton of great restaurants and bars. If you are looking for local brews nearby, be sure to check out Henry's on 12th and Burnside (over 100 beers on the menu and great food) as well as Deschutes Brewery Public House between 10th and 11th on Davis (great food and beer as well). A few extra blocks further is the Rogue Brewery Public House between 13th and 15th on Flanders.

You will find plenty of nice, smaller vegetarian options over in the Pearl...enjoy your trip!

Walking tours-fantastic
 

There is a visitors center in Pioneer Square which has several walking tours(not free-but very cheap)I highly recommend them.
With five days you should be able to get out and do some hiking in the gorgeous area surrounding Portland.

The Nines has a set rate of $249 per night, however, you can drop the rate to $199.50 using a 1,000 points Starwood 50% off award for up to 5 nights.

SPG American Express card holders receive annual 50% off certificate.

Even bigger savings are to be found at aloft hotel Cascade Station Portland Airport where the nightly rate is listed at $139 most nights. Reduce this to $79 using SPG 50 award.

This weekend? Plat amenities.
 

I just called the Nines and considering a change away from Hilton to this prop for the coming weekend. Got conflicting stories from staff on P benefits. They do have a Club lounge which is great. But I was told this was not a benefit extended to Ps unless you pay a upcharge. The room upgrade is supposed to be to a higher floor only. Awaiting a call back from GM to clarify all. The Nines even with a SPG50 is at least $90 more per night than the Hilton which is a great property in our opinion. We will see if the Nines can win us over.

Heard back.
 

From staff. As a P upgraded to 11th floor. Not suites or junior suites. Access to Club on 12 with presentations all day. Includes beverages. Will give it a try.

I look forwarward to your trip report RTWSTARALLIANCE :D

Will post it soon.
 

A Lounge option in PDX is nice. Thanks.

the Nines. Not. Maybe a two.
 

Preface: In PDX for a client dinner this evening.

Status: Platinum.

Rate: Less than $200 using a SPG50 cert..

Transportation: I took Trimet in. Get off at the 5th and Morrison Street stop.

Parking: n/a

Check-in: I arrived early and was given a very small room. After asking about what level of P benefits the Hotel offers was upgraded to a "suite". No amenity offered. Given access to Lounge.

Perks: Upgrade and Lounge access.

Lounge: The Lounge is a intimate space. Plush would describe it. There is a host. I arrived late in the morning and breakfast was about to be cleared. More later. Lacated on 12.
***** I took my client into the Lounge before and after dinner. We both agree this was a great place to have access to. The staff is excellent and friendly. Open bar.

Room: I have a interior "suite" with two windows onto the courtyard. You enter onto carpet and there is a living room with a flat panel tv and dvd player. There is a closet in this room.

The bedroom is standard with a desk. In here you have another entertainment set-up. The dvd player in this room does not work. If you sense a lack of excitement. You got it.

Bathroom: This is a handicap "suite" so the bathroom takes the back part of the room. Nothing exciting but it does have a tub. The smaller room noted above did not have a tub. I think the front desk should be advising us of these things. Marble floor. Gilchrist & Soames amenities.

Internet: The wired internet in this room did not work. The engineer came in and we had to wire direct to the wall. Now the phone on the desk does not work. The wireless in the building at places only has a 20% signal strength. Internet is comp.. They use ibahn.

Gym: Not been.

Spa: ?

Eating venues: The bar and restaurant which is open is on 8. The top floor restaurant is not slated to open until at least May 2009.
***** I dined with my client at Urban Farmer. The Phil cheesesteak sandwich was excellent. My dinner was over cooked. Side portions are small. They did not have my drink. OK to try once but that was it.

Local markets: Lots of stuff around here.

Local area: The center of PDX.

Negatives: Lack of P recognition straight away. Technical stuff. Staff still trying to get it.

Closing: I have been to a number of hotels in PDX. I do not see greatness here and it will interesting to see if they can pull it off. At the rate I am paying let alone rack I would have to favor the Hilton Executive Tower. The only real appeal here is the Lounge. Facing inward towards the courtyard does nothing for me. The slam of the service area doors is really annoying also. They have some work to do here!

My colleagues were very pleased
 

FWIW: I had 2 colleagues from PHL in town this week and they stayed at The Nines. Both were very complementary of the staff, rooms, workout room and breakfast service. Said they much prefer it to the Westin and Hotel Monaco where they normally stay when in PDX. They said it was "approaching a Four Seasons or Ritz experience." Their only complaint was that the service was "a little too eager." I guess if that's the worst complaint that's not too bad!

