Trip Report..Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers
Nov 11, 2001, 7:27 am
#1
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Trip Report..Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
811 7th Ave New York, NY US 10019
RecommendedLiked: LocationServiceFoodAmenitiesRoom
Trip Report..Sheraton NY Hotel and Towers (0 Photo)
Sheraton New York Times Square Hotel
An "A".
I should have played Lotto, because my stars were in alignment.
I arrived at 11:30AM. Not only had I been upgraded to a suite on 43, but also, the room was READY. The guest had checked out early.
A WONDERFUL desk agent named HELEN checked me in. She was visibly excited for me that I had been upgraded to a nice suite. I like that....she really loved her property. She had just returned from vacation and explained to me that she was taking a little extra time to make sure she didn't forget a thing. Nice touch, Helen.
I had been upgraded to a bedroom suite on the front side of the hotel, with the living room overlooking 7th ave down to Times Sq, and the BR looking uptown. This suite would have fit THREE of my "suites" from W NY.
My room was fresh, bright, clean, smelled nice, and was well-appointed....despite the Yankees cap available for purchase on the mini bar (GO ORIOLES!). 1 and a half baths. The master bath was beautiful....but the tub was a time machine. Literally, it was as though the entire room had been redone except for the tub/shower. Clean, but older than me...and I'm 37.
Club lounge was closed.....I believe for renovations....and I received comp breakfast for two to compensate. YIKES. The buffet was amazing. Lots of choice, EXCELLENT. I heard the purchase price was about $25 apiece. Worth it....but it was GREAT to get it for free!
No mysterious charges on my bill, though I don't understand why my LOCAL calls were free, but my "800" calls were two bucks apiece.
One downside...no dedicated SPG desk for check-in/out. Not a big deal as the desk was amply staffed.
I will return to this hotel.
Nov 11, 2001, 10:35 am
#2
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LOCAL calls were free, but my "800" calls were two bucks apiece
They figure local calls will only be that but 800 calls will eat in their LD revenue. One way to avoid this is get a local access number for your long distance company. Then you make a local call. Some even give you a lower per mi nrate for calling locally as opposed to making an 800 call..
I believe NJ by the way is making their pay phones 50 cents, unlimited local call. So now the hotel/pay phone ratio is a little bit better. Their reason is many people are now using cell phones driving their variable costs per unit up(as I implied for hotel)..
I personally was at NY Penn Station and the damm phone was 25 cents for 30 seconds for a LOCAL call. It doesnt even ask you more money. Got disconnected and had to call back 4 times. Try finding enough quarters for that.
[This message has been edited by mypriceline.com (edited 11-11-2001).]
They figure local calls will only be that but 800 calls will eat in their LD revenue. One way to avoid this is get a local access number for your long distance company. Then you make a local call. Some even give you a lower per mi nrate for calling locally as opposed to making an 800 call..
I believe NJ by the way is making their pay phones 50 cents, unlimited local call. So now the hotel/pay phone ratio is a little bit better. Their reason is many people are now using cell phones driving their variable costs per unit up(as I implied for hotel)..
I personally was at NY Penn Station and the damm phone was 25 cents for 30 seconds for a LOCAL call. It doesnt even ask you more money. Got disconnected and had to call back 4 times. Try finding enough quarters for that.
[This message has been edited by mypriceline.com (edited 11-11-2001).]
Nov 11, 2001, 12:30 pm
#3
Join Date: May 1999
Location: New York City
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If the telephone equipment for a 240 room hotel costs $5000 per month, and the lines cost $1000 per month, then the fixed cost per room is $25 per month. (I pulled these numbers out of the air, but I bet they're reasonable.) That stays the same no matter how many people use cell phones. What changes are the variable costs (which go down) and the revenue (which is all variable, and which goes WAY down, as it should). The fixed costs of the telephone system ought to be considered part of the fixed costs of operating the hotel.
