Hilton President Kansas City

Built in the 1920s, this brick and stone building became the home of the Hilton President Kansas City hotel in 2006. Staying true to its history, the hotel has maintained or restored to former glory many of the architectural details such as the floor tiles and windows. Currently, it’s a hotel with a grand style reminiscent of the decade in which it was born. Guests step into a lobby with black and tan glossy tiles, two large chandeliers, and antique chairs and couches clustered near a grand piano. The Walnut Room, with its rich wooden columns, stained glass windows, and chandeliers mirrors the classiness of the lobby, while the Drum Room, though a bit modernized, still maintains an intimate atmosphere with a long round bar, wooden bar chairs, and black and white photographs on the walls. The owner, a collector, has displayed many artifacts from the Reagan era throughout the property. It’s a historic hotel with a sophisticated vibe, though some of the decor, like the floral-patterned carpeted hallways, is starting to look worn. Renovations are planned for 2016. Most guests are business travelers and older couples utilizing the hotel for its central location and elegant atmosphere. 

Hilton President Kansas City sits in the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City. It’s a five-minute walk to the Sprint Center, which hosts concerts and events, and a six-minute walk to the Kansas City Convention Center, making the property conveniently located for tourists and business travelers alike. The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts is an eight-minute walk away. Guests can also make use of the hotel’s free shuttle that travels within two miles of the property. Some places, like Arrowhead Stadium and Kauffman Stadium, can only be reached by car, as they are both around a 13- to 14-minute drive away. It's about a five-minute drive from Crown Center shopping mall. There are a variety of dining options on surrounding streets. And it’s around 20 minutes' drive to Kansas City International Airport. 

The guest rooms at the Hilton President Kansas City have a stately decor, though it's one that borders on dated. Dark wooden headboards and furniture, white linens, and black-and-white photographs give the rooms a sophisticated elegance. However, the green- and blue-patterned carpet, salmon-colored bed skirts, and printed plush chairs feel more old-fashioned and homey. Decor in some Suites differs from that in rooms, but all have an elegant atmosphere with chandeliers, heavy drapes, and antique furniture. Each room has a flat-screen TV, MP3 clock radio, coffee/tea facilities, ironing facilities, safe, bathrobe, bottled water (for a fee), and air-conditioning, though some guests have complained of noisy air-conditioning units. Suites have separate living room areas with couches and chairs and some, like the Reagan Suite and the Presidential Suite, have kitchenettes with full-size refrigerators, microwaves, toasters, sinks, and dishes. But note that not all rooms have good views. Bathrooms are spacious with cream tiles, patterned wallpaper, and granite sink countertops. They have showers with glass doors or shower/tub combos, toiletries, and hairdryers. 

The highlight of the hotel is its on-site bar, the Drum Room Lounge, which has been open since the early 1940s and once welcomed stars like Frank Sinatra and Patsy Cline. The bar has a daily happy hour and occasionally hosts live music. There’s also the Providence Room, serving American cuisine for lunch and dinner, and the Walnut Room, a 1940s-inspired space serving a daily breakfast buffet (for a fee). But complaints about slow service have been made. Room service and a Starbucks coffee shop are also available. The hotel offers a diverse set of meeting rooms and event spaces that cover more than 12,000 square feet, hold up to 350 people, and are fully equipped with audio-visual equipment. There’s a 24-hour business center with two computers and a printer, plus free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. The 24-hour fitness center has a range of free weights and cardio machines with TVs. The hotel runs a free shuttle service within a two-mile radius, but it costs to self-park or use the valet parking service.