"CBD" is more commonly referred to as the Central Business District in downtown Louisville. Between the sea of forty foot cranes and the plethora of Starbucks that dot the landscape of a city under construction you will find a thriving hospitality industry. I want to focus on the two major players that dominate the hotel industry in a city that seems to have been undergoing what may well be the worlds longest makeover.
Starting from the bottom up we have the Hyatt Regency, an aging relic that has been refurbished and not incredibly well. Bathrooms are often dirty or simply locked in what may be an effort to either keep unwanted patrons from utilizing the facilities or as I would probably expect in an effort to save money on staffing. Valet parking is hit and miss and hotel staff stays well hidden behind the front desk. Friendly and courteous enough when approached should you need anything you will be the one making the first move. While having perhaps the best location in downtown Louisville and a major competitor right next door one would expect the Hyatt to be on point from the second you hit the lobby but they seem to only gear up for Derby and perhaps the major conventions which are regular occurrences for the city. While I only surveyed the basics in terms of cleanliness, customer service and overall vibe it would be fair to say that should they fall short in just the basics and this could very well carry over to the accommodations. The one high point being the food in the main restaurant is well above average with Chefs that are working at the top of Louisville culinary food ladder, the down side that the Restaurants including those attached eateries seem to literally close down in mid afternoon. The bar Sway is oddly barren yet beautifully decorated with the attending bartender normally found watching Sports Center. I guess you can only clean and stock so much when you have no one visiting your bar.
3 Stars at best. Average and if you can work a package deal then wont be disappointed. You probably wont remember your stay either.
The Marriott (White Lodging) is slowly inching up the hotel ladder with multiple locations and seemingly a strong and serious commitment to maintain a level of excellence unsurpassed throughout the city. The main location has attentive staff always greeting and speaking with patrons as well as a valet crew that provides first rate service from the time you pull up. With a Starbucks located just off the main lobby one might think there would be a larger customer base that would frequent this coffee mecca but outside of the typical morning rush the traffic is light due largely to employees whose level of customer service is as varied as they are. Pricing on tins of tea seems to be three dollars higher than the Starbucks across the street at the Convention Center and the availability of bags is virtually non existent as your purchase is slid across the counter. The overall cleanliness is a step up from the Hyatt but in minor if not inconsistent ways.
4 Stars Good. Could be better. There are far too many options in Downtown Louisville to fall victim to complacency.
With the exception of the luxury hotel 21C the old adage is location, location, location...There are no clear winners. Accommodations, room amenities and of course travel packages are the presiding factors when attempting to get the most out of your travel buck.
Starting from the bottom up we have the Hyatt Regency, an aging relic that has been refurbished and not incredibly well. Bathrooms are often dirty or simply locked in what may be an effort to either keep unwanted patrons from utilizing the facilities or as I would probably expect in an effort to save money on staffing. Valet parking is hit and miss and hotel staff stays well hidden behind the front desk. Friendly and courteous enough when approached should you need anything you will be the one making the first move. While having perhaps the best location in downtown Louisville and a major competitor right next door one would expect the Hyatt to be on point from the second you hit the lobby but they seem to only gear up for Derby and perhaps the major conventions which are regular occurrences for the city. While I only surveyed the basics in terms of cleanliness, customer service and overall vibe it would be fair to say that should they fall short in just the basics and this could very well carry over to the accommodations. The one high point being the food in the main restaurant is well above average with Chefs that are working at the top of Louisville culinary food ladder, the down side that the Restaurants including those attached eateries seem to literally close down in mid afternoon. The bar Sway is oddly barren yet beautifully decorated with the attending bartender normally found watching Sports Center. I guess you can only clean and stock so much when you have no one visiting your bar.
3 Stars at best. Average and if you can work a package deal then wont be disappointed. You probably wont remember your stay either.
The Marriott (White Lodging) is slowly inching up the hotel ladder with multiple locations and seemingly a strong and serious commitment to maintain a level of excellence unsurpassed throughout the city. The main location has attentive staff always greeting and speaking with patrons as well as a valet crew that provides first rate service from the time you pull up. With a Starbucks located just off the main lobby one might think there would be a larger customer base that would frequent this coffee mecca but outside of the typical morning rush the traffic is light due largely to employees whose level of customer service is as varied as they are. Pricing on tins of tea seems to be three dollars higher than the Starbucks across the street at the Convention Center and the availability of bags is virtually non existent as your purchase is slid across the counter. The overall cleanliness is a step up from the Hyatt but in minor if not inconsistent ways.
4 Stars Good. Could be better. There are far too many options in Downtown Louisville to fall victim to complacency.
With the exception of the luxury hotel 21C the old adage is location, location, location...There are no clear winners. Accommodations, room amenities and of course travel packages are the presiding factors when attempting to get the most out of your travel buck.