Nov 13, 2001, 2:28 pm
#4
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Wow.... quite a stay. I have to say that the Sheraton NY is probably no. 1 on the hotels I hate to stay at. While I like Starwood and they treat me very well almost all the time (their Concierge service is the best), my experiences at this property have been at best mediocre. Ive stayed many times as a Platinum and NEVER been upgraded. Check-in agents range from indifferent to grouchy, and the rooms are so so small....
I guess I have to send my stars into the shop to get aligned....
[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 11-13-2001).]
I guess I have to send my stars into the shop to get aligned....
[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 11-13-2001).]
Nov 13, 2001, 9:28 pm
#5
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: NRT/SUB
Posts: 197
Shinbal-- it is nice to hear that you enjoyed ur stay in the Sheraton NY and it is definitely great to see people like Helen taking pride in her hotel. Too bad, i hardly see people like her when i stay at an SPG hotel!
It is also nice to hear some positive reports on FT. Keep them coming! It seems that most of the posts here are negative and bitter. I am not saying that all of them are but a majority of them!
It is also nice to hear some positive reports on FT. Keep them coming! It seems that most of the posts here are negative and bitter. I am not saying that all of them are but a majority of them!
Nov 13, 2001, 9:37 pm
#6
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: Montreal / Detroit / Miami
Posts: 745
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Odin:
. . . It is also nice to hear some positive reports on FT. Keep them coming! It seems that most of the posts here are negative and bitter. I am not saying that all of them are but a majority of them!</font>
. . . It is also nice to hear some positive reports on FT. Keep them coming! It seems that most of the posts here are negative and bitter. I am not saying that all of them are but a majority of them!</font>
shinbal, thanks for the trip report. Helps the rest of us make plans accordingly.
3 W suites in the size of 1 Sheraton you say eh? Ummmm . . . wonder if you were 'really' given a suite at the W.
------------------
Got points ? Got smiles !
Nov 14, 2001, 4:25 am
#7
Original Poster
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Stephen loves Starwood:
3 W suites in the size of 1 Sheraton you say eh? Ummmm . . . wonder if you were 'really' given a suite at the W.
</font>
3 W suites in the size of 1 Sheraton you say eh? Ummmm . . . wonder if you were 'really' given a suite at the W.
</font>
It was a closet.
Nov 14, 2001, 9:09 pm
#8
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: London UK
Posts: 2
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gaucho100K:
[B]Wow.... quite a stay. I have to say that the Sheraton NY is probably no. 1 on the hotels I hate to stay at...</font>
[B]Wow.... quite a stay. I have to say that the Sheraton NY is probably no. 1 on the hotels I hate to stay at...</font>
Nov 15, 2001, 3:29 pm
#9
Join Date: May 2001
Location: The Wild West
Posts: 1,334
I think you were indeed lucky. I have not stayed there for nearly three years, after a particularly non-enjoyable experience.
When I checked in as a Gold, and asked for an upgrade during the Thanksgiving weekend, I was told that "Other properties may give upgrades, but we don't." After making nice with the desk attendant, I finally got an "upgrade"...to a room the size of a closet. I would have liked to have seen what they originally planned for me!
i assume they have come more into line with Starwood policy in the last few years.
When I checked in as a Gold, and asked for an upgrade during the Thanksgiving weekend, I was told that "Other properties may give upgrades, but we don't." After making nice with the desk attendant, I finally got an "upgrade"...to a room the size of a closet. I would have liked to have seen what they originally planned for me!
i assume they have come more into line with Starwood policy in the last few years.
Nov 15, 2001, 4:32 pm
#10
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(phew!!) - in sign of relief
Im glad Im not the only one that has been bashed around at the Sheraton NY. Some of the positive posts here fuel the impression that I like to whine (which is true, but with this property I think its justified).
I guess its a good point that large properties in cities with strong rotation tend to have this kind of impersonal service. The Sheraton NY reminds me of the kind of service you get in Vegas.... unless you are a Super VIP you get lousy service.
