I usually live by the addage that if you can not sqy anything good about a thing, the best thing to is to shut up... but today I chose talk rather to keep my silence....

We are the kind of hotel guests that perhaps are easy to please, and very realistic on service expections and act on the way we should be as appropriate guests.

First let us talk about the merits:

Choosing the Sheraton brand as part of the Starwoods group would give you the confidence and assurance that the place would be pleasant as you are used to the SPG standards...

Next, the location of the hotel at Shin-Sapporo would give you the strategic position of mobility and access, less the stressful environs of the City center.

Some courteous and really helpful staff (Indonesian guy) who was very friendly and accomodating when we had trouble with our room safe.


Now the demerits:

Today, we just had the most unexpected response from the hotel reception, which actually ironic because we have already are on the third day of stay out of the ten day booking. My younger brother in particular was rudely and arrogantly brushed off as he was just about to ask an envelop to put his Japan Rail Exhange Order. This is an intolerable behavior in any hospitality business where the guests should be treated courteously. I choose to withold the name of the staff.

Asdie from this major inexcusable offense towards us, we had already signs that our stay wont have the "usual" at par standards of the SPG brand...

First, after we have checked in, we were suprised that for the very first time we were not even upgraded as a complimentary benefit of bei an SPG member. We dont ask for it...It is given.

Second, no one assisted us in our luggage, and we were left to fend for ourselves to lookfor our rooms.

Third,the first time that I experience to be in a very long line of guests awaiting to be seated for their buffet breakfast. Considering the fact that we are here for business and is very much in concern for the time.

Lastly, as the Sheraton Sapporo is Category3 for Starwoods Group,we have leveled off our expectations on the services as compared to higher categories... But still others would live to the values and objectives to make the guests feel that they belong...

In behalf of my younger brother and girlfriend, we hope that our evaluations be as objective and appropriate...

My family and I recently stayed at the Sheraton Sapporo Hotel. We were quite disappointed for a number of reasons:
1. The room was in less than good condition. Stains on the carpet, dirty fridge, holes in the curtains....well, you get the picture!
2. The bathroom was very small and looked like something out of the early 80s. Small wash basin, toilet with a broken lid and a stained bath.
3. After my son went to bed and my wife was enjoying a long bath I headed up to the top floor `Stars Bar` for a few cocktails whilst enjoying the night view. Well, I got up there to find the entrance to the bar in total darkness and the door locked! There was a small notice in Japanese which said the bar was closed (turns out it has been closed for months!) I went down to the front desk to ask about this and the staff were not even apologetic about the fact that the only hotel bar was closed on a Saturday night. I had been looking forward to the bar after reading about it and seeing pictures on the Sheraton homepage. I was told the 1st floor restaurant served drinks but when I got there I was told it was past the last order time. Oh well....I thought I would go out to a local bar but turns out there is nothing near the hotel....it is a long way out of downtown Sapporo. So, I went to the convenience store and bought a couple of drinks!
Anyway, the overall experience was bad enough to make me stay elsewhere on future trips to Sapporo. Certainly a case of 5 star room charges but 2 star facilities and staffing.

We went during the snow festival period. As a SPG gold member, the room was upgraded without request needed. We were earlier than our check-in time and when the staff learnt that we were gold members, the room was immediately available without charge!

We were given a 27th floor view in snowy hokkaido. View was splendid as the hotel is the tallest building in the area. Room was big in Japanese Standard. However, the design of the room looked dated and in need for a facelit. Not that it was damaged, but everything seemed old to us.

The heater was very warm in our room for a tropical Singaporean, and when we feedback to the concierge, immediately a fan was sent to our room. Very prompt service and attentive!

We do not know if everyone was given a choice of having breakfast at lobby (continental) or at level 30 +(we can't really remember the exact level but it's really high up) with a choice of set Japanese or Chinese breakfast.

My wife and I chose the Japanese set and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of ingrdients served. We had Snow Crab Miso soup and fresh local fish, on top of the many other side dishes!

If the hotel ever offers a choice, our suggestion is to go for the Level30+ breakfast as the view is breathtaking, with a feeling of exclusivity and prestige.

1 minus point however was that the hotel is not connected to the train station. It will be difficult to drag a luggage (especially in winter) coupled with the confusing directions from the train station to the hotel.

Lastly although this hotel is not located in Sapporo City, connection to city and airport is still very convenient. 1 suggestion will be if the hotel can offer airport shuttle, perhaps that can attract more business travelllers.

Stayed here in Feb 2011 to goto Sapporo Snow Festival. This hotel is another Japanese business hotel set up for business men and women.

Got upgraded to a deluxe room as a SPG Gold member and late checkout to 4 pm. For some unknown reason they never told me I was upgraded but I'd done a bit of research before on the room types so was aware of the upgrade. I can confirm this room had great views of the city.

Overall the experience was good. I somehow mistook this hotel for being in Sapporo but rather it was in Shin Sapporo which as mentioned before isn't far outside of Sapporo (8 min by train and about 260 yen each way max) I don't think my gf will ever forgive me as we're walking around Sapporo trying to find the hotel only to be told we're many kms away from it.

Breakfast on the ground floor was average at best. The hot food was cold however the omelet making lady was awesome. They don't stock any apple juice. When i was eating breakfast a girl next to me was being interviewed for a job which was a bit bizarre. My girlfriend really wanted to try the Japanese restaurant which probably would have been a better bet if you're after fish in the morning.

The hotel is quite old and our sink had many chips in it and the wall paper was starting to peel in some places however other than that the room was what i expected.

The room service menu is dead after 10 or so pm. It's seriously terrible. Cup noddles is about it.

I am now SPG Platinum and will be stay this hotel on a nearly fortnightly basis from the start 2011 so i look forward to seeing how they treat me from here on. If you can speak Japanese, you can find cheaper rates and better plans on their Japanese hotel website versus the English one.