Mike M.
Yelp
Before you read this review, you might want to look at the rave review I gave a year ago. This was our 4th Thanksgiving spent at the Hassayampa, and we couldn't have been more disappointed. It has been one of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions, driving up from Phoenix on Thursday, dining in the Peacock room, and leaving on Friday after enjoying the lemon souffle pancakes. We have shared our wonderful experiences with many many friends who have then made trips to Hassayampa.
First, let me say I made a mistake on our reservation, and booked for Wednesday night instead of our intended Thursday night. I take responsibility for this error. However, the condescending and uncaring attitude from the desk manager set the tone for a most uncomfortable stay. She let us know in no uncertain terms that they had charged us for the room and couldn't have sold it. However, there were some cancellations for Thursday night and we were free to pay for another night which we did. When I learned that Wednesday night had not been full, and I shared that fact with the desk manager, she reluctantly gave us a discount, I say reluctantly because it wasn't offered until I alerted her to the empty rooms the night before. When we had asked her if there was anything she could do to help us, she actually used the elementary school canard, "If I would do this for you, I would have to do this for everyone."
We had always been impressed that this beautiful, clean, and historic hotel had seemingly been run by 20-somethings who have always had such a fun, caring, and hospitable energy and spirit. This was not in evidence this year. The desk manager's martinet attitude, grim visage, and unkempt appearance seemed to us to permeate throughout the staff.
We had reservations for the 4:30 seating for Thanksgiving dinner and were the first in line at the door. This same desk manager was now in charge of the seating and had a hand written list of the reservations. Instead of seating first in line, she seated in the order on her seemingly arbitrary list. When it came to our turn to be seated, she informed the hostess where to seat us--at a 2-top (table 31). Since there were only the 2 of us, I might have understood, except there were 2 booths who had only 2 people, and there were 2 other booths and four 4-tops which remained empty through most of our meal.
Our server, Leah was wonderful and most of the turkey meal was fine, except for my turkey which looked like it was ground. I pointed this out to Leah who agreed and offered to return it.
Fifty years ago, my partner and I had an office across the street from a McDonalds, the only fast food place for miles, and we ate lunch there at least 2 or 3 days a week. When a certain manager was on duty, everything was chaos. When she wasn't, everything ran smoothly.
I hadn't thought of that for years until this week at the Hassayampa. In years past, the dinner seating seemed very efficient, with the hostess seating everyone. This year, everyone seemed afraid of this desk manager, and the seating was inefficient. When we finished and were sitting in the lobby, the couple next to us had a 6:30 reservation, and hadn't been yet called by 7:20 when we left.
We have so enjoyed the Hassayampa in the past, and it is sad when it can deteriorate so quickly with the wrong person in charge.