I just completed my second stay at a Tru by Hilton hotel property. “Although it is certainly not a terrible concept by any stretch of the imagination, the only time I could see myself actively seeking to stay at a Tru by Hilton hotel property in the foreseeable future is if it is the least expensive option by a significant amount of money when compared to other options within a certain radius” is what I wrote in this article pertaining to my first stay at a Tru by Hilton hotel property back on Tuesday, February 13, 2018…
My Second Stay at a Tru by Hilton Hotel — and The Verdict Is…
…and that is exactly what happened to me when I was searching for a place to stay in the downtown area of Denver so that I may attend a recent meeting. The room rate of the Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center hotel property was significantly less expensive than other hotel properties within the area. I did not rent a vehicle and needed to use public transportation. I booked the reservation and braced for a similar experience to the one which I had back in 2017 at the Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport hotel property.
The same tall building is shared by both the Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center concept and Home2 Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center concept. I have never stayed in a building that housed two different brand concepts of hotels.
Checking In
The official time to check into this hotel property is at 3:00 in the afternoon. I arrived almost two hours earlier. Not only did members of the staff cheerfully welcome me and had a room all ready for me; but I was also upgraded to floor 21, which is the top floor of the building. Members of the staff were not wearing bright blue Tru by Hilton polo shirts because the front desk serves both of the aforementioned brands.
Alcoholic beverages could be purchased at the Tempo Bar and enjoyed at the seats provided, which had easy access to electrical outlets and USB ports.
The entrance to the hotel property is beyond the right edge of the photograph shown above, as access is from the driveway. No annoying graphics were all over the glass doors as they were during my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport.
The ground floor was quite stylish, with various types of seating that were available. Some were for privacy; some optimized for comfort; and some were simply fun.
Parts of the ground floor resembled an upscale hotel property which neither of the two brands represent.
In addition to being stylish, the public areas of the ground floor seemed almost immaculately clean.
Several different areas of the ground floor provided different comfortable ambiances for guests and visitors to enjoy.
One area had couches and a flat-screen television set in a large built- in shelving unit.
J
Adjacent to the front desk was a station that provided coffee and hot water — along with tea, creamer, assorted sweeteners, cups, lids, and stirrers — 24 hours per day. A microwave oven was in a cabinet below the shelf.
A miniature shuffleboard table — at least, I believe it was a miniature shuffleboard table — was available for anyone who wanted to use it.
Fresh popcorn — or, at least, popcorn that was freshly popped but remained for some time — was available from a popcorn machine. This was a nice touch — especially if someone was hungry and needed a snack to tide him or her over until his or her next meal.
Beyond the miniature shuffleboard table was a mural which celebrated Denver; and a cabinet with a computer on top of it and a printer inside of it.
I was given a brown paper Hilton Honors bag, which contained two bottles of water and a bag of Zapp’s New Orleands Kettle Style Voodoo potato chips.
This building did have an unusual feature that is not found in many hotel properties which I noticed on my way to my room: it had a thirteenth floor. Cool.
The Room
Although it uses the exact same linens as those used during my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport, the bed was quite comfortable. I slept well in it after taking a nice hot shower.
An orange table was on one side of the bed; and a nightstand was on the other side of the bed.
On the nightstand was a clock radio that was equipped with both electrical outlets and Universal Serial Bus — or USB — ports; a telephone; a lamp; and a small placard with instructions on how to leave the housekeeper a gratuity electronically. At first, I thought Shiny was the name of the housekeeper; but that is apparently the name of the service.
Unlike my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport, a desk was available in the room. It was on wheels; so it could be moved about the room along with the chair, which was also on wheels. This setup was a substantial improvement, as one can actually work with a laptop computer in this room.
Stains were present on the chair at the desk. I am not sure what caused these stains: sweat from the neck of someone, perhaps?
The room was equipped with a large flat-screen television, which was on when I entered the room…
…and it displayed a welcome message to me.
This rack provides a place to store items — as well as a cushioned area that covers part of the top shelf. It is a significant improvement over what was supposed to be a luggage rack during my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport.
