Kelley kept repeating that she really likes the design of the Aloft hotel brand. I kept reminding her that she had only been in one Aloft Hotel previously for 15 minutes at Denver Airport a few years back when we checked in, I photographed the room and we left for the airport to catch our flight. That hotel stay was on December 30 and made my 25th stay for SPG Platinum status.
Kelley was confusing Starwood’s Aloft brand with Starwood’s extended stay Element brand. Aloft standard rooms do not have a kitchen or couch.
Cookie cutter design is not necessarily a bad thing in hotel design.
My first Aloft hotel stay was nearly five years ago. I knew what to expect from the hotel when I walked into the lobby of the Aloft Broomfield Denver located in a mixed-use business park suburban residential area between Denver and Boulder and convenient for a stay after touring Rocky Mountain National Park. Aloft Broomfield is almost identical to the first Aloft where I stayed at Portland Airport, Oregon in 2008 and every other Aloft I have seen in the meantime.
Aloft Broomfield, Colorado.
w xyz bar
The wxyz bar in the open space lobby is usually the focal point in the evening at an Aloft hotel. Aloft Broomfield at 10pm on a Thursday night was the most happening hotel bar I had seen in some time.
w xyz bar at Aloft Broomfield in the morning.
A unique feature of the Aloft hotel brand lobby design is a pool table near the bar.
The lobby is truly a communal space in Aloft hotels with the bar, pool table, lots of seating and computer stations.
Seating in Aloft lobby.
There is an outdoor patio at Aloft Broomfield. The rain was coming down hard when we arrived at the hotel. The skies were clear the next morning.
Aloft Broomfield patio.
The primary differences between Element and Aloft is the smaller room in Aloft, no kitchen in Aloft rooms and no free breakfast at Aloft. The Aloft hotels offer a small market and a few hot items available for order.
Food items for purchase at Aloft included a few hot items like a breakfast wrap starting at $5.00. Sandwich and drink combo was $8.00.
Food snacks and beverages are available 24/7.
Complimentary coffee in lobby.
The compact room has a coffee maker too.
Swimming pool and fitness room are located off lobby.
Reception area in lobby.
The sign in the hotel elevator indicates there are now more than 60 Aloft Hotels worldwide. An interesting note on the two elevators is this is the only hotel I ever recall seeing elevator buttons work independently of each other. To get the fastest elevator service meant pressing the two buttons on both sides of the hall.
Aloft hallway with brand’s signature color pattern over hallway lighting and lights along the floor. The Aloft Broomfield seemed to be the largest Aloft hotel I have seen.
I could pull up photos from several other Aloft Hotels and show a pristine room. I have always thought the room is too small for two people to stay comfortably. Since my wife Kelley does not mind hanging out in bed, the one desk chair was adequate for my needs.
The only differences between the Aloft Broomfield room that I noticed from others was the view outside and the clock on the right side of the bed when it is usually on the left side at other Aloft hotels I have stayed.
The bench beneath the TV is the only room seating besides the desk chair and bed. Three people hanging out in one of these rooms is too much company.
Aloft Bloomfield has suites. I have never seen an Aloft suite before.
Bathroom counter and closet space reflected in mirror.
Refrigerator below bathroom sink.
Closet, coffee maker and safe.
Aloft rooms only have a glass door shower stall. Large refillable containers of soap and shampoo are wall mounted.
Aloft Broomfield.
My $79 stay at the Aloft Broomfield on a Thursday night was the lowest priced Denver area hotel in the Starwood chain by almost half of the next lowest rate. The hotel is SPG category 3 at 7,000 points for a standard award night or Cash & Points for $55 + 3,500 points.
Aloft logo.
Related Loyalty Traveler posts:
Aloft Portland Airport Cascade Station (Nov 6, 2008) – this post has detailed photos of room design.
Ric Garrido, writer and owner of Loyalty Traveler, shares news and views on hotels, hotel loyalty programs and vacation destinations for frequent guests.
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