Hampton Inn Pullman

I've been staying here for about six months, and a lot of people from our company stay while we're working in the area. The rooms have always been clean, and the front desk has always been helpful. There's a bar and restaurant at the hotel, plus plenty of restaurants within walking distance.

This review is about Crimson Bar and Bites. It's presented as a casual lobby bar, but on busy Washington State University sports weekends it works more like a full restaurant, without the staffing to match. A small team gets thrown into a packed bar and dining room. The employees I've encountered have been courteous when I could get their attention and clearly did their best, but one cook and one person serving as both bartender and waitperson can't reasonably provide decent service to that many people. Last night we waited 90 minutes for dinner, then found out our order hadn't even been entered. The staff weren't rude when they realized, but didn't say much beyond that these were crazy times on game weekends. I don't blame them. They're stretched too thin, and this is a management failure. If Hampton Inn wants Crimson Bar and Bites to be a real amenity during high-traffic weekends, it needs to rethink the setup. At minimum, add two waitstaff or a dedicated bartender. Otherwise, scale back instead of acting like the current team can run a restaurant. It's a shame the employees are put in this position and guests have such a rough experience. Until staffing is addressed, it'll keep disappointing people when they're most likely to use it.

I really appreciated Olivia, Dez, and Anna and how responsive the team was when my family stayed during an event with a large group of college students. They partied and made noise late into the night and early morning, so we didn't sleep well. The staff couldn't control other guests, but they tried to contact the event organizers to reduce the impact. When I texted them, they responded impressively and showed real concern, offering us another room or the option to check out early and find another hotel. Their follow-up afterward was impressive too.

We love how clean and safe the hotel is, and the complimentary breakfast is a favorite. It's also in a perfect spot near WSU. Every time we visit Pullman, this hotel makes the trip amazing. The friendly, wonderful staff always make us feel welcome.