Hilton President Kansas City Hotel

Outstanding! One of my favorite hotels which never disappoints.
Was a little worried how my digital key would work. Arrived late and it worked flawlessly for the parking and the room. Water on ice was waiting my arrival too!
Hotel has great location on power/​light district. Staff is always friendly. Room is nice and clean.
…about time I give this place a well deserving review.

Our first stay. Expensive but well kept. Our room was not as small as we had feared, since we knew this was a restoration of an older hotel. Beds were nice, the drum room lounge was packed, down off of the lobby. But no one bothered us for simply taking our drinks out into the massive two story lobby, where we sat and enjoyed the nicely done architecture.
Front desk was polite and helpful and room service was great for both dinner, great ribeye! As well as breakfast. Bacon and eggs were just like I like them. If I weren’t such a huge fan of the Crowne Plaza, we’d probably make this our new place.
Also, valets were polite, helpful and didn’t knock up our brand new Escalade, which always cheers me up! (Unlike the Ritz Carlton, Montréal… But that’s a different story!)
I’d give them 5 stars, but I reserve that for those ‘once in decade hotel experiences) I rate this hotel a top five though.

If I could have given negative stars I would. My husband had been there for 15 nights. I flew in for 48 hours. We had a significant problem with our room. The hotel manager moved us to a new room and promised complimentary drinks at the bar and Hilton points for our issues. The room they moved us to had dirty sheets — blood stains. The other logistics with moving our room were handled poorly. They never followed through with the complimentary drinks at the bar. The points were so disappointing. They damaged my personal belongings and then accused me of «making it up». It was awful. I will never stay at the hotel again. We made sure to let my husband’s client know of the issue, so they no longer send their clients and employees to the hotel. The issue with our first room — I could handle. But everything that followed was so disappointing. By the end of the first day in the hotel — I was only concerned with not letting the awful stay ruin my trip to see my husband. Thankfully it didn’t. I can afford to replace my own clothing items that they ruined. The manager we dealt with turned out to be a total disappointment. The level of service was awful. I recommend that people stay anywhere but this hotel.

If I could give a negative star, I would. We are on the 11^th floor and got to listen to a loud wedding reception until 11;33pm. Then, they apparently began tearing the stuff down, and it is currently 12:30am and it sounds as if they are dragging tables and other heavy objects across a floor. There is banging and such going on as well. Two calls to the front desk have not solved. I have recorded some of it. This is unreal. When a room is going for just over $ 200 a night I would expect MUCH better treatment. NEVER coming back to this one again. And we come to the P&L District a lot!

I love this place, located near everything, great food, great rooms, great staff, and a beautiful old building.
Great KC jazz history here, amazing room for breakfast. Nice lunch and dinner in the downstairs Providence Resturant, and super staff at the drum room bar.
This is my home away from home.
I’m going to tell you the best rooms and the best floor because I want that for myself.
By and by: We’ve had various functions here in the upstairs party rooms and they’ve always been a big success and everyone has a real good time.

This is the worst experience we have ever had at a hotel! My husband is a diamond member with Hilton so we decided to stay at this hotel for Valentine’s Day, worst decision ever! After we check out they decided to charge us for made up charges to our credit card that they had! When we checked are bill none of these charges were on the bill. Two days later more charges appeared on our account again without these charges put on our bill. We called to talk to someone and were told accounting computers were down and they couldn’t help us!!! But could still charge us! Finally talked to a manager and was told they charged us double on a bill from the bar in case we wanted to have another drink??? I guess from our house??! And that we would be refunded in two to three days? Who does that!!! Charged us for waters that were never in the room to begin with! I guess in case we get thirsty from home??? And a charge they said didn’t exist! Do t ever stay with them!!! I only put one star because I could put negative ten stars!!!

