The Ritz-Carlton, Philadelphia

“Business Hotel in City Center”

The hotel is basically a Marriott-style business hotel. It is a little bit ragged around the edges. The Staff is nice, but the hotel is often understaffed sometimes causing backs up at the front desk or bell station. So, it is a bit more like a Marriott Autograph collection hotel (old building, c… more

The hotel is basically a Marriott-style business hotel. It is a little bit ragged around the edges. The Staff is nice, but the hotel is often understaffed sometimes causing backs up at the front desk or bell station. So, it is a bit more like a Marriott Autograph collection hotel (old building, convention-style amenities). So, if you are expecting a Ritz/Four Seasons style hotel, this will be underwhelming. If you want a well-located business hotel and nothing more, this will be fine.

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“RC Philadelphia is very good, but the rooms need new carpeting & some updating, but staff, food, lobby & restaurant fab!”

Very good, hotel. Staff is very friendly building and reception a restaurant and bar are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. This was apparently an old bank and so it’s truly an awe insuring space and the staff is friendly and very accommodating! The rooms are clean and the bedding is fabulous. I’… more

Very good, hotel. Staff is very friendly building and reception a restaurant and bar are absolutely breathtakingly beautiful. This was apparently an old bank and so it’s truly an awe insuring space and the staff is friendly and very accommodating! The rooms are clean and the bedding is fabulous. I’ve been 3x in 2 yrs and each time it’s only gotten better as they continue to update.

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“A bit outdated and in need of refresh”

If you're traveling for business, this hotel is a passable option, but don't expect modern luxury. On the plus side, it sits right across from City Hall in a beautiful, historic bank building, and the room service has some great highlights like the fries and guac. The TV system is also incredibly f… more

If you're traveling for business, this hotel is a passable option, but don't expect modern luxury. On the plus side, it sits right across from City Hall in a beautiful, historic bank building, and the room service has some great highlights like the fries and guac. The TV system is also incredibly fast, even if the screen is only 42 inches. However, the property needs some serious maintenance. The rooms feel dated, the bathrooms are tired, and the wall outlets are so loose that the plugs barely stay in. Sound insulation is also an issue, as street noise easily reaches the high-20s floors. Additionally, the immediate neighborhood can feel a bit unsafe after dark. It's a solid mid-tier choice for now, but it really needs an update to stay competitive.

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“A Ritz not up to the standard”

My recent stay at this Ritz location left much to be desired. I've stayed at a few different Ritz properties and this was perhaps the one that really left me feeling that this particular location's manager needs to change their hotel's standards to match those of other Ritz properties around the wo… more

My recent stay at this Ritz location left much to be desired. I've stayed at a few different Ritz properties and this was perhaps the one that really left me feeling that this particular location's manager needs to change their hotel's standards to match those of other Ritz properties around the world. I came to visit with my adult son to visit the Christmas markets and enjoy a night in town. I'm a lifetime platinum Marriott member, Ritz credit card holder, and a marriott vacation club owner, so I've visited my fair share of Marriott properties and this welcome was anything but warm. A guest comes to the Ritz because it usually marks a special occasion, and my visit to this property felt so routine and ordinary. To begin with, the check-in at this Philadelphia location was about the same level as at a Courtyard. While other Ritz properties (Georgetown and San Juan, Puerto Rico celebrate their guests when checking in by thanking them for being a platinum level member, asking them where they're traveling from, and offering them champagne, here I was initially given a room on the 6th floor. I received welcome gift points and that's about it. When I mentioned my status and asked for an upgrade, they moved me to the 9th floor despite there being 23 floors in the building, and the staff said that the building was nowhere near being full. The room itself was clean, but it could definitely use a bit of an update and renovation. The interiors are a bit tired. The service staff were very friendly and fast; when I asked for extra coffee pods to be delivered, they arrived in less than 10 minutes, which was good but really the bare minimum. The concierge was friendly when I called to get some sightseeing tips, which I appreciated. Now, another reason we choose this Ritz is for the ambience of the hotel lobby area. Early in the morning or after a long day out and about, we come to the lobby to enjoy the space which often has historical significance like this Pantheon style building which used to be a bank. The evening we were there, the lobby sounded like a mix of a Buffalo Wild Wings and a mediocre dance club. The lobby bar Aqimero was opened up to the public since there was an Eagles game which was being broadcast on all the TVs and the bar was full of loud cheering fans. The lobby was so loud and full of non-resident guests that there wasn't room for any guests to actually sit there, let alone enjoy the lobby. We sat there for ten minutes and left to our room because we couldn't handle the noise. The next morning, around 9 AM, before the music had been turned on, we got a cup of coffee and were chatting with some other guests who happened to be from Maine, and we both discussed how obnoxiously loud the lobby had been the night before. To make up for this, guests should at least be offered breakfast on the house at the Aqimero restaurant. The front desk staff were friendly. Since the lobby was unbearably loud, my son and I took the elevator to the grand ballroom level and were curious to see the space but were soon found by security and escorted back to the lobby in a manner akin to going to the principal's office when one gets in trouble at school. If there are areas of the hotel off limits, the elevator access should be restricted. The security guard was not friendly. When a customer sees issues with the staff, that usually indicates an issue with the manager's expectations and training for their new staff. Excellence in hospitality starts from the top, and it was clear that this place is below Ritz standards. A few months earlier, my son had visited for work and stayed at the Notary, a Marriott Autograph collection hotel around the corner. We visited that lobby too and it was so pleasant and quiet on Saturday evening. I hope Marriott corporate takes a look at how this property is being managed because it needs a change. I'd be happy to discuss this further with management. Overall, this was an unsatisfactory stay and I would not recommend to others thinking about spending the night at this Ritz.

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