Overall Impression : A grand dame of Houston hotels and preferred accommodation of many a distinguished and famous visitor, The Houstonian Hotel Club & Spa offered classic upscale Texas style accommodations in an 18-acre compound. Guest centered staff attended to visitor needs and distinctive décor added charm to the 280-room hotel. Thanks to the location, the property’s green features and wooded views, we felt secluded though we were within easy reach of Houston ’s main business and shopping districts.
A large, practical and comfort oriented concierge floor suite made staying in as desirable as venturing out. We returned time and again to the concierge floor common room for Internet access, daily newspapers, breakfast, and cocktails hour and after dinner snacks. The in-house dining restaurant Olivette, obligatory bar, nearby golf club and selection of meeting rooms made the Houstonian an ideal work and leisure option. For spare time activities we especially appreciated deluxe facilities such as the Hotel’s immense and well equipped fitness center and its exclusive and inviting adjacent Trellis Spa.
Concierge Paul Brenkus
Connectivity High speed connectivity was available in our room and in the concierge common room on our floor.
General Manager : Jim Mills
Handicapped Access Yes
Length Of Stay Two nights
Location In the Galleria area
Owned-Managed Redstone Companies
Pets Welcome No
Size 18-acre compound including 280 deluxe guest rooms, seven luxury suites and one presidential suite
Year Opened-Renovated Built 1980, rooms renovated in October 2001
Lobby And Common Areas : Great Room Lobby with a 30-foot hand carved fireplace, fine European fabrics, wood paneling and inlaid parquet floors. Contemporary Texas style furnishings including dark wood colors and a solid feel throughout.
Bathroom A bright and light colored oversize bathroom featured a vanity, shower, separate deep bath tub, separate W.C. and his and hers sinks on a granite countertop and a beige stone floor.
Room Our spacious 960 square feet Concierge Level Suite consisted of two rooms. The first was a sitting room with a desk and chair near the entrance and a closet. A lounge with wood floor, a sofa and two chairs facing an entertainment center was adjacent to it. Beyond the lounge there were sliding glass doors leading to a green area. The carpeted sleeping area featured a king bed with a night table on either side, a luggage table, a dresser including a television which allowed us to watch TV while in bed and a closet with an electronic safe.
Food And Restaurants We had breakfast from the buffet at the concierge floor common room. We also stopped by the common room for cocktail hour snacks and drinks and for after dinner fresh baked cookies, coffee and tea. Room service options were available though we didn’t take advantage of them during our stay. Olivette, the Houstonian’s premier restaurant open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, featured a display kitchen. There welcoming and helpful staff saw to our dining needs while the kitchen staff successfully blended Mediterranean and regional American flavors producing a hearty meal.
Amenities Floor to ceiling windows with wooded views, hairdryers, in-room refreshment center, 24-hour room service, terry bathrobes, Crabtree & Evelyn toiletries including soap, body lotion, shampoo, conditioner, and shower gel. Also extra-large, executive works desk, dual line cordless phone and Internet access, in-room electronic safe, twice daily room service. Concierge floor rooms also had access to breakfast buffet, evening cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, after-dinner sweets, business services and a concierge.
Facilities Houstonian (Fitness) Club including The Center Court Café, The Bar, Olivette Restaurant, The Manor House restaurant and private function facility, Trellis spa (and gift shop), Restone Golf Club (off the property).
Pool The main swimming pool was being rebuilt when we visited. Only a small pool was available for our use. The Houstonian’s state-of-the-art pool complex, slated to include alarge resort-style pool, a 25-meterby 25-yard lap pool anda shaded children’s wading pool was due to open in April 2005. The new complex was expected to includea water slide, waterfall feature and increased deck space featuring ample shaded areas.
Fitness Center The Houstonian Club, reserved for hotel guests and members, featured more than 125,000 square feet of health and fitness space including 200 modern and well maintained exercise machines for cardiovascular and weight training. There were indoor and outdoor walking and running tracks, a 20-foot rock climbing wall, a full size basketball court, eight outdoor tennis courts, courts and equipment for squash, racquetball and paddle, a Kid’s Club, a café, and a gift shop with bathing suits, workout and dressier clothing, jewelry and sundry items. There w re personal trainers and nutritionists available for guest consults. Activities available: 100 group exercise classes per week, yoga, Pilates, Tai Chi, martial arts, and boxing. The Club was the recipient of the 2004 Fitness Magazine’s 10 Best Gyms in America . We made our way to the Club every morning during out stay. It was fully of energetic Houstonians getting their daily workouts. We always found a machine available and helpful staff to guide us around the maze of exercise rooms.
Conference Facilities There were 32,000 square feet of function space including 26 meeting rooms(21 with views; 19 with solid walls instead of air walls) ranging from 300 to 6,600 square feet, executive conference seating. There was also a full business center with a private teleconferencing room and computer workstations.
Other For those wishing to self park there was parking available under the hotel. There was also convenient valet parking in the reception area. AAA Four-Diamond Award winner, Mobile Travel Guide Four Star Award, member with Preferred Hotels and Resorts Worldwide. Listed in 2004 and 2002 Travel & Leisure magazine’s 500 Best Hotels in the World.
Check-In-Check-Out Process Ease Excellent
Cleanliness Good
Date Of Review October 2004
Service 24-hour room service, twice daily maid service.
Would You Stay There Again? Yes
