The Westin Qingdao

Qingdao was my first port of call on a month-long odyssey across China. Since this was our first visit we decided to make use of our Bonvoy status and, as always, it pays dividends. This was an excellent stay, not least because we were upgraded to a suite which turned out to be one of the best hotel rooms I have stayed in for many a year. The location is great, affording easy access to the harbour and the bustling areas around. The staff were friendly and spoke English to more than an acceptable level for those of us who speak little to no Chinese. We were checked in efficiently and were on our way to our room without undue delay or fuss. As I mentioned, the room was outstanding. Floor to ceiling windows, and large bathroom with walk in shower and massive tub, which is something I love to see and whilst ubiquitous in China, is rare in many other parts of the World. Especially, unfortunately, in the US. We were here visiting friends and were out and about most days, and our stay was unfortunately only one of a couple of nights so I am unable to comment with any authority on some of the other facilities here. However we found both the breakfast service (massive choice of both western and chinese dishes) and the M club to be perfectly pitched for this style and level of hotel. It is still a thrill to have deliveries and items delivered to one's room by robot as well. Seeing them zipping about the hotel, in and out of elevators etc. was one of the unexpected treasures of our trip! I would definitely recommend staying here. Obviously, if you have status or wish to pay for an upgraded room that helps, but overall the stay was first class and got our trip to China off to a great start

I had a wonderful stay at The Westin Qingdao. The location is excellent. The hotel is right next to May Fourth Square and MixC Qingdao (Wanxiangcheng), so it was very convenient to walk around, shop, or find restaurants nearby. Even though I am a Marriott Gold member, the hotel kindly upgraded me to a larger room. I also received a room with a view overlooking the iconic sculpture at May Fourth Square, which made the stay even more memorable. The room itself was very clean, comfortable, and well maintained. The breakfast was outstanding. honestly one of the best hotel breakfasts I have experienced. There was a wide variety of food, the quality was excellent, and everything tasted great. I was also given complimentary lounge access, which allowed me to enjoy afternoon tea during my stay. It was a very nice addition and made the overall experience even better. Another convenient aspect was how easy it was to receive deliveries. Food delivery arrived quickly, and the hotel staff were also helpful in receiving packages. Overall, this hotel offers great quality and value. I would like to thank the staff for their warm hospitality and excellent service.

BACKGROUND: I specifically upgraded to the Executive Floor for our wedding anniversary celebration based on your website's assurance that: 1. Rooms on the executive floor were newly renovated 2. Executive Lounge access with premium amenities would be provided 3. This would meet Westin brand standards for a special occasion The reality fell drastically short of these promises and Marriott Bonvoy standards. CRITICAL SERVICE FAILURES: 1. MISREPRESENTATION OF ROOM CONDITION I was explicitly told the Executive Floor rooms were "newly renovated." The room I received was extremely outdated and in no way reflected the renovation status promised during the upsell. 2. EXECUTIVE LOUNGE - UNACCEPTABLE STANDARDS No breakfast service: The lounge opened at 12pm, unlike standard executive lounges across Marriott properties which serve breakfast Inadequate supplies: The lounge ran out of wine glasses. When I attempted to use a champagne flute instead, it was visibly cracked, forcing me to drink red wine from a paper cup This is completely unacceptable for a property charging premium rates for executive floor access 3. FOOD QUALITY & SAFETY CONCERNS Breakfast area: Extremely disorganized and overcrowded, resembling "a zoo" rather than a premium hotel dining experience Cross-contamination risk: Same tongs were used for both raw and cooked items - a serious food safety violation Temperature control failure: Most items were not properly heated Overall quality: Food quality was significantly below Westin standards Room service failure: Club sandwich delivered on Jan 3rd was completely unacceptable [Photo attached] 4. FACILITY INFORMATION FAILURES Unable to locate the Westin Heavenly Spa despite multiple inquiries Gym staff provided incorrect directions Lack of proper signage and staff knowledge of basic hotel facilities 5. STAFFING & COMMUNICATION DEFICIENCIES Severe lack of English-speaking staff for an international luxury brand Management was notably absent and unavailable throughout our stay Unable to escalate concerns in real-time due to language barriers and management accessibility