Crowne Plaza Hickory, Hickory

We arrived without a reservation. Our front desk person seemed friendly enough and she told us we would get an upgraded room. The room was located across the hall from the banquet facility. There were 3 outside doors that were equipped with key activated security locks but none of these doors were locked : they remained open to anyone from the outside all night. Upon our return home we contacted the hotel with this concern, received one email reply and the issue has since died. I would never stay at another Crowne Plaza ever again.

Upon arrival we were not allowed to check-in by Sarah, which made us late for setup at the convention center. My Mom had spoke to Sarah first, and was told to come back in an hour. We did. My Mom went in again and once again came out without a room, and was told we had to wait. This time I went in with her and we sat on the couches across from the check-in desk. What upset me was the fact that the other girl that was on duty actually started to give my Mom a room until Sarah came from the back and gave her "a look", and she quickly appologized and told her she could not check us in yet. While we were waiting in the lobby, Sarah said from the back office (out of site from us), "I don't know WHO told them they could check-in early". Well, I can hear VERY well unlike my mom, who has a hearing impairment; I answered her....by saying "because we checked in early last year with no problem". The young girl at the desk acknowledged what I said, and Sarah did not come out of the back. I must compliment the other girl that was working with her, she DID try to find us a room that was ready so that she could check us in; however, Sarah was preventing that from happening. I watched Sarah check in a man "early"... and it was at THAT point that she allowed us to check in. Chad came up and said he had a room ready. He preceded to put us in the outside building. When we arrived to the room, we stayed less than 5 minutes.... there were bugs in the room. My Mom called the front desk and I dealt with the hotel from that point on... they had the "I apologize bags and letter" waiting on me as I arrived and assigned us to another room. What I can't understand, is that all of a sudden these rooms were ready. We went to the next room, and this time I made pictures... I was disgusted. The toilet had not been cleaned in a long time, there was dirt on the walls, the sink was not clean, the room smelled really bad. I have pictures if you would like to see. My Mom called the front desk and I returned this time with my camera and ask them "would you want to stay in this room?". THIS time I ask to speak to a Manager and the only manager on duty was the Maintenance Manager, Ben. He had us assigned to a room on the inside. That worked out well, it was clean. Sarah would not call the manager over the hotel for me, I had to wait for Ben. He left a message for Brian with my phone number and I have yet to hear from him. He did give me his email, and I will follow-up with him also. As far as experience goes, this is the worst experience I have ever had with Crown Plaza. Sarah was not respectful to my Mother and NOT helpful. The Management there obviously does not care because I did leave my contact information with Ben the Maintenance Manager.

The staff was friendly and the pool was nice. But, those are the only good points. We reserved the room through Priceline a few months in advance. When we arrived, we were put in the building farthest back on the property and on the top floor. The room was small and the bed was very lumpy and uncomfortable. The cleaning staff left their cleaning cart and vacuum cleaner in the hallway the entire five days we were there. The sign on the wall at the vending area said there was an ice machine, but we found none there. It was on the first floor. The vent fan in the bathroom was inoperable and the door on the TV cabinet kept closing while viewing the television. When the maintenance person came, he said there was no vent fan, but I knew better...I am a maintenance technician by trade. And, he said he would return the following morning to repair the TV cabinet door, but he never returned. There was no refrigerator in the room as advertised. For the price that was charged, one would expect much better service, amenities and quarters. We will NEVER use this hotel chain again. A lesser chain would have served us better. This was our first and last experience with this hotel chain. Shame on you Crowne Plaza.

My family and I had stayed at this hotel last year when it was a Holiday Inn Select and it was somewhat dated. When we came back this year the hotel has been fully renovated and converted to a Crowne Plaza. The staff and the rooms are wonderful. My children loved the indoor pool.