My review of the newly opened Le Meridien Tampa in downtown Tampa. As a converted federal courthouse, it's one of the coolest chain hotels I've stayed at! I just love how unique it is, and that they managed to convert a historic landmark into something so modern yet authentic.
Continue reading: Le Meridien Tampa Soft Opening Review
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Makes me want to drive over from Orlando to check it out but I do have trouble staying anywhere but the grand Hyatt there. They do know how to treat you right.
Wow, cool to be the first guest they registered. You'll remember that! Nice touches with the pastries, free lunch and welcoming phone calls.
Try the Liberty Hotel in Boston which was once a jail and has cool remnants of its prior use.
Sounds really neat. Marriott has been converting several old banks to hotels. Stayed in a really impressive Courtyard in San Diego, and apparently a new Renaissance in Denver was originally an old bank.
Great review, Lucky! I look forward to staying in this hotel next time in TPA...:)
I'm guessing you've never had a 'real' job in your life before right? From this article it sounds like it. Yes, the service was probably amazing because for all employees they are starting a new job and are excited and nervous. Give it 3 months and the service will go down to be on par with other Le Meridiens.
@ Tyler -- There's a difference between excitement and being polished. Given that many of the employees literally started working yesterday, the service isn't just excited (as I'd expect), but also polished.
Thanks Ben.
As I pointed out on Instagram - I've changed my stay for taking the FL Bar from the Westin to this hotel.
Maybe sleeping in a courthouse will help me pass 😉
@ Ben -- Hah, that might just bring you good luck. Enjoy your stay and good luck!
@Lucky- It sounds like they were simply excited to have a new job and were doing their jobs well. I worked in a new restaurant in college where the same happened. Give it 3 months where everyone becomes more comfortable, the hotel occupancy increases to a normal level and they get more busy and I doubt you'll see the same.
have you stayed at the liberty in boston? if you like this type of thing, it's a former jail.
Thank you for the review, since I wanted to walk over to the hotel last night but didn't get a chance. After living in downtown Tampa (channelside) for the past year, you couldn't possibly be more wrong about downtown being boring. If you haven't noticed, the entire East side is undergoing an re-urbanization. New condos, bars, restaurants and entertainment are popping up consistently. Don't just go on past assumptions....
Starwood has some pretty amazing brands out there that deliver amazingly modern interiors in an old (sometimes drab 🙁 ) exteriors.
Lucky, maybe you'll get a plaque on the wall that says "opened on ___th day of June by Mr Ben Schlappig"! Haha 😛
Did you notice that the hostess stand for the restaurant is one of the salvaged witness stands? 🙂
@ Brady -- Indeed, thought that was awesome. Love all the original pieces still in the hotel.
The LM in Philadelphia is also a converted property -- it's formerly a YMCA. It, too, mixes continental modern with a classic downtown building.
Similarly for the Grand Hotel in Melbourne, which Accor converted from a railway office building in the late 90s. Come to think of it, Accor is French, too. Maybe they have a thing for re-doing old things.
Yes, Grand Hyatt is THE BEST! I wonder if Le Meridien Tampa has stunning 2 Bedroom hidden suites, LIKE ATLANTA??
1 Key => 2 Rooms
Lucky, has anyone gone through your reviews and counted how many times some food was the best you've ever had?
I'm tempted, but have to go to work. Maybe on my next flight...
Downtown Tampa is trying to have more nightlife. There's a few good bars that have opened up (Fly bar isn't far from the old courthouse), but you're right, it's not a thriving nightlife kinda downtown
I think Oakland just one-upped Cleveland and Tampa! They have a world class airport too, where the only lounge is the smoking lounge outside! http://youtu.be/CzkoeyhAAdk
@lucky Have you even been to Cleveland? Probably not since LH doesn't fly there and there's no St. Regis. Just a little bit insulting. Also note, there's a LM opening in Cleveland later this year in the nation's second biggest theater district, though I'm sure you won't review it.
@ Matt -- No matter what I say, someone will be offended, and I'm fine with that. The Cleveland tourism video went viral and I thought it was amusing (regardless of whether Cleveland is awesome or not). Sorry if you don't see it that way.
sounds fantastic for now but after the opening wears off lets see where they are in 2 years like the majority of SPG hotels
Expensive/overpriced, stingy and one fights for their upgrade
Hey Lucky, I (like Matt) am a proud Clevelander. We're trying to recover from "mistake on the lake" status, and in the process some of us seem to have misplaced our sense of humor. But anyway, maybe (pretty please) don't kick us while we're down?
Looks like a great hotel. If I'm ever in Tampa...
@ CathN -- Heh, I'll do what I can to visit Cleveland soon. How many days should I plan to see all the sites? 😀
How great that the Tampa St. Petersburg market finally has a fine hotel. I have stayed at the Vinoy® Renaissance St. Petersburg and found it to be very overrated as my experience there, including the restaurant, was at best mediocre.
@Robbie Plafker: OAK is completely overrun by LCCs; there's a grand total of three legacy routes. Why would you expect there to be any lounges?
If you get back to the NW, visit the McMenamins restaurants/hotels. They convert old schools, mental institutions (yes, really) and other funky venues in bars, live music venues and hotels. The Kennedy School in Portland is an old elementary school and the bathrooms are still original in the restaurant areas, rooms have chalkboards in them, etc...sounds like something you would like.
Ben, I'm glad it was you at that free lunch and not some of your readers (knowing that you're not a begrudging tipper), the ones who declared that they don't tip for comped services.
Re the racial giraffe thing: how racist is it to mention the similarity of downtown of Cleveland with Tampa??? Lol...
Cool experience and concept as well! Thanks Ben. It's always funny to read or hear that a building is "over 100 years old", but it's just about me coming from Florence, Italy 🙂
@ Lucky - how did you find out about the soft opening - social media? I dig the design but don't you think dark gray walls are kind of dreary? Anyhow, it's pretty cool you were the first guest 😀
@ Ivan Y -- Literally was browsing spg.com and noticed it. Not even social media!
Wow! What an excellent review! I am the featured artist at LM Tampa and can say without a doubt every statement that you said is true. I did training on all of my art pieces with everyone from the management to the housekeeping and they were all so excited they now want an architectural and history training as well! And just wait....LM Tampa is the cornerstone for Tampa's new art district! Lots of big things happening in Tampa! It's very exciting!
Hey, Lucky:
More savvy writers have stopped peddling cliche Cleveland jokes. With a LeMeridian and Kimpton soon to be added to a Ritz-Carlton and a couple of InterContinentals, downtown Cleveland is now listed as on of the most emerging city centers in the country (Forbes). Even the downtown residential population doubled in the last decade. You also might want to forgo old joke Youtube videos for a cheap laugh and actually read what the mainstream media folks are doing: