Some highs, some lows. Unfortunate cost cutting for a flagship property.
Pros:
Location
Breakfast
Cons:
Sparse HHonors Benefits (No lounge, no upgrade, no preferred room type)
Cost cutting
Service
This was my second stay at this property in the past 8 weeks.
Check-in was slow. Around 6:00PM there were a half-dozen guests in line and only one check-in desk open. The front desk notified me that the Executive Lounge was permanently shutdown. HHonors Diamond members were comped with a free appetizer and soft drink at the on-site restaurant. (The lounge offered multiple, unlimited apps and soft drinks and juices. The new benefit is one of each.)
No upgrade was offered, despite extensive availability. This is an unfortunate failure to deliver a defined HHonors benefit.
My HHonors preferences indicate a room on a high floor, away from the elevator. I was given a handicap access from on the 3rd floor, 4 doors down from the elevator. This room overlooked the pool and was eye-level with all of the exterior lighting.
The downstairs restaurant was very busy. The complementary appetizer coupon is good for one of a half-dozen apps in the $8-$12 range. After ordering, I presented my coupon to the server. The server never paid me another second of attention. No refills, no "how's the meal?", etc. The noise, poor service levels, and stingy food/drink options really make me miss the lounge.
The room was fine by Hilton standards. I did appreciate that the HVAC system worked as designed and didn't have a mind of its own.
Breakfast is in the downstairs market shop and had a wide selection of hot and cold items. This was the first time at any Hilton property I was charged for ordering anything other than juice. Another disappointing cost cutting measure.
I checked-out via the HHonors app and my receipt never appeared in my email. I had to call the front desk later in the day to get the folio details emailed to me.