It’s located conveniently in the Power and Light District of downtown Kansas City, which is a plus.
The lobby is very cozy and welcoming once you walk in, especially with the large Christmas tree during the holiday season.
But, once you get into the elevator, you’ll notice that the hotel is pretty outdated. The room and bathroom also needs remodeling. Other than that, the room was nice and clean which is always a plus in my books.
I had the breakfast buffet located in the Walnut Room. There was a variety of food, ranging from fruits to eggs to French toast to bacon and sausages. I loved the different options but in the end, the food was just average.
Overall, I feel like the hotel served its purpose, and there wasn’t anything outstanding about it. I’d consider staying here again if I was in the area.

This is such a nice remodel of an historic property. It is nicely appointed in the original style circa 1920s. Typical of that genre, rooms are smallish but very comfortable. Lobby and mezzanine common areas are similarly furnished with period décor. The breakfast in the Walnut room is outstanding: eggs, meats and taters for the carnivore or a cold buffet for the smaller appetite which includes cereals, breads & muffins, fresh fruits, juices hard boiled eggs and smoked salmon (lox). The hotel boasts a nice bar (The Drum Room), restaurant (Providence), event areas, conference space, a 12^th floor presidential suite and the coolest old ballroom. Best of all is the location in the Power & Light District with many quality entertainment and dining choices. Our only complaint is the spotty and poor wifi. Overall, we love it. This is our 5^th or 6^th stay here.

We just returned from a four night stay for a family wedding. The staff were absolutely amazing. Although there were other events going on (real estate convention and then another wedding while we were there), staff always treated us as though our concerns and needs were important and deserved immediate attention. We were especially impressed by the Front Desk night auditor’s (Theresa’s) efforts to make sure our room was comfortable, the bellman’s (George) assistance both at the curb and with our bags, room service (Eddie?) brought breakfast to our room and then helped me to get my computer connected to the hotel’s internet, Nicole (the maid) took the time to answer questions and, again, to address concerns. I thought the rooms were a little small (but then it is an old landmark hotel) — and the service is first class! Kudos!

Stayed there for five nights in mid September in a corner junior suite. Ranged from VERY good to VERY bad with some in-​between.
First the VERY GOOD
1. The bed may have been the most comfortable bed I have slept in ANYWHERE. If I could have stayed an extra day just to lie in that bed, I would have.
2. The hotel lobby ranks as one of the more inviting and comfortable I’ve seen. Not quite the glamour of the Peabody or elegance of the Drake, but wonderfully warm. If only they had a fireplace.
3. We held a breakfast buffet for 60 people and it was sensational! Every hot item was delicious, and there was never a time the staff were not available. Kudos to their banquet department!
Now the GOOD
1. The Starbucks is very convenient and serves fresh pastries.
2. The breakfast restaurant has a good buffet with better than average coffee.
3. The junior suite is spacious and a good deal for the money.
4. The front desk staff is efficient. Some are even warm in their interaction with guests. Others are a bit cold, but efficient none-​the-​less.
5. The Drum Room Lounge is a fine hotel bar. Food is nothing remarkable, but wonderful atmosphere, and ample seating made it the spot to meet visitors.
6. The elevators are swift and reliable.
7. Though there is construction all around the hotel, the room seemed to be very well insulated. Didn’t hear a thing.
Now the BAD
1. For some crazy reason, the Starbucks closes at noon each day. Someone needs to explain that.
2. If you stay in your room past lunchtime (e.g., working on a project), housekeeping does not check to see if you want the room serviced. Thus, I missed an entire day of service. Yes, I could have called, but so could they.
3. The room keys I was given at front desk did not work. Even when I went directly to my room, the keys did not work. Must have gone through 20 keys, and had to go back to front desk several times a day. Really inexcusable.
Now the VERY BAD
1. The valet service is atrocious. When I arrived at 7 P.M., I had to park my car and come into hotel to look for someone to take the car. (And don’t assume they will help you with bags.) First two times I needed to retrieve my car, I waited more than 30 minutes each time. I finally gave up on them. Each time I came by the hotel to do the self-​park, there was no valet to be seen. And when they were present, they acted disinterested and unmotivated. Someone should just put them out of their misery.
2. There is no water pressure in the shower. I’ve seen burst arteries with more pressure. Plan on an extra 5 – 10 minutes each time you shower — more if you need to spend time on your hair.
3. Internet service is miserably slow. I’m not kidding. It’s equivalent to circa 1990’s dial-​up speed. Why they even bother providing it is a mystery.

