For vacation? Fine. For business meetings? Perhaps not.
Written: Jul 16 '04 (Updated Jul 16 '04)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Most upscale hotel in area
Cons: Business meetings here are a challenge
The Bottom Line: We like the Embassy chain for personal vacations. But for business meetings and conventions, facility is lacking.
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| lkvanvoorhis's Full Review: Embassy Suites Memphis |
This epinion refers to only the Embassy Suites in Memphis, TN, and deals primarily with conducting business meetings at this facility.
In my previous job, I routinely set up meetings for the top management of our company. Some of these meetings are held out of town, others are here in Memphis, where our corporate office is located. Unfortunately, Memphis is short on conference center facilities, and probably the most upscale hotel with adequate facilities is the Embassy Suites.
On a personal note, my husband and I love to stay at any Embassy when we are on vacation. They are always furnished stylishly, the atrium is always beautifully decorated with flowers and plants, the made to order breakfast is good. We love that every room is a nice suite with a sofa, two televisions, small fridge and dining area, etc. The one in Memphis has an adequate fitness facility and a small indoor pool. Overall, Embassy is good hotel in which to stay, especially for extended personal vacations. But, my experience with the Embassy in Memphis has ranged from good to extremely frustrating when hosting business meetings there.
Prior to our meetings at the Embassy, we would sign a contract with them stating all our needs and all they would provide. We negotiated a rate (which was still high for the area ranging from $129 - $149/night at that time), we negotiated meeting space, group dinners, a hospitality suite, rooms above the first floor (away from the noise of the lobby and atrium), etc. - we covered just about everything.
But, then our top management began checking in. What? You don't have a room for our CEO? Now, that just won't do. The front desk claims that they don't have enough for even half of our people, and most of the rooms will have to be on the first floor (we requested above the first floor in the contract). Then, they insist on everyone paying for their rooms instead of direct billing per our contract and previous arrangements. After a lot of haggling, making demands, and indicating that not adhering to our contract would mean they would not get paid...it all finally worked out. But, I still get a bad taste in my mouth when I think about dealing with them. And the hassle our management had to go through, most of which had just got in from long flights...it made me think twice about using them the next time.
I have to say also that dealing with the employees with the original Promus Hotels group was much easier and more efficient than dealing with the new Hilton Hotels group. Now, we never know if our account representative is still there, they keep shifting people around or people are not adjusting to Hilton management and are leaving. I know such change is difficult, but it really makes the customer suffer.
On the good side, the Embassy in Memphis has an Italian restaurant, Frank Grisanti's inside. The food is considered more northern Italian, very saucy and spicy. Grisanti's also handles the room service and catering for meetings. I've never had a bad meal there.
Meeting space is limited. They have a large ballroom that can be divided into three meeting rooms. They also have a small boardroom and a conference room, but for meetings over 10 people, a section of the ballroom would be necessary.
So, for those visiting Memphis for a vacation, the Embassy is a great place to stay. It's located very close to the Interstate for easy access to all parts of the city. It's also relatively close to the Memphis International Airport. You have Grisanti's inside and many other great restaurants nearby with Owen Brennan's, Cafe Max, and others within walking distance. However, if you're planning a meeting to be held at the Embassy, be careful. Make sure you have an iron-clad signed contract and make sure you have one contact - then require that contact to be present from check-in until check-out. You will struggle, but hopefully with persistence and patience your meeting will go okay and the attendees will not notice any problems you have with the hotel. Good Luck!
This review was submitted previously but somehow got shuffled around to the wrong specific hotel location. I have resubmitted it correctly here. Thanks!
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
lkvanvoorhis
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Member: Kelley
Location: West Tennessee
Reviews written: 141
Trusted by: 214 members
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