I came to the Sheraton Gateway LAX to plan a large...

I came to the Sheraton Gateway LAX to plan a large event as they have significant exposition space and relatively low room rates. This property was recommended to me by my travel agency as it has been updated recently by the guy who did the SLS Hotel on La Cienega in West Hollywood.

I confirmed that my dates were open and met with the entry level salesperson as the hotel had what I needed for my group which would have taken over most of their conference space and upwards of 300 rooms over a few days. This was a Monday and I was promised a bid by the next day - Tuesday. By Wends - I had to call to check on the bid with no answer. I heard nothing again until Friday when I was assured a bid was coming. It never came.

I called the property's General Manager, Michael Washington, and then heard from the Director of Sales who brought in the A-Team for a meeting. She confirmed dates, consulted with the security people on issues about the show, talked about how to show cars (part of my show) and showed me the inventory at the show. She sent me a bid complete with spelling errors and missing details. It was very much of "what we can't do for you". I asked to go over this with her on a phone meeting 1.5 weeks in and an 11:30 Wednesday meeting was set. I called the number at 11:30 and no answer. I sent an email. I heard nothing from the Director of Sales until I called her again at 3:30 that day. She starts in with the what we can't do for you and her favorite line "Let me be honest with you" which she stated easily 10x in the call. If she's being honest with me at that point does this mean she's lying the other times? Stay tuned... the story only gets better.

Remember the GM? He never returned my 2 phone calls. Friday at 4:30 I hear from him with the Director of Sales on the phone to say "we are renovating our space and can't accommodate your event". Really? You made that decision in the two weeks since I reached out to you? No you didn't. You just wasted 2 weeks of time working with your hotel.

If you are planning to host an event and want professional service - RUN don't walk from the Sheraton Gateway LAX. My father always used to say in companies "the fish stinks from the head down" and you can see what you get from the Sheraton Gateway LAX. Lies, misinformation, bait-and-switch pricing (the first salesman offered me a group rate $20 less than what the director of sales offered" and more.

Buyer beware.