What a disappointment! We stayed over my husband’s 40^th birthday and I had arranged for a special room service delivery to be waiting for us when we got back to our room that evening. It never happened… the hotel completely dropped the ball on it and when I went down to inquire as to what had happened they weren’t even apologetic in the least bit! Apparently the person I had made arrangements with never turned in a form… even though he assured me everything would be taken care of. Needless to say they ruined my birthday surprise for my husband. Poor customer service.

This hotel is located in the middle of downtown Kansas City. The location is fairly good in conjunction to the convention center. I would say it is about 5 blocks away. Keep in mind they are doing a lot of construction in the area so I drove around the block a couple times to figure out how to get to the front entrance due to the streets being closed. I think that they should maybe let you know that if you are staying here. The location is also in close proximity to the Power and Light district with restaurants, bars and live music.
The rooms were clean, nice and large like you would get at any other Hilton but it was obvious this is an older location. The one thing I found interesting is that the service here was not that of a regular Hilton hotel, it was subpar. The valet took forever to just come to your car to greet you. They were understaffed at the front desk. No one seemed to have any sense of urgency. But keeping that in mind and just planning extra time for everything your stay should be fine. The location is pretty good especially if you don’t have a vehicle to get around.

I spent three nights in this hotel over the weekend when I was visiting Kansas City. I was thoroughly impressed with the service I received from the front desk and the willingness from all the staff to help at any moment (large contrast to some Trip Advisor reviews I read before booking this hotel). They had everything ready to go when I checked in. The hotel’s parking garage is a bit small (I guess many guests arrive by plane + taxi rather than car), but we never had to fight for a spot. Even though the garage is detached and behind in an alley way, entering and exiting by car from the garage is easy, and the hotel is a brief 1 minute walk from the garage if you enter from the LL floor.
The room itself was large for an old hotel, and all the provided amenities were very comfortable. The room was well air-​conditioned and the plumbing was fine, except the toilet occasionally had issues flushing all the way. My biggest complaint would also be the noise from the neighboring room and hallway, in my case we were next to the elevator lobby and had an adjoining room with strangers who decided to have a loud argument at 2 in the morning so we could clearly hear their argument through the double doors separating our room. Still, the room was in excellent condition so these other issues are just part of an older building.
The hotel’s restaurant has a great breakfast option that has the build-​your-​own omelette with the breakfast bar, and this is complementary with HHonors Gold+ status. The Drum Room, the connected bar, has great cocktail and late-​night drink options with a HUGE selection of wines and spirits with a good local beer selection. Both the bar and the restaurant have very friendly and helpful staff. The hotel also is affiliated with a very nice fitness club around the block that is new and spacious. Sadly the lap pool wasn’t open yet, but it will be soon! I don’t need to go into the location of the hotel too much, since there is a lot of shopping, food, entertainment, etc. within walking distance (or a 5 minute cab).
In summary I would definitely come back to this hotel when I visit Kansas City next. The hotel staff and service was very friendly, thorough, and prompt which made a great experience. While the hotel building is old, the plumbing and thin wall complaints are probably valid but the hotel rooms are clean, well kept, and decently large. The location of this hotel is excellent, and there are a lot of places to go and a lot of activity around the hotels even on the weekends.

I spent two nights at this hotel for a business trip. The staff was incredible and I have never felt more welcomed in a hotel. Sadly — this was the best part of the experience.
Most of the problems lie with the implementation of their ‘going green’ system. The hotel rooms have new thermostats that are infrared sensors to only have cool/​heat when a person is in the room to save energy. I love the idea and I thought it was great to hear of a hotel going beyond the average setup of ‘going green’. Unfortunately, this meant that I was hot at night as the room didn’t sense me moving enough. I had one quality evening of cool air and the second evening I was lucky to have the temperature below 77. The elevators were uncomfortably warm and the floors of the hotel were warm, with the exception of the very cold lobby.
The room itself is a great room. The beds are comfortable the desk chairs are great for those who are working during their stay. The bathrooms are a little odd — my stand-​up shower was actually only a half door that blocked water closest to the showerhead. Lots of charging space and an iPod dock for all of you with the old iPhone 4s plug (non-​lighting port).
If it wasn’t for the uncomfortableness of ‘going green’ I would have given this at least a 4-​star. It’s difficult to justify spending so much to stay in a hotel and then only get satisfactory room satisfaction.

