Hôtel Mercure Paris Gennevilliers

The contrast with other Accor stays is hard to miss. I’ve had great service in Brittany and Tokyo, and at places around Paris like the CDG Mercure, upgrades and recognition are handled consistently well. At some hotels, though, “fully booked” seems to be the standard explanation for no upgrade. I can’t say how busy the Gennevilliers location usually is, but the difference is noticeable. I picked this Mercure again because it’s the best option nearby. I’d stayed here a couple of years earlier while visiting colleagues at a nearby office, and returned about 10 days ago. I’m a Gold member, but there was no upgrade available, and since the hotel was full, they couldn’t change the twin room booked by my travel agency to a double. The check-in took less than 30 seconds. Efficient, sure, but no welcome drink was mentioned, just a key card. My room was beside the technical area, what you might jokingly call the broom closet. There was a fridge, but it wasn’t running. The receptionist said it was for ecological reasons, though to me it felt more like cost saving. There were a couple of small problems: the bathroom bin hadn’t been emptied, but that was sorted quickly after I reported it. The toilet roll holder was missing too, and got installed the next day. None of these things was a major issue on its own, but together they affected the stay. For work trips I keep a basic routine of working, sleeping, eating, and going for a run, so a smooth stay matters. The manager did take time later to hear some of my feedback, which I appreciated. The hotel could still do better. If I return, I’ll make sure the booking directly requests a double bed. I’m undecided about staying here again, since a farther away hotel where things run more smoothly is another option.