We checked into the facility for a week long visit to the Ft. Lauderdale area. While the facility is quite nice, the service in many areas was not what one would expect at this level of a hotel. There are MANY young and inexperienced individuals who make up the front door and front of house staff and the housekeeping was pitiful. Most of the restaurant, beach, pool and concierge staff were ok, but that "higher level of service" one expects at this type of a facility was simply missing. Simple things like opening car and hotel doors for women, failing to clean up room issues that we identified to room service, long waits for valet service and watching many staffers texting, joking with each other like they were in a fraternity or talking on their cell phones instead of paying attention to the customer were generally annoying. I will note that the seasoned staff that we came in contact with, clearly understood the hotel buiness, the problems were more with the Gen X type individuals.
This hotel alo appears to be caught in bad situation based on lowering rates to attract new business (an issue in itself) and trying to compete with newer, trendier hotels on the strip. Perhaps these new hotels hired the good help?
I have no issue paying more for a nicer facility and a higher level of service, but this this time there was little or no value associated with the added cost of the Ritz. It will be the Four Seasons on our next visit!