St. Regis Tianjin

The room and location were very good, and I would still return. As a Platinum Elite member, I was upgraded to a suite before arriving, which I thought was a nice gesture. Breakfast had a limited selection, but it was sufficient. I was exhausted after traveling from Beijing and just wanted a drink, not the food. When I asked the lounge attendant what time happy hour started, about ten minutes before it was due, she gave me an annoyed look and said I couldn't start yet and might be able to later. The tone made the reply feel snobbish. The lobby and lounge ground staff could have been friendlier. The much bigger problem came after I requested turn-down service. I left around 5 pm and returned after 9 pm to find my room door had been left unlocked and propped open with a latch. I can't know whether anyone went in or did anything, but leaving a guest's door open was a serious security breach, especially at St Regis. I made a fuss because this shouldn't happen. At first they didn't want to do anything. Since it was late, they only checked the security cameras the next morning, and no one came to explain what they found until I asked at checkout. They then offered 2,000 points to brush it off, but I insisted on adequate compensation. Much later, they offered points worth a day's accommodation, which I accepted. I trusted the hotel, and this whole situation was a huge deal. I hope they learn from it and make sure it never happens at St Regis or any Marriott brand.

The view from my room was a nice mix of city and river. The room was large, the bed was really comfortable, and I slept well. Butler service was good too. Breakfast was disappointing for such a great hotel, with too little variety. The gym is hard to find and felt like a maze to get to; the pool is right beside it. I'm going back to Tianjin in two weeks, but I'll be staying at Ritz Carlton.

I mentioned that I was a photographer, and one of the staff later gave me a handwritten note with suggestions for photography spots. I can't remember his name, but that personal gesture was beyond the service I'd normally expect from hotel staff. The room was luxurious, and I was lucky to have an unobstructed view of the riverfront.

A nice place, with a huge bathroom. Breakfast was okay.