I was in Houston this past week on business for a conference in the Galleria, an area which has quite a few Starwood properties around it. I settled on the Westin Oaks, a hotel I had stayed at previously a couple years ago that was still undergoing renovations at the time. Back then, my experience was mixed, with the elevators having a mind of their own, the older rooms looking worn out, and the service level was just a hit or miss. Could this time around be any different?
Arriving a couple hours before normal check-in time, I was informed of a room being available and had been upgraded to an Executive King Corner room on the 17th floor. The check-in experience itself was quick, and the agents at the front desk were pleasant to deal with. A couple years ago, the lobby area was only limited to the elevators and the front desk while renovations were going on and the changes were noticeable and quite nice I have to admit. The one big thing one will notice is the major improvement in the elevators, they no longer have a mind of their own and you simply enter the floor number you'd like to be taken to and off you go. The lobby bar area was available this time around, and it had a nice upscale feel to it which was rather enjoyable.
My room itself was a large corner room, with new furnishings that were very similar to other new Westin properties. The bed was indeed "heavenly", and I was impressed with the overall look and feel of the room. No longer did these rooms have that worn look to them, and it was obvious that Westin has really done a good job with the room upgrades. The corner Executive King room is very similar to a suite, and is very spacious - one will not be disappointed with it!
Throughout my three night stay, I was able to use in-room dining which was good and much better than my previous stay and the front desk was able to take care of any of my needs. Danny Ruiz, one of the guest relations coordinators had contacted me ahead of my stay asking me if there was anything I would need and made sure my stay was as enjoyable as possible. One of the best things about this hotel is that it's right in the Galleria, so you basically have the mall available to you during business hours and it's very easy to get a quick meal at the food court, walk down to a decent sit-down restaurant, or just pass the time with some shopping or even a bit of ice-skating! As my conference was in the same area, I hardly ever had the need to step outside other than going out to events in the evening. I also had a chance to experience the Business Center which helped me out greatly.
Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by this stay and it's great to see the changes that have taken place at this hotel. A couple years ago, I had the kind of experience which was OK at best and I didn't really know how this time would turn around. I'm happy to say though that this hotel has improved greatly after the renovations, and you might even think you're at a completely different place if you've stayed here before. The rooms have been upgraded and are definitely on par with the newer Westin hotels, the service level has improved greatly, and elevators I'm thrilled to say now take you to where you want to go! The staff was wonderful to deal with, and every need I had was taken care of without hesitation. It's amazing how things change after a renovation, and this property has definitely been upgraded. Other Starwood hotels exist around the area, but I'll be staying at the Westin Oaks again as my choice of hotel in Houston.
hotel reviews