Renaissance Albany Review

A recent, quick, overnight stay at the 203-guestroom Renaissance Albany Hotel offered a perfect location for attending an event at nearby MVP Arena, and then sightseeing around the capital city the next day.

The property, which premiered under the Renaissance umbrella in 2015, is situated in a historic building originally opened in 1927 as DeWitt-Clinton Hotel, and while the property still retains a few nods to the past, it’s hardly outdated. (Still, in the latter half of last year, Capitalize Albany Corporation announced $3.5 million in planned renovations for the hotel in an effort to keep her looking her best; however, I saw no evidence of this work occurring during my stay.)

Keeping with the Renaissance brand, the hotel’s lobby is modern and eye-catching with whimsical artwork and pops of color found throughout social spaces. An American restaurant, Wellington’s, sits adjacent to the lobby, but, unfortunately, both the restaurant’s hours and room service availability were slim, so I didn’t have the chance to experience the on-site dining.

Guestroom décor is slightly more low-key with sleek, modern furnishings. My deluxe king guestroom was spacious and I appreciated the structured layout. A large entertainment area and desk juts out from the wall, separating a sitting area with a sofa from the sleeping area, giving the guestroom more of a suite-like feel and making the most of the square footage. The bathroom was likewise large, with ample vanity space and a roomy shower.

Otherwise, standard amenities were available, including an in-room safe, coffeemaker, mini fridge and WiFi.

This property’s greatest selling point, though, is its location. It sits almost directly across from both the Capitol building and MVP Arena. Walks to both were quick and easy. Exploring further afield to find restaurants and other government landmarks was equally convenient.

Convenience aside, it will be interesting to see how the anticipated renovations will enhance the hotel further and make Renaissance Albany Hotel even more of an excellent choice for visits to the capital and surrounding area.