As other posters have said, you'll be smack dab in the middle of downtown Portland. And there's plenty to do.

LivePDX.com is a good resource.

Stayed at the Nines night before last. I was placed on 11th floor on opposite side of hotel from elevators. The hotel rooms are in a square around an open interior atrium so half the rooms face interior and half are exterior rooms.

The hotel is floors 6-15 of the building (no floor 13 - told it is storage area). Floor 6 is conference rooms. Floor 7 is Gym/Business center and rooms. Floor 8 is lobby reception and restaurants. There are several seating areas in the large open atrium of the 8th floor. A lovely environment.

Floor 12 is the lounge. As platinum I was given access to 12th floor lounge. Key card required for elevator to access any floor besides 8 and ground floor. My key card allowed access to Floor 11 with my room and Floor 12 with lounge. No need to check in with lounge staff and I was never asked for my name or room number. The fact you are there on 12th floor means you have lounge access on your room card.

The concierge staff were friendly and there was always at least two staff members every time I visited. I asked for wine and received a 10 or 12 oz portion. That took care of me for the New York Times reading hour.

Lounge is kind of dark. A great place for evening relaxing and every time I visited, there were only a few people in a space with seating for about 25 to 30. Lounge has large screen Sony Vaio computer for guest access.

Lounge seating only has two small tables conducive to eating breakfast. If those are in use, then you are left with couches and cushion chairs and coffee tables for eating.

My bedroom was small 12'x13' and I bet I was placed in the room with the smallest single window in the hotel (2.5 ft wide on a 13" wall). Unless they have a windowless room, I can't imagine a room with less natural light. (Interior atrium facing rooms have the large atrium with a glass ceiling.) The lack of window light caused me to pay particular attention to the four room lamps which I must say were absolutely gorgeous. Most rooms seemed to have much more window space from my observations when studying the hotel from the street outside. Perhaps I would have fared better just paying the $249 regular rate and receiving complimentary parking (a $32 value) rather than using the SPG50 half off rack rate for $199.50 available for 1,000 Starpoints. Particularly since I paid $16.50 to self-park in a garage on the next block.

Issues:
-Electronic mini-bar in hotel room was locked and front desk said an engineer would need to come to room to unlock it. I passed on that as I was only curious to see contents, not buy contents.
-I had to call desk twice before my room telephone worked for making outside calls.
-Keep that key card in your hand for using elevator or you find yourself on ground floor or 8th floor before you know it.
-I received a phone call at 12:51 am. Nobody on the line. Desk staff said there was no way to know who had called.
-After taking over 200 photos around the hotel over 18 hours, on my last photo before check-out I was asked by concierge what I planned to do with photos. I told him I write a hotel blog at BoardingArea.com. He informed me that I do not have permission to publish photos of the hotel private property and I need media permission from a hotel representative. The staff member who I am supposed to get permission from was not at the hotel yesterday.

Compliments:
-Bath towels are heavenly. Wrap up in the 6'x3' plush towel. (I actually measured it.)
-Room has a luxury feel, although a little small and I was disappointed with the small window and lack of natural light for my assigned room. Although I think I prefer the exterior room to an interior room with windows visible to diners and guests on the 8th floor.
-Complimentary wireless internet access. Worked fine in my 11th floor room.
-Complimentary local calls and toll-free calls.
-42" Phillips HDTV
-Boston Electronics clock/radio with remote.
-Great shower and marble tile and second compliment to towels.
-Staff quite sociable, and be assured everyone will greet you and the lounge staff will engage you in conversation. Can be a treat or annoying depending on your disposition.
- Bed was quite comfortable with all the bedding amenities.
-Lovely chandelier lighting in halls and small chandelier in room.
-Exercise room has lots of equipment.
- Interesting art designs and furniture arrangement in the open space lobby atrium. Plenty of places to group and socialize or place yourself on display in the seating areas for a single.

Overall opinion: The Nines has a feel of luxury, but still some rough edges to smooth out.

Final.
 

I received a phone call with no person on the line also. It was at 5 AM. I was already up. The phones are voip but the time showing was still incorrect. The tvs take forever to change channels. If you like to "surf" you better take a seat.

