Review: Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons
The Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons, Starwood's only Triad-area property, makes up for a garish exterior with a tasteful, upscale interior design (Photo credit: Sheraton Greensboro)
The Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons is the only Starwood property in North Carolina's Piedmont Triad area. The name is potentially confusing given the renowned Four Seasons luxury hotel chain which is not affiliated with Starwood. In this case, "Four Seasons" refers to the adjacent Four Seasons Towne Centre shopping mall. Recently, while in North Carolina to attend the Georgia Tech-Duke football game, I stayed at the property for the first time . Given how poorly the Jackets played that day and the constant cool, drizzly rain, I was pleased to arrive to a warm, inviting, well-appointed hotel and room.
I have driven by the Sheraton Greensboro on many occasions and was not sure what to expect when I made my reservation. The building's exterior is fairly dated thanks to its 1970s architecture. The property features multiple towers with the Sheraton branding on the second highest building and "Koury Convention Center," an attached convention complex, topping the tallest high-rise. Gaudy red neon lighting completes the unattractive exterior appearance. Fortunately, the aesthetics change drastically once you enter the lobby.
Arrival and Check-in
Registration features many check-in desks including a dedicated line for elite SPG members (click to enlarge)
Being part of a convention center, I expected to have to pay to park. Upon arrival, we pulled into a large, free lot - valet parking is available - and parked immediately adjacent to a side lobby entrance. The exterior belies an expansive lobby with a tasteful, sophisticated design featuring dark wood contrasting with beige and tans. The lobby connects to the convention center meeting area. Registration is adjacent to the valet parking entrance and a short walk from the side door. There are multiple check-in desks including a dedicated line for elite Starwood Preferred Guest members (which I am not yet one! :( ). We were quickly assigned a room in the highest tower, given the key and directions to the elevator, and on our way up to the 23rd floor.
The Room
The bathroom was understated and contemporary (click to enlarge)
Upon getting off the elevator on the 23rd floor we headed to our room...or so we thought. The highest tower is actually a triangular shaped building; though the rooms had directional signage, we did get turned around before we found our way. Once we found the room, we were greeted with decor that continued the color scheme and classiness - without some of the edginess and glitz. The bathroom was understated and contemporary. I liked the glassed-in shower as well as the placement of the water controls on the side wall.
The king size bed was comfortable and almost seemed small in the large room (click to enlarge)
Since our room was a corner of the triangle, the room shape was a little unique. The window wall angled "away" from the bed but featured great views (though there is not much to see in this part of Greensboro unless you enjoy watching traffic zoom by on Interstate 40). The king-size bed, which almost looked small in the room, was very comfortable and made a great place to relax while watching college football that evening. Though a standard room, one would have plenty of space if they were staying in Greensboro for several days and needed to spend time in the room.
Hotel Amenities
Because of the nature of our stay and the fact that I had been sick the previous 24 hours, I did not take advantage of the hotel amenities. There is a cafe in the lobby and the hotel has extensive meeting and convention facilities. The attached Joseph S. Koury Convention Center features 71 meeting rooms, the largest being over 40,000 square feet. Shopping, while not part of the hotel proper, is available literally steps across the parking lot at the Four Seasons Towne Center.
Summary
Greensboro, NC is certainly not a resort destination, but, if you are in the area, the Sheraton Greensboro at Four Seasons is a comfortable choice for your visit. While not the most appealing architecture on the outside, the interior is welcoming and nicely designed with comfortable rooms. We stayed on a weekend so rates, especially considering the quality of the property, were outstanding.
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