Emery, Autograph Collection Hotel

My room, number 625, was oddly shaped and very dark, probably because the hotel was converted from a bank or office building. The ventilation was excellent, though, so credit to the HVAC engineers. The hotel was only a quarter full and I had Gold Elite status, so I assume this was one of the better rooms. The public areas and gym are very nice, if a bit cold during an unusually cold spell when it was -7 to +20 outside. The restaurant has some good dishes but gets very loud when nearly full. The morning coffee shop is good, though food choices are limited. The Skyway connection to downtown office buildings was useful.

The hotel is in an old bank building, and they’ve carried that theme through nicely. There’s a distinctive little shop downstairs in the lobby with miscellaneous goods, plus a fridge stocked with water, pop, and different alcoholic drinks. The restaurant has a good bar and dinner options. I wouldn’t recommend it, or the coffee shop, for breakfast. Check in was smooth, and the staff were helpful. They even made sure our whole group was on the same floor. A nice Marriott hotel.

The location is great and the service is really good, but the room is a different story. I’ve stayed at canopy before, and there’s no comparison. There’s nowhere to put clothes, the coffee is really poor, and my room faced a wall. The AC or heat was noisy and couldn’t be turned off. For the price, it just doesn’t compare.

Giulia's was fantastic. I ate breakfast, lunch, and dinner there every day, and the wine vault inside is gorgeous. My room looked out at the IDS Tower, and Spyhouse makes the best caramel latte ever. Kevin in valet was so nice, and Lloyd on the overnight shift was awesome. Everything about the stay was lovely: the hotel, its room, and the lobby. Thanks for making my first trip to Minneapolis unforgettable!