Traveller_from_Ufa
September 13, 2023
My preferable place of stay in Volgograd was Hilton Garden Inn. When I planned my business trip to Volgograd this time on 11-Sep-2023, my choice was the same, despite my business partners asked to choose another hotel to stay. On arrival to the hotel, we could not check-in for one hour - appr. 11:30 till 12:30. Due to this delay we missed important customer meeting. Receptionist endlessly told us they it was because of IT issues, and they can’t do anything. We asked receptionists to talk to manager to give us a room to change clothes. But manager, as we’ve been told, refused. So, we were unacceptably late in customer’s office. Choice of food at breakfast was limited. Impression was that staff was not happy to do their job. Were slowly and not polite. Both my colleagues noted the same. After breakfast, at 8:30 internal construction works started inside the hotel breaching Russian law that prohibits loud works before 9 AM. It was so early and noisy, that I could not suffer any more and started to call reception. Reception phone didn’t answer. I had to come down. Receptionist, her name was Lada, told that she was busy and could not pick up the phone. Hotel manager was not in the hotel yet, as I’ve been told, but she had to come at 9 AM. Receptionist Lada was sorry that she can do nothing about works ongoing… From 9:00 till 9:15 I was asking Lada to call her manager to come to reception. Finally, Lada gave up and went to call her manager. Manager’s name was Svetlana Kareva. I explained her all the issues happened in Hotel,… but manager Svetlana started to argue against that noise is OK etc.. Trough the last years being there I noted that quality of service in that particularly hotel was deteriorating to the level unexpectable for Hilton brand name. Talking to another guest while waiting for Receptionist’s manager, he also commented that service quality of Volgograd Hilton Garden Inn is not like other Garden Inns in Russia. He said that this hotel is “special” in terms of service quality. For many years Hilton Garden Inn hotels in Russia were one of the best chain hotels. I wrote couple reviews in past been inspired by attention that Hilton staff always showed up to the guests. I don’t want to believe that this kind of service will spread across Russia. Definitely, I will never ever consider Volgograd Hilton Garden Inn as a place to stay in Volgograd. No more!