“A hotel that creates a lasting impression, not just another place to sleep” is the motto that staff at Motif Seattle aim to serve since its opening in June 2014. When they surprised us by replacing our lost car seat they accomplished their task of creating a lasting experience for us with their stellar customer service.
Let me share our story. We were a set of busy parents who arrived on a late night trip from the East Coast with our very energetic toddler son and took a taxi from the airport. But it was only next morning when we realized that we had left our son’s car seat in the taxi. We had a full day of sightseeing planned and this was not how we wanted to start our trip.
After calling the airport taxi company and the lost and found to see if the driver had turned it in, we were out of luck. I resorted to twitter reaching out to my fellow SheBuysTravels the only other way I knew to get some feedback on what I should do next. We decided that my husband would make a trip to a store after picking up the rental car.
Just as we were waiting at the hotel entrance to get the car keys, a hotel employee I hadn’t met earlier addressed me by name and asked if we were missing something. Should I even tell him about what happened I debated for a moment. Without waiting for my answer he smiled and said that they have something waiting for us. A brand new car seat from Cosco was waiting for us at the lobby.
The hotel staff had seen my twitter exchange and made a trip to the store for us. Since I had tweeted with them about my upcoming trip, they were aware of my twitter handle.
They insisted it was a gift and refused payment. That gesture lifted our spirits so much and made us feel so cared for. It gave us the opportunity to recover from our mistake with no setback and such a feeling of triumph.
This event was a classic example of the power of social media and how it can benefit both vendors and consumers have a more personalized experience. Thinking of all the ways the hotel could have reacted to this, the fact that a staff member took the responsibility of shopping for a car seat spoke volumes on their commitment to families.
What Works for Families at Motif Seattle
The hotel will look and feel trendy but that doesn’t mean it is only for the hip, young crowd. In addition to their amazing customer service that we experienced, the hotel is striving to make all amenities and common areas as inclusive to families.
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/ Cosmopolitan SheBuysTravel
The restaurant, Frolik has a children’s menu and sofa seating where parents with little ones can dine with ease. The outdoor bar area has shuffleboard and ping pong to keep the kids entertained while parents sip a drink.
The patio which faces the street is a nice open space for families to relax. Work has been initiated to put safety glass around the stone fire pits to make the patio more foolproof for young kids.
The hotel is also planning to launch children’s programs such as finger painting classes in the afternoon. All staff members we interacted with at the front desk and restaurant paid special attention to my son and engaged him in conversation.
The Hotel
Seattle Motif, the newest hotel in downtown Seattle is focused on chic modern design. As you walk in to the lobby you will get the feeling of walking into a modern art gallery with solid, dark colors and geometric shapes on wall art, furniture and light fixtures which seem like works of art on their own but blend well together.
Formerly known as Red Lion Hotel, the hotel underwent a three a year long $25 million renovation. With a focus on raising service standards, the staff level has also been increased and we noticed it was easy to get support at the front desk even during busy times of the day.
With its convenient location in downtown Seattle, the meeting rooms and Frolik restaurant has been a big draw for customers.
The Rooms
We stayed in a deluxe room on the 18th floor in a building with 20 floors. Nice, soft music was playing on the radio as we entered the room. The décor was modern with a splash of pink mixed with earth tones.
With a king bed, table and a sofa chair, it was very comfortable room for the three of us. Depending on the side of the building you can
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan SheBuysTravel
either get a street view or water view.
I was little disappointed at the water view as I didn’t see much at night when we arrived. But the view of the bay in the rising sun and bustling Pike Place market more than made up for it in the morning.
Mini fridge, Keurig coffee maker and bottled water are available in the room. Along with the music, a little box of chocolate truffles and fresh flowers added a nice welcome to the room.
If you’re looking for a larger room, family suites with two queen beds and a pull out couch or executive suits with king bed, a pull out couch and separate living area are available.
The average price of a deluxe room ranges from $ $145 – $225 in November to March and increases to $195 – $450 in April to October.
Amenities
Free wifi is provided with the room. But my other two must have free amenities, parking and breakfast, aren’t included. Parking is about $40 a night so you will want to factor that in when you’re deciding about transportation. A taxi from the airport to the hotel can cost around $50 but the hotel is easily accessed by public transportation as well.
You can walk to most of the attractions such as Pike Place market and downtown shopping district with big department stores like Macy’s while Seattle Center (entertainment center with the Space Needle at its focal point) is only a short taxi ride away.
There is no pool on premises but a gym with treadmills, elliptical, weights, yoga mats and Pilates equipment is available to all guests.
Dining
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan SheBuysTravel
Dining at the hotel restaurant Frolik is an exciting experience even if you don’t stay at the hotel. The dining space and bar located on the fifth floor also includes a beautifully designed outdoor space with a street view and fireplace. The restaurant is open at 6am to midnight giving easy access for parents who have early morning wake up calls or need a late night cocktail.
Comfortable sofa seating opposite big flat screen TVs was convenient for families with young kids. There are also bar tables with power outlets if you need to charge your electronics.
Since we were there for breakfast we had the choice of a buffet or ordering from an ala carte menu. If you’re hungry the buffet with a few different types of eggs, meats and baked goods will be a good choice. We really enjoyed the meal and recommend adding Frolik to your must try dinning spots in Seattle.
There is also a coffee shop that is open from morning till midnight with a full range of drinks and baked goods.
Seattle Motif is focused on creating a space that guests can enjoy and remember for a long time. Our stay at the hotel definitely confirms their motto.
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