A Pleasant Stay with Some Minor Hiccups: The Westin Tampa Bay Review

During my recent visit to Tampa Bay, I had the opportunity to stay at The Westin Tampa Bay hotel. Overall, my experience was positive, with notable highlights such as the hotel's excellent location and friendly staff. However, there were a few issues that prevented it from achieving perfection, including the absence of the signature Westin Heavenly Bed, malfunctioning parking garage, and inconvenient room service hours.

Positives:

First and foremost, the location of The Westin Tampa Bay is truly exceptional. Situated by the waterfront, the hotel offers breathtaking views and easy access to nearby attractions and dining options. The proximity to Tampa International Airport is also a significant advantage for travelers.

The hotel staff demonstrated commendable hospitality throughout my stay. From the moment of check-in, a guest was very irate about someone attempting to open their door in the middle of the night but the receptionist very much kept their composure and attempted to rectify the inconvenience. I was greeted warmly though I had to wait longer than usual to receive the room key. Where this property truly shined was in how great the waitstaff was at the AQUA Restaurant. 

Areas For Improvement:

One notable aspect that fell short of expectations was the absence of the renowned Westin Heavenly Bed. As a frequent Westin and Element patron, I’m super excited to sleep in this bed. Prior to this stay, the only time a Westin or Element property didn’t have the Heavenly Bed was at The Westin Lake Mary in Orlando, FL. While the beds at The Westin Tampa Bay were still comfortable, they did not quite reach the same level of luxuriousness and comfortability as the Heavenly Bed. I don’t believe it’s wrong to expect this feature as Westin is in the name of the bed. 

Another inconvenience was the malfunctioning parking garage. It is essential for a hotel to provide seamless and efficient parking facilities, especially for guests with vehicles. Unfortunately, during my stay, the parking garage encountered issues with the key fob not being able to open the liftgate. The exit liftgate was broken which actually became convenient as it was used to enter the parking garage. However, the layout to enter the garage caused delays and created some frustration as you have to drive through valet parking and I was stuck behind guest checking in and out as well as valet getting in to vehicles. Addressing this matter promptly would greatly enhance the overall guest experience.

Furthermore, I was disappointed by the limited operating hours of the room service. As a traveler, I appreciate the convenience of having access to food and beverage options within the hotel, especially during late hours. However, the room service closed earlier than anticipated, making it challenging to satisfy late-night cravings or enjoy a relaxed meal after a long day. Had to settle on eating at WaWa as most things in Tampa seemed to have closed at 9pm.

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Overall Take:

Despite a few setbacks, The Westin Tampa Bay overall provided a pleasant and enjoyable stay. Its prime location, accompanied by exceptional staff service, contributed to a positive experience. However, it would be beneficial for the hotel management to address the absence of the Westin Heavenly Bed, rectify the issues with the parking garage, and consider extending room service hours to enhance guest satisfaction. With these improvements, The Westin Tampa Bay has the potential to deliver an outstanding and memorable stay for all its guests. I would stay here again.

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