Best for Business in the Local Area_DvB
This was a relatively abbreviated stay for business travel, so many of the aspects of a hotel that come to light after 3 or 4 nights were not evident on my visit. Overall this property is cleaner and better maintained than similar hotels in the area. Previous trips have allowed me to stay in several other hotels near the convention center and this seems to be the most up-to-date by far.
My room offered a great view of the city. It was clean and conveniently laid out. The location encourages walking to local attractions like the Alamo and RiverWalk, and the corollary restaurants and other attractions. My only interactions with the staff were the desk personnel who were polite and efficient, but perhaps too aloof. Many people have ideas of what behavior is expected and so they watch and in emulation often create an exaggerated mimicry. So the professional detachment at this hotel resulted in the young ladies I spoke with not making eye contact or asking questions like, “how was your stay in our city?” Training by Gloria Vanderbilt and sociologists for staff who may be college students and likely to leave is not realistic, so complaints of this detail are more for my interest than actual tips for the GM. Still, it is always appreciated when the person checking you out feigns interest in your overall stay and the property’s place within it.
If you are in San Antonio for business, I would definitely consider this hotel. The special rates are competitive and the atmosphere is conducive to professional activities. The hallways are a bit long and the shower heads are outdated, but the other options have a few more issues, and you can always compare prices and amenities online to suit the purpose of your visit (i.e. free breakfast at one of the slightly further hotels might appeal to a family outing). Especially for business and perhaps following a romantic evening downtown, this is nice pick.
Everything was nice, but even with the lovely lobby and wood finishings, I could not pick out anything "exceptional."