[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 11-15-2001).]
Im glad Im not the only one that has been bashed around at the Sheraton NY. Some of the positive posts here fuel the impression that I like to whine (which is true, but with this property I think its justified).
I guess its a good point that large properties in cities with strong rotation tend to have this kind of impersonal service. The Sheraton NY reminds me of the kind of service you get in Vegas.... unless you are a Super VIP you get lousy service.
[This message has been edited by Gaucho100K (edited 11-15-2001).]
Nov 15, 2001, 5:11 pm
#11
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Austin, TX -- AA Life Platinum; QF Life Silver; UA Silver
Posts: 5,462
My fiancee and I just stayed at the Sheraton Towers this past weekend. I'm just a regular old Preferred member, so no upgrades for me. We arrived about 2am to find out our reservation had been cancelled as a no-show, and as the hotel was full all they had available was a smoking room, ugh. 
They said they would switch us over to a nonsmoking room the next day. The rest of the stay turned out better though, the king room turned out fine and we didn't make any phone calls or have any mystery charges on the bill.
Apparently I didn't get the 500 point online booking bonus. Does that post separately?
[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 11-15-2001).]
They said they would switch us over to a nonsmoking room the next day. The rest of the stay turned out better though, the king room turned out fine and we didn't make any phone calls or have any mystery charges on the bill.Apparently I didn't get the 500 point online booking bonus. Does that post separately?
[This message has been edited by hauteboy (edited 11-15-2001).]
Nov 15, 2001, 6:19 pm
#12
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Location: USA; UA-1K; Hyatt Diamond, SPG Platinum
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Glad I enjoyed my stay when I did, based on everyone's experience! I plan on staying there again. Actually, I liked the staff and attitude at the Sheraton MUCH better than that Godawful W NY. I posted a dissatisfaction note in this forum.
Nov 19, 2001, 12:22 pm
#13
Moderator, Argentina and FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Im booked at this property 12/3 - 12/7.... lets see how it goes. I will post my experiences.
Nov 20, 2001, 2:36 am
#14
Join Date: May 2000
Location: New York, NY
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Gaucho100K:
Im booked at this property 12/3 - 12/7.... lets see how it goes. I will post my experiences.</font>
Im booked at this property 12/3 - 12/7.... lets see how it goes. I will post my experiences.</font>
Nov 27, 2001, 7:46 am
#15
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Hotlanta, GA; Starwood Platinum; Delta Platinum Medallion
Posts: 554
Just checked in last night.
I was already pissed after my j@ck@ss cab driver went around the state of Texas to get to the hotel from LGA (he didn't smell a tip).
Friendly young lady checked me in. Got my amenity card up front (took the points... shocking, eh?). I did not receive a suite (didn't ask, probably should have at least tried... does flirting help?
), but I got a room on the 49th floor. The room was exceptionally clean, but maybe a little on the small side.
The health club they have in the Lower Lobby is tough to beat. All kinds of equipment, free weights, and more aerobic machines than I care to count.
The layout for breakfast on the 44th floor was impressive as well, and the staff there was helpful providing some subway directions.
So far, so good.... I just may stay there next week instread of the Russell.
I was already pissed after my j@ck@ss cab driver went around the state of Texas to get to the hotel from LGA (he didn't smell a tip).
Friendly young lady checked me in. Got my amenity card up front (took the points... shocking, eh?). I did not receive a suite (didn't ask, probably should have at least tried... does flirting help?
), but I got a room on the 49th floor. The room was exceptionally clean, but maybe a little on the small side.The health club they have in the Lower Lobby is tough to beat. All kinds of equipment, free weights, and more aerobic machines than I care to count.
The layout for breakfast on the 44th floor was impressive as well, and the staff there was helpful providing some subway directions.
So far, so good.... I just may stay there next week instread of the Russell.