Just reserved West 57th street

[Piper]

Valet parking is $48/day. If you take the car out during your stay, they'll charge an additional $48.

 

[Socko33]

I was just at W57th st....

In the owner's lounge, they were only serving wine & beer.

I had read on here that others had had premium liquor? Do you think they got rid of the good stuff and are cutting down?

 

[Piper]

I was just at W57th st....

In the owner's lounge, they were only serving wine & beer.

I had read on here that others had had premium liquor? Do you think they got rid of the good stuff and are cutting down?

I know that the old Hilton Club board voted to stop having the hard liquor to cut down on cost. I think this just changed this year. (I'm not a drinker so I haven't paid too much attention to this.)

 

[DCBob]

I'll be happy to hear your comments about your return visit. I know that they are working on the issues that we have been talking about.

I was back on August 24 for a two-night stay. Things definitely have changed since opening weekend:

1. The good news is that the Owner's Lounge remains open between breakfast and the evening reception. Unfortunately, NOTHING is provided during those hours other than the ability to sit in the lounge or adjacent terrace.

2. Just two weeks after the lounge opened, spirits (hard liquor) were removed permanently from the evening reception, obviously due to the expense involved. It's now bottled beer and red and white wine only.

3. The quality and variety of the hot hors d'oeuvres has declined. Instead of four selections, there are now only two to choose from. The first night we had egg rolls and kobe beef pigs in a blanket. The second night meatballs were substituted for the egg rolls. The quality of the egg rolls in July was excellent. This time it was poor - they were overcooked, tough, and chewy instead of light and crisp.

4. Non-owners (renters) staying at West 57th Street still have access to the continental breakfast. However, they are no longer welcome at the evening reception. Room numbers are being taken at the door for both breakfast and the evening reception. I coaxed the GM to allow my friends whom I talked into booking rooms there just BECAUSE of the evening reception to be given a one-time exception. He graciously allowed them in during their stay.

5. The place seems vastly overstaffed with too many front desk clerks, doormen, and bellhops with nothing to do most of the day. That's great for service but it increases the expenses of the owners, probably a lot more than the cost of hard liquor. I say bring back the spirits, eliminate the $85 cleaning fee, and get rid of excess staff to pay for those improvements.

 

[hvacrsteve]

I was back on August 24 for a two-night stay. Things definitely have changed since opening weekend:

1. The good news is that the Owner's Lounge remains open between breakfast and the evening reception. Unfortunately, NOTHING is provided during those hours other than the ability to sit in the lounge or adjacent terrace.

2. Just two weeks after the lounge opened, spirits (hard liquor) were removed permanently from the evening reception, obviously due to the expense involved. It's now bottled beer and red and white wine only.

3. The quality and variety of the hot hors d'oeuvres has declined. Instead of four selections, there are now only two to choose from. The first night we had egg rolls and kobe beef pigs in a blanket. The second night meatballs were substituted for the egg rolls. The quality of the egg rolls in July was excellent. This time it was poor - they were overcooked, tough, and chewy instead of light and crisp.

4. Non-owners (renters) staying at West 57th Street still have access to the continental breakfast. However, they are no longer welcome at the evening reception. Room numbers are being taken at the door for both breakfast and the evening reception. I coaxed the GM to allow my friends whom I talked into booking rooms there just BECAUSE of the evening reception to be given a one-time exception. He graciously allowed them in during their stay.

5. The place seems vastly overstaffed with too many front desk clerks, doormen, and bellhops with nothing to do most of the day. That's great for service but it increases the expenses of the owners, probably a lot more than the cost of hard liquor. I say bring back the spirits, eliminate the $85 cleaning fee, and get rid of excess staff to pay for those improvements.

They don't call them Grand Openings for nothing!
I hope they improve it!
For the prices they are selling for, it should be Grand all the time!
Without the petty issues like an $85.00 house keeping fee!