Renaissance Minneapolis Hotel, The Depot

I never actually stayed at the hotel, so the five stars are for Manager Alex Bennett. He was kind, responsive to my calls, and genuinely interested in helping me sort out an issue with a third-party travel agent. I appreciated how attentive he was and that he gave me his email so we could stay in touch. It was a pleasure working with him. Thank you, Alex.

The rooms were great, the employees really nice, and the whole hotel is beautiful. The bar has a lively feel, and the small pool was well kept. One privacy issue: the bathroom's barn door doesn't lock, and although the glazed window is meant to block the view, about 12 inches at the bottom is just glass.

I checked in just five minutes ago and I'm already giving this place five stars. After flight delays turned my six-hour travel day into fourteen hours, I used the hotel's app to let them know I would arrive late and asked them not to release my room. At check-in they had read my message and gave me a complimentary upgrade, hoping to make the end of my day better. Joran, the valet, greeted me warmly and insisted on carrying my luggage even after I said I had no cash to tip him. I felt bad about not tipping, but he wouldn't take no for an answer. My room is lush and comfortable, and Alex and Joran's smiles and hospitality turned the day around. They made me feel valued even though I'm not a high-ranking Bonvoy member yet, though I'm working toward it. I decided at the last minute to attend a conference here, and although the hotel and conference had been sold out for weeks, a call three days before the start turned up a room. They even gave me the conference rate, which never happens! If the first five minutes are any clue, I'm excited to see what the Renaissance Depot has to offer. I'll update after a few days.

The staff and rooms are great, and this is the only place I stay when I'm in Minneapolis. It feels almost like three hotels in one, and the historic suites are fun. There's also a really nice smell as soon as you walk in.