In closing. It will be months before I would try this place again. I would not take a room on 10. The area above ten is for IT. There most be more than that up there. I was supposed to take a 6 PM flight home but gave up and got going taking a 8 AM flight. Read into that all you want. I am done busting this place and will resign that it just needs lots of help still from a bad soft opening. As a P should we be given a amenity card? I would not mind having the extra 500 points. Regards from a true lux collection spot- home.

Since RTWSTARALLIANCE was not able to post his pics, I will link to one of my favorite websites (HotelChatter) that gives the Nines a great review. There are two entries on the Nines... one with pics and the other with a video of the room:

http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/20...el_in_Portland (video)

http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/20...s_to_the_Nines (pics)

Looks pretty swank! Kind of reminds me of the US Grant in San Diego but with brighter colors. I like the trend that seems to be evolving in the new/remodeled LC properties in North America with a more luxurious modern feel like the Nines, US Grant in San Diego, Joule in Dallas, Ivy in Minneapolis, SLS in Beverly Hills, Resort at Singer Island, etc.

Well, I wonder if Hotel Chatter had media permission?

I spoke with the media relations assistant last Friday. I am still waiting for someone from the hotel to contact me. I've left another message.

The Hotel Chatter photos look similar to my room photos except I had a King-Size bed and only one window.

This is offtopic, but hotel chatter similarly "stole" my pictures from my flickr pool even though my flickr T&C specifically noted the CC condition.

Their defense was that they linked their pictures to the originals.

However, linking pictures to the originals is only acceptable when thumbnail pictures are displayed in addition to properly crediting the source. Hotel chatter displays large pictures and in some cases, full size photo, without giving credit to the author.

I hope they get sued.

New Staff
 

Stayed at The Nines for one night 11/10. I don't think they are SPG knowledgeable. I am Gold level - will be a Platinum in 2 weeks. I received no upgrade at all. I was put in literally the worst room possible - the 7th across the hall from the Sales & Catering office and right next door to a very noisy steel step stairwell. The room was extremely small and dark. I did not realize how bad this room was until I visited my daughters room on floor 9 - now she had checked in 3 hours AFTER I did - is not a SPG member - and her room was literally twice the size of mine with a beautiful room. So much for SPG loyalty levels.

The lobby level on the 8th floor is beautiful - very contemporary. The restaurant/bar is very beautiful - but a limited breakfast menu.

The gym on the 7th floor is very nice with plenty of room and equipment. The concierge staff is full of smiles, but not very competent in their jobs.

The location of The Nines is great - downtown center right across from Pioneer Park. I would probably go back, but not until I'm Platinum and only if I was placed on the 9th floor or above with Club/Lounge access.

Haven't stayed at the Nines yet, but the bar/atrium, restaurant and billiards room are incredibly awesome with great service.

Wow! Not good and I would be upset too!

I wouldn't thinks so...how many of us ask for permission to take photos during our stays. Or are you saying that they need special "media" permission because they are there in a "media" capacity? I assume they would try and get around that by saying that the individual reviewer which posted on their website is no different than an individual FT or Tripadvisor member who posts picks and a review....basically an individual traveler who posts a review with pics and not a media representative. Just my assumption! Not trying to defend them or anything! Just saying.

What's the record for time from sign-up to first post? ;)

Welcome (back) to FT!

Mike

That's an excellent description for many of the Luxury Collection properties that I have stayed at. They always look nice but somehow don't feel quite right.

Mike

No Platinum amenity at the Nines.
 

I just received a e-mail from Starwood on my request. This property does not participate in the Platinum Amenity 500 starpoint option. FYI.

I spoke to the media relations person at the Nines last week.

She apologized for the delay and said there is no problem posting my hotel photos on Loyalty Traveler.

I posted a review with photos here.

Interesting that the Nines does not offer platinum amenity points. I guess lounge access is the platinum amenity which according to recent room rates is a $200 premium. I would expect a better wine selection in the lounge for that premium.

Now I just need to get stay credit and some Starpoints for my stay two weeks ago which still hasn't posted to my account.

And the rates for the Nines have dropped in the past two weeks to $199-$229 from their previous $249 per night. Luxury hotel rates are dropping all across the country rather quickly according to many of the hotel industry stories I've read this week.

Actually there is only one Luxury Collection property and one St. Regis branded property in North America that does: The Palace Hotel in San Francisco and the St. Regis Houston.

