One Year Later – Has Westgate Become A True Vegas Contender?

In the first of a two-part series, VegasBright’s Deputy Editor “Sammasseur” returns to Westgate Las Vegas Resort, nearly a year after a less-than-spectacular stay. What he found was a once-floundering property that appears to have come into its own.

Last week I had the pleasure of direct contact with the operators of Downtowner Motel, an establishment which had received a very unfavorable review in my column. They addressed my concerns and offered an opportunity to revisit the property in the future. As rare as those incidents are, this wasn’t the first time. In fact, it was during that same jaunt to Las Vegas that I had planned to revisit a similar, albeit much larger incident. And this time, the result was immensely satisfying.

First, a little backstory. Last February, my significant other and I booked our first stay at the newly-christened Westgate Las Vegas on Paradise Road (best known as the Las Vegas Hilton, and more recently the LVH). My plan was for us to enjoy a romantic weekend together during my birthday while simultaneously checking out Westgate’s new Signature Class accommodations for the now-defunct VegasChatter.com.

If you’re patient, you can read the original review by following this link, which miraculously retrieves shuttered website pages…effectively but somewhat slowly.

Within a few days of that article going live, I was contacted directly by the Guest Services Manager of Westgate, who… 1) apologized for my experience 2) offered a free stay for a second chance to make a good impression, and 3) recognized my feedback as an opportunity to guide future improvements. An impressive response that seemed genuinely sincere…and somewhat flattering.

So with nearly a year having passed and a new website to write for, now seemed like a good time to contact Westgate and see if they were still game for a revisit.

As it turned out, the marketing team at Westgate was more than eager to show me how far they’d come along in the intervening months. They offered me a three-night stay (at their expense, to be clear). And I offered in return to make myself available, at their discretion, for whatever they wanted to schedule/experience/discuss/show off.

Now admittedly, it’s easy for weak-willed individuals to be swayed by a little wining-and-dining excursion. But we here at VegasBright are sharp, dedicated individuals. We can tell when we’re being sprinkled with fairy dust, and we’re skilled at peeking behind the curtains, both literally and figuratively. I had no concerns about remaining objective.

My itinerary was arranged so that I could sample three different areas, beginning with a return to the scene of the crime (Signature Room), followed by a night in a newly-renovated timeshare unit, capped by a final evening in one of Westgate’s uniquely-designed mega-suites on the 29th floor.

Along with those lodging arrangements, I was invited to attend a luncheon with members of the marketing team, be their guest for dinner at the newly-opened Edge Steakhouse, and visit the uniquely conceived Concierge Lounge. In between, my plan was to engage discretely with members of the staff, utilize the amenities and workout facilities, and cover as much of the expansive resort as was possible during those three days. All the while, mentally observing/comparing the vibe and atmosphere of this stay versus the initial one.

The differences were apparent as soon as I entered the property and was greeted by a pleasant staffer. There was a life in the casino…an energy that wasn’t in the air last year. Service was attentive and professional to a fault. My keys and room assignment, much like before, were arranged with little wait and splendid efficiency. The Y-shaped layout of the resort (North, Central and South towers) is intuitive and easy to follow, and I had no trouble finding my room on the 24th floor.

Where housekeeping and maintenance had been woefully inadequate in the past, this time, I found the Signature Room to be clean, dust-free, and without issues in functionality and appearance. Where once was a cheap desk, there was currently a sturdy built-in overlooking the pool. Chargers, outlets, and lamps were plentiful, as they should be in a hotel that historically has catered to convention-attending guests.

A shower/tub combo that had previously been badly scratched…and accented with heavily dripping faucets…was now fresh and new. The closet, well-stocked with a quality iron and board, also held two robes and guest slippers. A safe and refrigerator were added bonuses. Overall, the decor was one of old Hollywood style without trying too hard to replicate it.

Where once I complained about scratchy uncomfortable sheets, now the bedding was pleasant and enjoyable. The dressing area and vanity were brightly-lit (dimly-lit vanity areas are a frequent complaint of mine for many hotels, not just in Vegas). Air conditioning worked fine (unlike before, where a February stay felt like mid-July), but I can’t say the same about the Beyond TV in-room entertainment service…only because I neglected to try it (my bad!). I did notice that the Keurig coffee maker was gone, much like the thick layer of dust and dirty windows that helped make my initial visit such a downer.

I recovered from the lack of in-room coffee by opting into Westgate’s “Go Green” program, which gives you the opportunity to skip housekeeping (and help save expenses, obviously) in return for a ten-dollar food and beverage voucher. Clearly marketed to impact the environment, this program surely benefits both the guests and resort in many ways. I enjoyed using my credit towards coffee, oatmeal, and fresh fruit at the Fortuna 24-hour cafe near the lobby.

With two nights left on this visit, it was already clear to me that much had improved at the resort, most obviously where the Signature Rooms were concerned. There was still plenty to explore and lots to experience before I was ready for a verdict on the resort as a whole, though.

One thing was already pretty certain: if this had been my initial stay at Westgate Las Vegas, that original review would have been a lot more favorable. And I probably would have added Westgate to my list of regular Vegas destinations, instead of dismissing it as an also-ran. It was gratifying to discover that things were coming together once more for this long-iconic property.

In Wednesday’s conclusion, we’ll take a look at future enhancements, the more opulent side of Westgate Las Vegas…and discover why the concept of vacation ownership (most commonly known as a “timeshare”) finally started to make sense to this writer.

Photos: [Sammasseur, Screencap from web.archive.org]

sammasseur

A fitness buff and Vegas fan. Sam enjoys shows, bargains, and cheap healthy eats.