FD
Filipe Drumond
Oct 25, 2025
A nice hotel overall, but lacking management presence and consistency
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Friendly Staff, but Little Leadership Visibility
Our group recently stayed at the Hilton Garden Inn in Beaverton (Portland area). Overall, it’s a nice hotel with genuinely friendly and hardworking staff. Most of our interaction was with the janitorial and breakfast teams — both kind and attentive in their roles. However, we rarely saw a manager or front desk staff checking in with guests or being visible during breakfast hours. The result was a service experience that felt kind but uncoordinated, as if no one was actively leading the team day-to-day.
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Room Comfort vs. Cleaning Standards
We stayed in Room 334, which was comfortable and well-equipped. However, the cleaning quality needs improvement. There were visible patches of grime on walls and corners, and some hair left in the bathroom. The bathroom door didn’t close properly (it kept swinging open), and the shower handle was loose — both small issues but easily fixable with better maintenance follow-up. These details suggest that inspections or quality checks may not be happening consistently.
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Common Areas Show Neglect
The lobby is beautiful and spacious, creating a strong first impression. However, that level of care doesn’t extend through the rest of the property. The carpets in the hallways and elevators were dirty, and the elevator floors and corners showed visible grime buildup. These small but noticeable details reflect what’s often called “the broken window effect” — when unattended maintenance issues begin to suggest a broader decline in standards.
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Breakfast: Inconsistent and Below Hilton Standard
Breakfast was the most disappointing part of our stay. The buffet varied significantly from day to day — sometimes only scrambled eggs with bits of ham, and other mornings including sausage, hamburger, or bacon. The overall quality felt reheated or pre-packaged, especially with items like French toast that were hard on the edges.
There was also inconsistency in presentation: one day you’d have regular plates, the next day paper plates and plastic utensils, which even changed styles throughout the week. Considering we were a group of over 20 people who made a substantial investment, the breakfast experience felt well below Hilton expectations.
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Fitness Room: A Bright Spot
The gym facilities were very good — clean, well-equipped, and suitable for both cardio and weight training. For those who like to stay active while traveling, this was one of the highlights of the hotel.
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Final Thoughts: Staff Are Trying, but Leadership Is Missing
It’s worth emphasizing that the issues observed do not reflect poorly on individual cleaners or kitchen staff, who appeared to be doing their best with what they had. The underlying concern seems to be management oversight and consistency. With stronger leadership visibility, attention to detail, and regular quality control, this property could easily live up to the Hilton Garden Inn name and offer the excellent experience guests expect.