The “closet” was nothing more than an open area with six hangers, an ironing board with an iron hanging on the wall; and a surface on which to place belongings.
Underneath that surface was a miniature refrigerator. It kept my bottles of water cold.
The wall on the opposite side near the entrance to the room had an eclectic set of colorful wall hooks and a full-length mirror. The entrance to the bathroom was on the left of the door which served as the main entrance to the room.
If the “closet” does not have enough room for all of your belongings, a space underneath one of the beds is specifically designed to place a piece or two of luggage. I had mixed feelings about this: I do not like to place my belongings on the floor if I can help it. Then again, I cannot imagine this part of the floor becoming as dirty as other parts of the floor mainly because no one can walk on it — unless, of course, someone stores their shoes underneath it. This space may also be difficult to use for someone with back problems or other ambulatory issues.
Because the mattress does not extend out to the corners of the frame, it is a potential hazard to maneuver. I found myself bumping my leg into this corner at least once.
The thermostat actually worked properly, as I was able to control the temperature of the room to my liking.
An electrical outlet and two USB ports were available on each end of a narrow shelf that was located directly below the flat-screen television. One side was near the desk, which was convenient.
Stickers with information were affixed to surfaces in different areas of the room, which instructed how to access the digital guest services directory, where to find additional storage options, and finding out more about Tru by Hilton via the television.
The Bathroom
The bathroom looks rather plain upon walking into it — but a long shelf is located underneath the mirror and is useful for placing toiletries on it. On that shelf were two packages of gentle cleansing makeup remover wipes with vitamin E. An electric hair dryer is stored in a bag hanging on a hook on the wall, ready for use by the guest.
Some towels were located underneath the vanity of the sink — as well as plastic cups. No laundry bag was located anywhere in the room.
The graphics on the walls — as well as throughout the hotel property — were not nearly as obnoxious as those during my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport. The wall is still a waste of space, in my opinion.
A floor towel hung on the handle of the shower door. The shower head is like a miniature rain shower when the water is turned on; but the flow of water could also be diverted to a flexible sprayer to cleanse those body parts which may be difficult to clean.
The shower itself contains a bench on which to place items; but it is not wide enough on which to sit for an extended period of time. No bath tub exists in the bathroom.
Two dispensers are located next to the sink, which contain body lotion and hand wash; and three dispensers are located in the shower area, which contain body wash, conditioner and shampoo. The products in the blue containers have a “confidence-boosting” scent called beach + sky blue water; while the products in the yellow containers have a “joy-inducing” scent called lemon + sugar. I was indifferent to the beach + sky blue water scent; but the smell of lemon + sugar was so sickeningly sweet that my teeth felt like they were rotting — and lemon is one of my favorite scents.
I also did not like how the product came out of the containers, as you have to squeeze both sides of the container itself for it to come out. Squeeze gently as instructed, and nothing happens; but too much came out when squeezing slightly less gently. Despite multiple attempts, I could not find a happy medium. The container is poorly designed overall.
I did not get the name brand of the products Not Soap, Radio — supposedly a form of practical joke and an example of surreal comedy which is actually not funny — and I found the statements printed on the labels of the containers to be both vapid and vacuous at best: “When life gives you one too many lemons and you’ve misplaced your happy place” and “Shampooing with sharks (for that competitive edge in work and/or play).”
Huh?!?
The Views
My room had some very nice views of downtown Denver…
…including Wells Fargo Center, which is the building that is also colloquially known as the Cash Register Building for the way its uppermost floors curve together resembling the shape of an antique cash register.
The photograph above shows a view of 15 Street facing south at night.
…including that of a picturesque sunrise during the next morning when I woke up just before heading downstairs to breakfast.
Breakfast
The breakfast area is in the basement of the hotel property. The offerings were substantially better than the ones at the Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport. Perhaps the main reason was because the breakfast area is also available to guests of the Home2 Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center concept, which typically offers a better breakfast experience than the Tru by Hilton concept.
A choice of “wholesome” white bread, whole wheat bread, and “authentic New York-style bagels” were inside of a clear case. As someone who was born and raised in New York, take my word seriously when I say that the everything bagel I had was not an “authentic New York-style bagel”. Assorted flavors of jelly, peanut butter, and a variety of other condiments were available at this station.
