Gateway Hotel & Conference Center

I rate this hotel for the value/price relationship, lack of warmth in the check-in process, deficient amenities, small fitness room and tiny pillows. ||This hotel is expensive for the price paid; $329/night in this small city of Ames. The price is higher due to Homecoming weekend. ||When I checked in the agent slapped a piece of paper on the counter where I had to initial half a dozen policies (for example, no dogs) - to note that I understood them, as if I’m an unruly college student. I’m not, I’m an alum, having graduated from ISU 35 years ago. ||In my shower, someone left a sign saying the soap (body wash) is either broken or empty. Who left the sign? The prior guest? If so, why did housekeeping keep it to be visible to me? I had to go to the front desk to get a replacement. I shouldn’t have to do that. ||The fitness center was incredibly small, given this is a conference center. Three treadmills for cardio and one machine for weights. ||The pillows on the bed were very small and not luxurious.

This hotel has recently remodeled rooms which are well designed and aesthetically pleasing. Other than that, I found the rest of my stay either underwhelming or poor. I try to support non-chain hotels when possible, but my experience is exactly why many people avoid them.||The hallways feel like a 90’s office building and are hard to navigate at first. The mattress was uncomfortable. The pool was always crowded with several families “camped out” at the tables all day. The location is technically on (or adjacent to) the ISU campus, but it is a ways (and across a highway) from the main campus and athletic complex. The staff were all nice, but there were operational and service issues you don’t usually get at a chain (the servers at the restaurant were shouting across the room, there was an issue with my room account in the system, I felt like I was inconveniencing the person who checked me in, etc)||The breakfast buffet was the worst I’ve ever experienced at a hotel. The food was dry and lacked variety.||Overall, the price was fair if you’re just looking for a nice room - but don’t expect anything else. This property is certainly not comparable to any standard, full service hotel (Hilton, Marriott, Sheraton, etc) - a value chain like Holiday Inn Express is a better experience.

I know the location is convenient however this hotel is trash. While moving our daughter in over the weekend we had to lift up the toilet and press the pump down to flush, the comforters were filthy, and the tv randomly stopped working. When I tell you we will NEVER stay here, I mean it. All of this and we were offered two breakfast vouchers. If I could give zero stars I would but I had to rate in order to write the review. Run!!!! Don’t walk!! Find somewhere else to stay.