brmusicman
August 3, 2024
We stayed two nights in August 2024. Overall, we had a good experience and I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the hotel for those visiting Geneva. It does appear the hotel is attempting to rebrand itself the “Hotel President” instead of the “Hotel President Wilson.” The hotel’s location is top-notch for exploring Geneva. It’s right on Lake Geneva, along a long pathway that’s great for walking or running lakeside and accessing the various points that people enter the lake to swim. It’s also close to the public transit boats that cross the lake, as well as tram stops for accessing other parts of the city. (Geneva visitors are granted free access to public transit, which makes using the boats and trams easy.) Service at the hotel was exceptional, particularly from the front desk, bell staff, and concierge. The concierge was helpful in arranging for lunch and dinner bookings and made good suggestions that aligned with our taste. All taxis, etc. that had been requested were available at the time promised, and the concierge was helpful with public transit directions. Service at breakfast was less helpful, though by no means poor—just a little slow and not as attentive. The breakfast buffet was relatively similar to other major European hotels, although we noticed (given the hotel’s clientele) more international dishes on the buffet. I’ve certainly seen more elegantly presented buffets and wish this buffet had more fresh fruit/melon than was available. A service disappointment was that, as a Marriott Bonvoy elite guest, I was given a coupon for a ‘welcome drink’ of beer or wine at the bar, only to be informed as we concluded that sparkling wine was not included with this offer. The coupon should be clearer—sparkling wine is wine! Otherwise, service at the bar was pleasant. In an area with a lot of traditional European architecture, the hotel’s architecture is functional and unremarkable—basically, it looks like an office block tower. (The large windows do afford nice views of Lake Geneva and/or the city.). Inside, the decor was a bit of an odd mix—the lobby was quite modern (with particularly gorgeous flowers), while the hallways and guest rooms had very traditional decor. The rooms in the hotel are fine, if nothing remarkable, particularly considering the cost. On the plus side, the air conditioning worked brilliantly (on very hot days) and the bed and bedding were extraordinarily comfortable. The closet was large and the storage in the closet area was smart. While everything was in good working order, decor and technology in the guest rooms felt below the standards of today’s five-star hotels. For example, the television was small, oddly low-lit, and hard to see from any angle except directly in front of it. Only one of the bedside tables contained outlets for phones, laptops, etc. The very traditional furniture felt a little large for the space. And the bathroom, while it had the expected amenities, had a tub/shower that was r