INTRO 4 months old property, rebranding, refreshing the le Meridien. Autograph Collection is aggressively growing in the US and it's good news, if you're trying to escape standardized lodging solutions. PROs Inspiring multitude of decorations, yet uniform band of colors. Very nice personnel in all departments, from Valet to Lobby and Restaurant (independently run). My family and I witnessed the Operation Manager, Ms. Ana Kutle, leading by example, performing tasks that you'd expect from other collaborators. The team seemed very cohesive and willing to deliver the best service. These things work when they cascade top-down. Wonderful room, nice and rather large bathrooms. Fine materials, fabrics. The lights are something special (see below). The restaurant/bar terrace is a true gem. There are other places with Bay view: the Jay offers an urban, modernist/brutalist view with very nice furniture, fire pits and music. CONs Please, private message me if you find any - I'd be interested in considering what I may have missed. To Boutique Hotels Freaks (like Yours Truly): The "BH" label is an overly abused term, we all agree. Autograph Collection as a brand is in my opinion in its own league. They don't tease you with easy, catchy details. The whole decoration concept of each hotel is non-related to others, period. I enjoyed the presence of furniture of different styling (the chairs in particular were wonderful). De-lightful lights are also to be mentioned, both in the room and in the lobby area. The mezzanine is also a jewel - I could visit 3 of the meeting rooms, each one different from the other. A spectacular sculpture of Arnaldo Pomodoro is the climax of the entrance staircase. But the key point is what they built around it, in terms of light, colors, materials - it's a whole construction, not just an artist's item. To Modernist/Brutalist Architecture Freaks (like Yours Truly): Between The Jay and the Ferry Building you can admire/despise several Brutalist buildings, including the Vaillancourt Fountain, sprayed in 1987 by U2 lead singer Bono. It's actually rare to see so many examples of this style so near to one another. Also, walk down Clay St., enter in the Hyatt Regency, admire the impressive contrast between the exterior and interior. Exit on California st., by the Cable Car's end of line (and praise yourself for having chosen in The Jay instead). To Safety 1st people, Families with kids: I've been to SF 5 times in the past year. This area, financial district/Ferry building, is safe to walk around. In the Embarcadero square the number of let's say standings-by is extremely limited. Lots of tourists walking around too. Safe to take kids to play. COMPARISONS I typically stay at old fashion-style properties in SF: the Westin St. Francis, The Ritz Carlton, the Intercontinental John Hopkins, the Adagio. I have also tried modern properties that can be more reasonably compared to The Jay: the Hilton Union Square (one star less), the Nikko Ho
翻譯