Hilton Milwaukee

The room was on the small side, and the pillows were awful. Still, the staff were friendly and helpful, and the ornate lobby gives the hotel a historic feel. There’s a Starbucks and other good restaurants on site, and much of downtown Milwaukee is within walking distance.

The room felt ridiculously cramped, and we couldn’t adjust its temperature. They said the heat was on because it was winter, even though it was in the 60s outside and 73 in the room. Not being able to control the temperature was beyond frustrating. The hotel looks lovely, but it’s not very user-friendly. The elevators were extremely slow and jolted around.

The convention itself was fantastic. My game Shards of Solarium was a big success, and I got in 8 demos. It was the best con ever, and the organizers and con staff made me feel magical. I’m really looking forward to next year. The hotel was another story. I booked more than four months ahead at $486 plus incidentals, but was charged $663 at the door. At that price, I expected better service. Nobody helped when I was trying to load my luggage, there was no microwave, and the elevators worked only about half the time. The front desk staff were nice, but everyone else made me feel invisible. Everything cost extra, there were no amenities despite the charges, and I wasn’t offered anything to make the stay nicer. I didn’t even see a pool. Spending over $600, I thought maybe there’d at least be a free banana or bagel. Next year I expect better. The convention was great, though. Update: I’m still trying to get my partial refund. I was told it was released three days ago, but the hotel is ignoring a corporate decision. I’m amazed by the disrespect toward customer service and am escalating this to BBB. I’m sick of people saying they’ll fix things and then doing nothing. Does your Hilton Honors Guaranteed Service mean anything to you? Liars. I wish my convention hadn’t required booking Hilton. Even less notable places like Super 8 offer free breakfast and much better customer service.

The rooms were clean and refreshed, and ours had an excellent view. The hotel is dog-friendly in a big way, which is a real perk. Staff were attentive and on point. Lannie and Jeannie went above and beyond for us on Friday, and Rusty, Millie, and Sadie have clearly won everyone’s hearts. If you’re ever in Milwaukee, stop and meet the three of them. There are six elevators, and they mostly kept up. That’s about the only thing I could fault, and some waits are to be expected in a 24-floor hotel when you’re staying on the 19th. Hilton hotels are usually considered among the best for service and quality, and this one lived up to that. I’d stay here again without hesitation.