Hilton Garden Inn Dayton Downtown

Lovey at the bar made the best espresso martini ever, and I enjoyed a salad after a cold day walking around the city. Unfortunately, it was the only gluten-free choice on the menu. Lovey had that same Midwest charm as Makira at the front desk, who greeted me warmly when I arrived from Florida for the weekend. She checked in each day to see if I was dressed warmly enough to walk around in 16° weather. Starting each morning with a friendly laugh was the best. They also suggested cafes and local businesses to explore.

Jennifer remembered me from my previous stay, and that personal touch made me feel valued. It’s one reason I keep choosing this place when I travel to Dayton. I’ve stayed in many wonderful hotels around the world, and this property delivers top-notch hospitality. When I arrived after a stressful travel day, my travel department hadn’t confirmed the reservation. Jennifer sorted it out quickly and professionally, with a genuine smile, and her willingness to go the extra mile put me at ease. She deserves a lot of praise for the service she provides.

We used HGI for our downtown Dayton wedding hotel block and got a double queen suite to get ready in. The valet was easy, the rooms were very clean and nicely updated, and the building looked stunning in our photos. We’re really glad we chose this location for them. Most of the planning with the hotel block manager went well, but the bar never opened an hour early as discussed, so our guests couldn’t have a cocktail before the rehearsal. We followed up multiple times. On the wedding day, one staff member was unfriendly and seemed to avoid guests, according to several people. When we asked for extra towels, the person bringing them looked visibly angry and frustrated. Aside from those interactions, we had a generally positive experience.

The worst part was the parking. It was either street parking or valet for $29 a day, plus a recommended $7 tip and a convenience charge. Twice, we returned when all four or five valet spots were full and were told to circle the block until they could park some cars. Getting our car back was slow too, like they didn’t have enough staff to manage the valet. I liked the location near UD and Oakwood, and the nostalgia of The Arcade. The updated room was clean and having a refrigerator and microwave was handy. Staff who were around were friendly, but the place didn’t seem full and they still missed our room on the first cleaning day. We had to ask for towels three times.