Here's my check-in experience (pros and cons), hoping it helps others planning to book! Also, a special shout-out to the front desk and restaurant staff.
**Cons & Issues:**
1. **Mini-bar in the Executive Floor room was empty.** First, a thank you to the hotel for the so-called 'welcome fruit' (see picture). I checked in around 2 PM, and it arrived after 6 PM. I'm not sure how to accurately describe this 'welcome fruit' – I guess it's a matter of perspective. The cookies were exposed to the air. No knife or fork, so how was I supposed to eat that kiwi? The key is, the kiwi was unripe and completely inedible! There were 4 kumquats; my family member tried one and said it was very sour. I drank the bottle of soda. Overall, it felt like they were just trying to get rid of guests. It would have been better not to send anything at all. (The only positive: the male staff member who delivered the welcome fruit was polite and gentle.)
Personally, I believe you have to give a little to get a little. The hotel shouldn't solely focus on cost-cutting. The room didn't even have a coffee machine, only offering four very ordinary bottles of purified water (not even mineral water), which cost pennies. For similar-priced birthday or anniversary trips, I'd recommend a nearby InterContinental hotel. While slightly more expensive, they value guest relationships much more. At the very least, their welcome fruit isn't like this; they don't just brush guests off. I chose to stay at the Renaissance mainly because of its proximity to the mall.
2. **Later, I noticed that the hotel's responses to all guest feedback on Trip.com were generic, just copy-pasted.** It feels like the hotel doesn't value or care about the guest experience at all. It seems they don't even bother to read, follow up, or improve based on feedback.
3. **The air conditioning didn't feel cool!** (Multiple guests have mentioned this issue in hotel reviews.) I'm worried it will be hot during the summer. I'm not someone who likes a lot of AC; normally, I set it to 25-26 degrees in other hotels or at home. However, I'm unsure if there's an issue with the Renaissance hotel's AC. I had to set it to the lowest temperature, 20 degrees, to feel comfortable (the green rooms' lowest setting is 20 degrees – I was honored to stay in a green floor room this time, protecting the environment and loving our planet is everyone's responsibility!). I'm thinking, if someone like me, who dislikes AC, needs to set it to 20 degrees to feel just right, then those who prefer stronger AC or are a bit more 'full-figured' would definitely feel hot and uncomfortable! That's why my family said they felt so hot.
4. **The breakfast buffet was acceptable, but I personally felt it was also a bit of a cost-cutting effort; the dishes weren't anything special.** I heard that the weekend dinner buffet has also gotten worse, incomparable to previous years.
Additionally, all the porridge dishes felt clumpy and mushy. I got a bowl of plain porridge, hoping to cleanse my system, but it didn't feel like I was drinking porridge at all.
Today is a weekday, so there weren't too many people, and the overall dining experience was fine! If it's a weekend, especially a holiday, dining there really feels like being in a wet market, as I experienced last time. The restaurant's layout design seems a bit problematic; it's like a grand, but slightly chaotic, canteen, mainly because they've added many extra tables and chairs in the central area. Also, the food stations are concentrated on one side, without a circular flow design for traffic. When it's crowded on holidays, it feels quite congested, and you constantly have to move aside for others.
5. **The locker wristband provided by the fitness center looked like this (see picture).** It told me it was locker #17. This was the first time I've encountered a locker key like this! It felt like I was in a gym in a rural-urban fringe area; I think even a county gym wouldn't have locker keys like this. To borrow a locker key, besides filling out your name and room number and swiping your room card, the staff also asked guests to write their phone number on the registration card. This was a first for me. A registration card with a guest's name, room number, and phone number could pose privacy concerns if not handled properly!
**Pros & Highlights:**
1. **Arrived at the main entrance around 2 PM on the 15th!** The staff member in the black T-shirt at the door was very polite! He actively greeted us and helped open the car door. On the morning of the 16th, when checking out, I met another male staff member wearing glasses and a black T-shirt who was also excellent – proactive in opening the car door and very polite. Their concierge service is indeed impressive! Better than many hotels! Definitely not 'rural-urban fringe' standard!
2. **The female front desk staff member, Yannis, was very polite.** She actively greeted us, handed over documents with both hands, and was professional throughout the service process! Her attitude was excellent! You could tell she wasn't pretentious. Very cultured.
*P.S.: But not all staff are like her. The two front desk staff I encountered during my last stay didn't have her level of refinement.*
3. **However, the overall service at the R Bar & Grill (Riyue Terrace Western Restaurant) was very good.** Most of the staff were well-mannered; they would always say something before clearing plates, not just abruptly reach out. Especially the young girl with glasses who was responsible for seating on the morning of the 16th – very polite! You could tell she was genuinely kind and not pretentious. She was also very respectful to our elders. It's clear that the responsible manager has good management skills!
4. **Around 10 AM on the 16th, as I was about to drop my room card into the express check-out box, I met a beautiful lady at the concierge desk who asked me to hand her my room card.** She was very polite! Thank you!
April 16, 2026
Original TextTranslation provided by Google
