First, the entire staff is amicable, and the true goal of any investment is to make more money than…read moreyou put in. Since there isn't much competition for hotels in Shawano, the owner may feel complacency is good, but in this case, it's not.
So, based on the filled hotel parking lot, the owner of the Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels - Shawano is making a steady profit but still needs to care about the customer experience.
When you enter the vestibule, you notice a weird odor, and then, as you enter the lobby, you'll smell the chlorine from the pool across from the service desk; from that point, you'll catch an odd scent throughout the hallways. It smelled like roast beef.
So, let me confirm a review from Yelper Marie A. posted on 6/28/2016, "Upon checking in and arriving in our room, we could smell smoke a lot of cigarette smoke."
It is still present after all these years, regardless of how hard the staff attempted to cover it up. I woke up the following day, and my eyes were itchy, red, burning, crusted shut, and had a clear, watery discharge. My throat was irritated, and I started wheezing as I breathed; it cleared up after we left the hotel.
Next, another Yelper posted on 10/23/2016, "Friendly staff. Quiet. Very clean. But time for upgrades in public areas as carpets are worn and dirty. The room was okay. Clean. Carpets are very worn and stained. Wallpaper coming apart in shower. Hotel in need of a fresh new look."
Again, the staff was excellent, and everything mentioned above is factual, even after eight years--zero effort in upgrades.
In addition to those mentioned above, I encountered a heavily stained sofa and chair. The chair had significant tear marks on the arms. Put it this way: the chair was so bad that I've thrown out better furniture in the past. The carpet in the elevator is covering old, worn-out carpet. The dresser and end tables were heavily scratched down to bare wood.
Furthermore, if you look at the photos on Yelp dating back to May 2015, very little has changed with the furniture. Again, with the complacency.
I took a black light to the bed and chairs and did not encounter bed bugs but saw a deceased wandering weevil by the tub. While I want to avoid getting sidetracked, these flashlights can range in price from $10 to $50, depending on their quality and features. They're a good investment if you travel.
Okay, back on topic, I've been looking for another moderately priced, budget midscale hotel that can compete with Embassy Suites, Hampton Inn, and Drury Inn. Well, it's painfully apparent that Boarders Inn & Suites by Cobblestone Hotels isn't that chain.
Finally, there is a search engine that everyone is familiar with, and the ratings are significantly high for this location, but trust Yelp to guide you with facts, not fiction.
Please see my photos for further details.