Spent four nights here as we were in Kansas City for the Yankees v Royals series.
Our room was spacious, as was our bathroom. The bed was comfortable. However the digital television was spotty at times. The rooms thermostat worked properly.
The fitness center has six machines and some medicine balls and dumbbells. They also offer a day pass to a nearby fitness facility if the on site fitness center is not to your liking.
Breakfast is served daily (for a charge), but we got lucky and were comped breakfast on Sunday. Woo Hoo !!!
The hotel is situated right by the downtown Power & Light District, so there are many bars and restaurants within walking distance.

I have been here several times and find this to be my go to hotel when I come to Kansas City. I think some folks don’t realize that this hotel is almost 100 years old. Yes, the wall are thin, yes, water pressure is sometimes low. Possibly haunted? Who knows!
This is a classy upscale hotel in the heart of downtown right next to the power and light district. The rooms are a decent size and the service is great. The bar located on the first floor serves top notch hand crafted drinks as well as some really good local craft beers. The restaurant has an excellent selection of menu items and tends to change seasonally.
So if you are looking for a staycation, cool bar or restaurant to check out or if you are an out of towner, I would strongly recommend The President.

A decent hotel, decent price, but inconsistent quality when it’s at capacity.
The rooms are fairly decent sized, I stayed here solo for work, but I could see these rooms being decent for two or so. The location is fairly convenient to the power and light in downtown KC, which is pretty much where all the restaurants and bars are. The main theatre and performances halls are also right in this area, so it’s good for that as well if you’re downtown.
However… if you’re on a top floor when the hotel is at capacity, I found that the old style hotel (with all it’s charms) also comes with old style pipes. I’ll share and upload for reference. If you’re going during a very popular time, I would recommend asking for a low floor (which i’ve had to do).

I stayed for 6 nights at the president at the end of July. The hotel is in a great location and the staff at the front desk are fantastic.
The rooms are kinda small, but it is an older hotel so that should be expected. The shower had great water pressure. The only problem was the exhaust fan was motion activated and would turn off when you were in the shower which could cause the bathroom to get steamy if the door was closed. The towels were large and perfect.
The carpet was dirty, if you wear white socks, they will be brown. Housekeeping cleans vacant rooms first and then the rooms where guests are staying over last, so your room is cleaned in the afternoon if you are staying more than one night. They don’t vacuum floors or clean the toilet or shower. Cleaning the room consists of emptying the trash, making the bed, replacing the towels and soap, and wiping off the counter. I know this for sure because I was in the room 4 of the times it was cleaned with different staff and they all cleaned quick.
The air conditioning is not good at all, when on high the room never got below 74 and it was set at 65. We went and got a fan which made it ok. We did not call the front desk because it appeared it was doing everything it could do, but was undersized for the room. The AC was blowing cold air.
The bed mattress was worn out and was like sleeping on a hill, I tried rotating the mattress and that didn’t work. We didn’t call the front desk because we didn’t want to have to change rooms. The mattress was soft and comfortable, just worn out. The room was quiet, we only heard an occasional door closing.
The TV and furnishings were nice. There is no refrigerator, and with the small size of the room it might make it crowded.
Room service is awesome and priced for the area. We had breakfast and it was perfect. We also had a snack which was also excellent. Service was fast and friendly, food was very hot and was cooked to what was requested.
Parking is valet or self park. We choose self park and it was a breeze. I would caution if you have small children to keep them close to you in the parking garage as the valets drive very fast in and out. After seeing one racing in, we became cautious with our youngster, at that speed if someone steps out from in between two cars and the valet doesn’t see you it probably is going to be a bad day for you. Pay attention to the red lights on the corners, when activated they mean a car is coming.
If they replace the mattress, get a bigger ac unit, and clean the carpet I would definitely stay at this location.

