why does the quality vary so greatly at Westin hotels depending on the city?
May 21, 2010, 2:01 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2010
Posts: 70
why does the quality vary so greatly at Westin hotels depending on the city?
why does the quality vary so greatly at Westin hotels depending on the city?
May 21, 2010, 2:08 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2010
Programs: Delta DM, SPG Plat.
Posts: 38
Heck, it can vary significantly *within* a city itself. It's likely an ownership & management issue. What priority is placed on renovations? What kind of customer service training exists? What is staff turnover like? What part of the city is the hotel in (and therefore does it attract tourists, business travelers, or others?) and many, many other variables.
May 21, 2010, 2:33 pm
#3
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: LAX
Programs: AA 2 MM Plt, *wood Plt
Posts: 652
May 21, 2010, 6:41 pm
#4
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Location: New York, NY
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And why is this limited to the Westin brand? This can happen at any brand, city, program.
Ive been in a city where the propert was built as a Westin and another property was converted. Examples DC and ATL. The westin City Center is dated compared to the Westin Grand. In ATL the Westin PC is a dump compared to the Westin Buckhead.
Properties vary due to date of build, management, working capital, etc.
Last edited by KENNECTED; May 21, 2010 at 10:24 pm
May 21, 2010, 10:16 pm
#5
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Location: MSP
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There is only one way to determine if the Westin you are considering is going to be awful: is the word "Casuarina" in the full name of the hotel?
If that's a yes, then you are guaranteed junk. Worst. Spg. Hotel. Ever.
If that's a yes, then you are guaranteed junk. Worst. Spg. Hotel. Ever.
May 21, 2010, 11:06 pm
#6
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It even differs more if it comes to different regions. Some Westins in Europe and Asia are real luxury hotels whereas most Westins in the US are - well - nice hotels.
May 22, 2010, 12:57 am
#7
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: AUS
Posts: 690
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
- Sheraton Baltimore City Center
- Sheraton EWR
- Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
- Westin Casuarina Las Vegas
- Westin Chicago Northwest
- Westin New Orleans
- Westin San Diego
- Westin Tampa Harbour Island
- Westin Washington DC
- Westin Bristol Place, Toronto
- Westin St. Maarten
- Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
May 22, 2010, 1:38 am
#8
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Los Angeles, California
Programs: All of them.... mostly United and Starwood
Posts: 160
And I'm so bummed, because I just booked a week at the Westin mentioned in Las Vegas. Don't think I have a choice when it comes to *wood properties. I may just leave if it's terrible and go somewhere else.
May 22, 2010, 1:46 am
#9
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May 22, 2010, 4:13 am
#10
Join Date: Aug 2009
Programs: SPG Gold, SQ Blue, OZ Diamond, JAVA and occasionally C
Posts: 5,563
So you signed up recently just to post inane threads like this? As everyone has pointed out properties vary depending on owner, capital and location. There is no way to standardise all properties irrespective of brands.
May 22, 2010, 4:47 am
#11
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And why is this limited to the Westin brand? This can happen at any brand, city, program.
Ive been in a city where the propert was built as a Westin and another property was converted. Examples DC and ATL. The westin City Center is dated compared to the Westin Grand. In ATL the Westin PC is a dump compared to the Westin Buckhead.
Properties vary due to date of build, management, working capital, etc.
May 22, 2010, 5:47 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2000
Programs: UA Gold 1MM, Marriott Ambassador/Lifetime Titanium, Accor Silver, Club Carlson Gold, BW Diamond
Posts: 2,432
The two “Casuarina” Westins (Las Vegas and Grand Cayman) are operated by Columbia Sussex, Starwood's worst licensee.
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
- Sheraton Baltimore City Center
- Sheraton EWR
- Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
- Westin Casuarina Las Vegas
- Westin Chicago Northwest
- Westin New Orleans
- Westin San Diego
- Westin Tampa Harbour Island
- Westin Washington DC
- Westin Bristol Place, Toronto
- Westin St. Maarten
- Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
I've stayed at several of those properties without a single issue. And I'm not the easiest customer. Even the LV Westin Casuarina has been problem free in the past.
Aloha
May 22, 2010, 6:47 am
#13
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
The two “Casuarina” Westins (Las Vegas and Grand Cayman) are operated by Columbia Sussex, Starwood's worst licensee.
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
- Sheraton Baltimore City Center
- Sheraton EWR
- Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
- Westin Casuarina Las Vegas
- Westin Chicago Northwest
- Westin New Orleans
- Westin San Diego
- Westin Tampa Harbour Island
- Westin Washington DC
- Westin Bristol Place, Toronto
- Westin St. Maarten
- Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
I have to say several of those on this list with which I have stayed have consistently been disappointments though.
Cheers,
May 22, 2010, 6:50 am
#14
Join Date: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,990
I have more of an issue with personal attacks on FT (inane?) that contribute absolutely nothing to the substance of the discussion.
Cheers,
May 22, 2010, 7:16 am
#15
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Join Date: Oct 2003
Location: New York, NY
Programs: Delta - Gold; Starwood - Platinum; HHonors - Diamond & Avis Preferred
Posts: 10,869
The two “Casuarina” Westins (Las Vegas and Grand Cayman) are operated by Columbia Sussex, Starwood's worst licensee.
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
But you should be aware that they also operate a few other SPG properties:
- Sheraton Baltimore City Center
- Sheraton EWR
- Sheraton Philadelphia City Center
- Westin Casuarina Las Vegas
- Westin Chicago Northwest
- Westin New Orleans
- Westin San Diego
- Westin Tampa Harbour Island
- Westin Washington DC
- Westin Bristol Place, Toronto
- Westin St. Maarten
- Westin Casuarina Grand Cayman
Beware!
If you must stay at one of these hotels, bring a printout of your reservation!
Check your credit card statement!
(Even that might not be enough; once, when a conference operator went bankrupt, the Westin Las Vegas tried to add the cost of the conference to the bill of every overnight guest who had bought a conference ticket.)
Agree with you both. Each persons expectations and experiences vary greatly