Spark by Hilton Hammond

The lobby coffee was better than average, the staff seemed friendly and helpful, and the rooms were quiet. But the hot water never got beyond lukewarm, the AC wouldn’t cool the room below 75, and the carpet looked like it hadn’t been vacuumed in a day or two. I stayed just two nights and didn’t bother telling the front desk. The fire alarm went off both evenings, for no apparent reason since nobody evacuated, so they already seemed pretty alert. It was my first time in the area, so I don’t know if this is typical. Next time in Hammond, I think I’ll try another Hilton property.

Chance was working at the desk and really did his best to make the stay pleasant. I accidentally booked the wrong date on Expedia, though, and he couldn’t honor Expedia’s $89 nightly rate. The hotel rate was $130, which was unfortunate because I don’t think it’s worth that much. The room had the simplest furniture, even worse than something from IKEA. I’ll give it two stars for the always-comfortable beds and the great location for seeing my family. I wouldn’t stay again unless I could get the $89 rate.

The staff were friendly and professional, and the manager personally came up to deal with a small problem in one of the rooms right away. We’d arrived early after driving for hours from NY and NC because of a family emergency, and she let us check in early without an extra charge. The recent renovation was a plus. Thank you for making a difficult trip comfortable.

We’re retired and travel often, especially to Hammond, LA, to see our grandchildren. We’re Hilton Honors members and usually choose the Hampton Inn in town, but tried the new Spark by Hilton on this trip. The clean, nice accommodations and very comfortable bed were good, but it was the hospitality that made the difference. BRE and the front desk staff always greeted us with a friendly smile. I’m an early riser, and Chance greeted me every morning with a smile and hot coffee. He’d put on my favorite news channel and chat while setting up breakfast, which was a nice touch. You’ve won us over, and we’re looking forward to staying with your brand again. Keep up the good work, and remember it’s the people who make the difference. Thanks for a great stay and experience.