I lodged with the Hilton President, during a recent business trip for a total of seven days and six nights. The best thing about this hotel for me was its proximity to the KC convention center. The center was located only one block from the hotel. I really appreciated this because I was in attendance of a national conference being held at the convention center and I was able to quickly make it to the room and back as needed.
As for the hotel itself, upon entering you will walk into a grand lobby with high ceilings and marble floors. From the outside, the hotel is a bit underwhelming and your not exactly sure what to expect when you arrive, but it is truly classical and elegant. If you have stayed at Hilton’s before, you’ll notice that this property is a little different from the rest and we were informed that it was only recently acquired by the company after a short transition period.
The staff were all very pleasant and helpful throughout the entire stay. My employer booked the room and faxed over corresponding documentation prior to my stay. This made check-​in simple, easy and (best of all) hassle free. Front desk staff happily answered all of our questions and made suggestions for dinner each night. Internet is free if you log on as a guest each day (it was a little tricky at first because it appears to expire, but it let us log on each day for free).
We parked Valet which is recommended and you can come and go as much as you leave for twenty dollars a day. The Valet staff were probably my favorite (all but the exception of one guy who had not been on schedule until midweek and candidly asked, «do you need help?» upon reentering the hotel — after which I explained to him that I was headed to my room, he was more than hospitable for the remainder of the stay).
The hotel is an older building and the rooms are very small compared to standard size rooms in most hotels. As mentioned in several other reviews, I witnessed the loud knocking from the pipes. It went on for quite some time and we called the front desk who informed maintenance and they came to our room to fix the problem. Although it resolved the knocking one night, the next few days it resumed temporarily on and off. I could not really tell what caused the sound, but found it pointless to call the front desk for a second time. The room was spotless and each day the cleaning staff did a wonderful job keeping it tidy.
Room service was delish, had a speedy delivery and was actually reasonably priced. The serving sizes were huge. We passed the Drum Room each night, but for some reason, I never felt compelled to stop in for a drink. The breakfast buffet is open during the mornings and the hotel will sell you a $ 10.00 voucher as opposed to the standard $ 15.00 at the front desk. The food there was also good.
If you’re superstitious beware! The hotel has 13 floors and the center elevator actually stops at the 13^th floor. I found this a little strange (because I have never seen it in a hotel, most usually skip from 12^th floor to 14^th floor), but there must be some reasonable/​historical explanation, right?
Overall, I would say its a great hotel to stay in if you need to be in The Power & Light District for an event.

This Hilton was quite charming. From the brick exterior to the Walnut Room, there was a good old-​time classy feel to this particular hotel. Plus, it’s centrally located in downtown where restaurants, coffee shops, a theater, the Music Hall, and an upscale market is just a short walk away. In fact, there is a Starbucks on the premises.
There was an offer for bonus Hilton points with a Unilocal check-​in (very cool). A trainee helped us but wasn’t sure how to apply the bonus. He took down the info and said he would work with his manager to do it. The staff was very friendly.
The room was clean and spacious and the décor standard Hilton. The bed was comfortable but I wasn’t crazy about the pillows. They give you a lot of them for sure, but I found them to be way too soft and the filling moved around too easily. Even though I slept on two stacked pillows, by morning my head was essentially on the bed while the the filling had all shifted to the sides of my face.
One thing to note is that the parking structure is behind the hotel in a separate building, and you can get to it from Baltimore or 14^th by car. You’ll have to check in at the front desk before you can park there. The friendly attendant let us temporarily park in the alley while we did that because we didn’t know beforehand. As a weird side note, I don’t know if they use some sort of air freshener in the hallway leading to the parking structure, but the fragrance reminded me of cookies!
Intrigued by the Walnut Room, I had breakfast there one morning (I’ll review that separately). If something simpler is what you want, the coffee shop is on the other side of the lobby. Aside from the neighboring restaurants, Cosentino’s Downtown Market is about a block away. They have a salad bar and deli counter.
With the quality and convenience of this Hilton, I will definitely stay here again.