Lobby
Spacious, at least in terms of height, and chic in design, the lobby is all curved marble and light. Walking up the skywalk from the casino feels like crossing over from a loud, party atmosphere to a quiet, meditative space. A floor-to-ceiling waterfall graces one wall as you enter; Art Deco furniture provides seating in two guest areas; and plasma TVs are plentiful. The hotel staff was efficient and friendly if long in explanation about current and future amenities.
The future amenities include a spa, conference center, theater and top-floor restaurant/live-entertainment venue. They sound wonderful, but their absence at present should be better reflected in the price for a night’s stay, especially as the newness of this or any hotel has its advantages and disadvantages.
For instance, some guests might love that “new-hotel” smell, while others might get discouraged at hitches here and there in the signature technology, slightly scuffed marble floors and stuffed up shower drains. Still, it's fun to be one of the first guests in a hotel that is clearly bent on rocking your world and perfecting the art of pampering.
Room
The hotel room is rich in luxury and high on flare, serving up “cool” design elements at every turn. For instance, the deep bathtub in the marble bathroom has a waterfall faucet; there is a rain showerhead in the glass-and-marble, enclosed shower; and the sink is an above-counter ceramic lavatory atop a designer vanity. These are the kind of novelties you might yearn for at the Great Indoors but get to spend time actually playing with during your MotorCity stay.
The large marble bathroom isn’t the only place that serves up novelty and “snazz;” the room has padded headboards, subdued lighting and technological marvels. For instance, the plasma screen display is just one step short of HAL (the supercomputer with artificial intelligence in the movie 2001: A Space Odyssey) in providing for your every need, including room service, room temperature and satellite TV. The business desk is well thought out with an ergonomic office chair. While the chairs enhance the Art Deco décor, however, they are shallow and bordering on uncomfortable.
It is clear that the MotorCity tries to think of every luxury for its guests. Turn down service includes a complimentary bottle of water and a full ice bucket – a small touch, but a nice one. Robes and slippers are also provided.
The much-touted pillow library, however, is something of a throwaway luxury. While a nice touch for someone that is pillow picky, it is not accessible enough for the average guest in that it requires a room-service type extension and service. I’d rather see a radio or CD player in the bathroom.