All others are supposed to offer a locally-selected welcome amenity. Perhaps The Nines did chose theirs to be complimentary lounge access if there was nothing else left in the room itself.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

Hmmm. When I stayed at The US Grant in San Diego on a Cash & Points stay in July 2008 (when I was SPG Platinum), my "Platinum Amenity" was 500 points, not something special to the area...

Nope. Just at Westin and Sheraton properties.

d. Access to the Club Level when staying at Sheraton hotels or access to the Executive Level when staying at Westin hotels, even when not staying on the Club Level or Executive Level floor(s). At Sheraton properties, access to the Club Level does not mean access to the Towers Level, even if there is no Club Level in the hotel and there is a Club Level in the Towers. Access to Towers Level is determined by each individual property. These benefits are limited to the member and one guest IF that guest is in the same room as the member. Lounge access is not available if a lounge is at maximum capacity or if a lounge is closed for any reason.

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

Planning to stay there myself in January. I would be really interested to hear what the hotel's policy is on upgrades and amenities.

If it's actually true that they give lounge access as an amenity, that's pretty lame.

My bad...US Grant was also given permission to do this earlier this year. ;)

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

I think people overread 'local' amenity... I've always taken local to mean selected by the hotel, rather than indigenous to the area. My apple and banana at the Phoenician were clearly the former, rather than the latter... ;) But it didn't seem to violate rules of the program. :p

You got an apple and a banana? :( All I got was two plums. ;) LOL

Best regards,

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

[email protected]

Partner and I spent 30 minutes during happy hours at the Nines this past weekend. Happy hours is 3-6 daily, with discounted food and drinks. Beer of the day is $3, wine of the day is $4, and certain drinks (with housemade moonshine) are $5. Many tasty treats (foie gras PB&J on brioche, pork belly) for $4 or less.

There is an afterhour happy hour as well, with prices at 30% off after 10pm until closing (midnight).

Lounge access is given for Platinum guests (or at least it has always been for me) and has free drinks all day as well as very nice light snacks for breakfast, mid-day through evening, and desert at night. The staff there are extremely friendly and the food is always top notch. This is not given as THE Platinum ammenity though to the best of my knowledge; the actual Platinum ammenity given is usually a nice plate of fresh fruits & nuts and such (other times has been a plate of fresh meat & cheese) in-room upon arrival.

I would personally prefer the standard 500 points but the "local" ammenity is the fruit/nut plate and there is always a very nice personal note acknowledging platinum status along with from the Concierge staff.

a startling experience (for men)
 

I have just returned from a stay at this property and I really enjoyed it, the location is just about perfect and as previously stated, the staff is ready, willing and able to please.

My biggest complaint of this property is something I haven't seen mentioned here so I will attempt to delicately describe it here. The guestroom toilets are of the European variety that incorporate a 1/2 flush button for purely liquid waste and full flush button for everything else. No problem there, and I saw it as an attemt to conserve water etc. The problem has nothing to do with the volume of the flush but rather the size of the bowl. The toilets seem to be a "petite" size bowl that I have never experienced in Europe and definitely not designed with the male genitalia in mind. I am not a porn star, just an "average" male and I made direct contact with the cold porcelain upon sitting down each morning, somethng that I don't remember happening anywhere previously. But it certainly does wake you up!

Oh my! If the staff is ready, willing and able to please, perhaps they'll warm up the bowl for you, or provide other assistance.

(sorry - couldn't resist) :D

Scrolled thru this thread just to see if this had been mentioned. UNBELIVABLE, but oh so true. While the bowl is small, it is the seat that could have a better design. Small, but nice exterior room with full windows, 1150. Called deluxe room, which is what was booked.

Nines has been letting rooms go for $66 on Priceline.

The Nines or the Westin
 

Okay I am starting to get nervous. On Tripadvisor there are lots of negative posting about the Nines. There is also discussion that there is not a coffemaker in the rooms which is a great big "no" for us. I am therefore considering moving to the Westin for our trip the end of May. We are gold members first time visiting Portland. We just need walking/public transportation convenience (and a coffee pot!). What to do?

No coffee maker is definitely a deficiency. As far as trip advisor is concerned, I am finding that site not as helpful as it once was. I don't think I have recently found a hotel or restaurant, as good as it may be, that wasn't trashed by one or more reports. I guess you could take an average, but I just don't find it reliable.