Unplanned stay turned out well
Passing through Seattle on the way to the east coast, we usually stay at the Doubletree Suites at Southcenter. However, inexplicably, our reservation there was overtaken by events and we ended up being "walked" to the other Doubletree facility at Sea-Tac. The manager from the hotel that walked us came in the van with the driver and personally apologized for this oversight. He explained that arrangements had been made for us to stay overnight at the Doubletree by Hilton Seattle Airport at no cost to us, in an upgraded room, with a 30,000-point bonus in my HHonors account. We accepted the deal and were quickly transported to the alternate hotel.
I had stayed here years before, when it was still a Red Lion. Our room, which did not appear to be an upgrade, was in the tower on the 12th floor. The porter who helped us with our bags explained that the tower had recently been renovated, and that statement seemed to be true. The furnishings and finishings were indeed different (and newer) than I remembered them. Other than that, it was a standard room. Clean, comfortable, and somewhat quiet (our room faced the airport and the associated noise was sometimes audible).
We enjoyed dinner in the Seaport Lounge. Wife had the hummus and broccolini. I had a shrimp caesar salad and an order of buffalo wings. I ordered a glass of Alaskan Pale and got served a glass of IPA. Who knew? I like them both, so no problem.
This hotel is inferior to the Suites in terms of HHonors Gold benefits in that you only get an $8 credit at the coffee stand in the lounge for breakfast (if you have your MyWay preferences so set). At the Suites, Golds get a full hot buffet.
It was nice to revisit an "old friend" but next time we will go back to the Doubletree Suites. Indeed, the Suites manager told me to let him know when we'd be staying there next so we could be well taken care of. I advised him that we would be doing so in nine days. It remains to be seen how well that stay goes but he will get his chance to make good on his word.