Instead of waffle irons which are typically found at hotel properties that are branded as Hampton Inn, two machines that created hot “Signature Choice Tru Pancakes — similar to the machines which are usually found at hotel properties that are branded as Holiday Inn Express & Suites — were available instead.
Fresh bananas, apples, and oranges — as well as whipped cream, assorted syrups, and other condiments — were available to accompany the pancakes. Strangely, nothing was stored in the refrigerated cabinets below the counter.
On the day that I was there, hardwood-smoked bacon, scrambled eggs, and warm biscuits with southern country gravy were among the choices of hot food items available.
Cap’n Crunch with Crunchberries, Frosted Flakes, Raisin Bran, and Cheerios were the assortment of dry cereals that were in dispensers. A square bowl contained pieces of cantaloupe that were cut. A variety of sauces — including Cholula and Tabasco — were available.
Hot oatmeal — along with raisins and other condiments — was available. In the refrigerators below were bottles of milk; assorted flavors of yogurt; and cups of cream cheese.
Hot water and three different types of coffee were available — as well as assorted sweeteners, creamers, stirrers, and packets of teas.
Dispensers for cold water, cranberry juice cocktail, apple juice, and orange juice were located to the right of the coffee station.
Other Areas
A pantry is located on the ground floor for the purchase of assorted food, beverages, and sundries.
A wide variety of beverages — both chilled and at room temperature — for sale included waters, sodas, juices, and power beverages. Frozen entrées were also available for sale.
Unrefrigerated meals and snacks — including tuna and soup — were for sale…
…as well as instant ramen soup, instant macaroni and cheese, candy, potato chips, and bags of other savory snacks.
The laundry room contained two washing machines, two commercial dryers, and what appeared to be two clothes dryers on top of the two washing machines. One of those machines was out of service as indicated by the note that was taped to it.
A large flat-screen television was available to anyone who wanted to watch it while washing or drying their clothes — as long as they had their room keys to access the laundry room.
A room key is needed to access the fitness center, which was equipped with a water fountain and a machine to fill containers with cold water — as well as six treadmills.
Exercise cycles, dumbbells, and other equipment — as well as one flat screen television — are included in the fitness center.
One wall had another flat-screen television — as well as clean towels which were stored in climate controlled units near the floor.
Final Boarding Call
“I would not go so far as to say that I hate the concept of Tru by Hilton; but I would not be disappointed if I never stayed at one again, as it has too many deficiencies for me to want to return” is what I wrote in this article pertaining to my first stay at a Tru by Hilton hotel property. My opinion has changed after this stay. I recommend staying at the Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center hotel property, as it seemed almost as if Hilton had listened to some of my suggestions and complaints which pertained to my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport.
Highlights of my stay were the friendly and helpful staff; the comfortable bed in which I slept well; a clean room and equally clean facilities; and the USB ports in the room. Access to Wi-Fi is complimentary for everyone — regardless of elite level status — and I had no problems or issues using it.
I still did not care for the dispensers for soap and other liquid amenities. Tru by Hilton may still not be at the top of the list of places in which a “road warrior” traveling on business would want to stay — but because my recent stay at Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center is a vast improvement over my stay at Tru By Hilton Oklahoma City Airport, I will give more consideration to staying at a Tru by Hilton hotel property in the future.
The size of the rooms would still be a tight squeeze for a family of four people.
The room rate was among the least expensive in the downtown area of Denver, as I paid $169.09, which included the room rate of $146.08 plus $23.01 in taxes.
Speaking of earning Hilton Honors points, keep in mind that you will only earn five points per dollar spent at Tru by Hilton hotel properties — and the official reason why is in this article which I wrote back on Friday, May 5, 2017.
The hotel property is conveniently located in the downtown area of Denver.
Tru by Hilton Denver Downtown Convention Center
801 15 Street
Denver, Colorado, 80202
United States of America
1-303-753-1201
Self parking of vehicles is not available. Valet parking costs $52.00. Pets are permitted to stay at this hotel property for $50.00; and that fee is not refundable.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
