ARRIVAL/CHECK-IN: After a quick drive to Philadelphia and lunch at the Union League Philadelphia with colleagues, I found my room at the Guild House was ready. The hotel doesn’t have a lobby, so I was sent a text with check-in instructions as well as the code to my room. When I arrived at the property, I had to enter the four-digit code at the front door. Once I was in, the directions sent me right to my suite, The Gabrielle. The text with the instructions and code was very helpful and made check-in smooth.

GUEST QUARTERS: As I opened the door to the Gabrielle suite, I was greeted with nautical undertones and a soothing range of blue hues. The room gave more of a studio apartment feeling than a standard hotel room. When I first walked in, there was a spacious closet on the left-hand side followed by a mini kitchen area. On the right was a spacious king-sized bed with an ample number of pillows as well as a bedside table on either side of the bed. Across from the bed sat a decent- sized smart TV and two chairs and a coffee table set up under a stunning chandelier. Next to the living area set- up was a dining table with a beautiful floral centerpiece; a bench and three chairs provided ample seating.

The bathroom was small but had a spacious walk-in shower with full-sized bottles of shampoo, conditioner and body soap. It also featured a bathrobe and plenty of towels.

The kitchenette area offered a small convection oven, coffee maker, tea kettle, plates, cups, a variety of teas and coffees, a hidden fridge stocked with beverages, and a kitchen sink in case you needed water for coffee or tea or to clean your dishes. All rooms feature complimentary WiFi, which I took advantage of to get some work done before heading to our event.

SERVICES/AMENITIES: Since there wasn’t a front desk or a lobby, the service was “invisible,” and I was given a number to text if I needed any extra assistance. I texted the number before I arrived to make sure my room was ready, and to my surprise they got back to me right away.

On the first floor the hotel had a café area where visitors could sit and get some work done or enjoy a snack and some drinks. I was only staying for a short period of time, so I didn’t have time to sit there; but when I walked in, it seemed pretty full.

TOP TAKEAWAYS:

• The close proximity to Center City Philadelphia makes it easy to walk to local attractions. Our event was at The Union League Philadelphia, and I was able to take a short five-minute walk over instead of trying to find an Uber during rush hour
• The kitchenette and apartment-like feel is perfect for longer stays in the city. You’ll feel right at home as well as have everything you need.
• The digital check-in and room code made check-in a breeze. I also didn’t have to worry about forgetting or losing my room key because I kept the code safely in my phone.

GUILD HOUSE HOTEL
1307 Locust St.
Philadelphia, PA 19107
tel 855 484 5333
guildhousehotel.com