Grand Millennium Beijing — Hotel in Beijing

Disaster stay!! I’ve been living and working in China for over 10 years, have stayed at this hotel multiple times and have had great stays. This time however was a complete disaster from start to now (I’m still here and am dreading the next few nights). Check in was fairly smooth and I was informed I had received a room upgrade; unfortunately, the room I was ‘upgraded’ to was facing south west, with a view of 3 huge buildings which resulted in the room being incredibly dark due to most sunlight being blocked. In addition to this, the room was absolutely filthy. There were dried on white water marks over every bathroom surface, the shower and bathroom window were smeared with stains, there were uncleared splashes over the bathroom walls, rim stains from cups, collections of dust in every corner, stains on the carpet. It was disgusting, an absolute disgrace in fact. We didn’t notice this initially as we went straight out after check in but when we did it made our skin crawl. I asked for it to be cleaned thoroughly and sone of it was done but the carpet stains and window smears remained. Breakfast was an underwhelming, unfriendly affair, with there being no apparent serving staff and station servers trying to give you cold, waiting food rather than cooking it fresh (both the noodle station and the egg station did this).The pool is nice to look at, very cold but looks nice. Again it was an unfriendly affair. The pool attendant was a stiff, grim faced man who clearly wasn’t happy with children playing with parents in the pool (shaking his head when we laughed or splashed, standing far too close to us, following us around the pool (even though there were only 1-2 other guests present who weren’t phased by us). The most ridiculous situation however came when it wad time to change and leave the pool. I entered the female changing room with my 2 young children (boys), to quickly and quietly change. Half way through changing the custodian cleaning was incredibly rude and told my kids to leave as ‘no men were allowed’. When I asked where they should go (we were all in a state of undress at this point)- she opened the door and indicated that they should wait half clothed on the hallway alone or should go to the male changing rooms unattended (my son is 5 years old). The harassment continued when a guest tried to translate which led to my children feeling incredibly embarrassed and again further when leaving the changing room, the grim pool attendant and another unknown male began shouting at me, from the pool side, scaring my young children. The 2 men felt it appropriate to now indicate my children were ‘too old’. The hotels absolutely ridiculous policy could have been told to me when entering the pool to avoid all this distress. I’m interested in hearing the hotels response and plan on how they equitably support single parent travelers with young children in the presence of such ridiculous swimming pool legislations. What are my options here? Get my children naked and changed at the pool side (how is this less ‘offensive’ than taking them into the changing room?). Walk them soaking wet through the cold air conditioned hotel to get sick and changed back to the room? Send them alone and unaccompanied onto a male changing room with strangers aged 5 - a massive child safeguarding issue!!). Regardless, male and female staff shouting at me, pointing fingers at my children and seeking to shame them is absolutely unacceptable. They are innocent children and should not be subjected to such ludicrous treatment due to incompressible adult prejudices. The staff should be absolutely ashamed of themselves!! Needless to say, I’m completely underwhelmed at the prospect of another 2...

I reviewed this hotel last year, when I found the service lacking. This was my review: https://en.tripadvisor.com.hk/ShowUserReviews-g294212-d1079831-r952880052-Grand_Millennium_Beijing-Beijing.html|I stayed here again because the conference I was attending was taking place at the hotel. I can’t say that the hotel experience was any better. I regret to report that it was worse. I booked an airport meet-and-greet and car service for CNY690, which was great and highly recommended for first-time visitors to Beijing. In retrospect, I should have just managed in my own. The welcome, however, was great, if pricey, considering that a ride-hail car to the hotel would be less than CNY100. It was at the hotel that the service fell apart - Well, there wasn’t really any service at all. The car drove up to the entrance and there was no doorman, no one to help with luggage, nothing. I got all the way to just before the front desk without encountering any service staff. It was only once I got near reception that the one concierge approached. It seemed to me that over the three nights I spent at the hotel, there were hardly any bell staff or concierge staff on duty. There was usually a security person by the lifts but otherwise, the lobby was often completely unmanned. The front desk, too, was lacking for staff, as well as the restaurant. It seems that the entire hotel had fewer staff on duty at any time than on my previous visits. This was pretty sad and suggested that business must be pretty bad. The food through room service and at breakfast was serviceable, not particularly good. Perhaps the best dish I had was the Hainan Chicken Rice, but considering the Grand Millennium is a Singapore brand, the dish was not all that authentic or up to the standard one would expect. The room itself was rather tired, with certain things not working or broken (eg the drain and shower/faucet switch at the tub, and the room service QR code ordering system). And despite having the “do not disturb” light on, the housekeeping staff disturbed me twice. The hotel is reasonable value for Beijing but getting less so with each visit - especially as their staff roster seems to...

I normally don’t post public complaints, but what happened at the Grand Millennium Beijing Hotel was unacceptable and must be shared especially for those expecting hospitality, professionalism, or even basic courtesy.

I did not check in to stay at this hotel. I simply used the gym and swimming pool facilities as a resident of the building. Yet the treatment I received was shocking and deeply offensive.

While checking in at the gym, I received an urgent diplomatic call from the Ambassador and had to immediately return to my apartment (Room 1603) to meet the official Embassy driver. I still had the locker bracelet on me, but I fully intended to return within minutes. Despite this, one of the female staff members ran after me shouting aggressively, demanding the bracelet back as if I was trying to steal it.

I was stunned and insulted. I told her clearly that I was coming back shortly, but she continued to shout in public. Upon returning, I was furious. I told her this behavior was unacceptable and completely disrespectful, especially toward a guest and a diplomat. She could not understand English, and even when I used translated Chinese, she couldn’t read it making the situation worse and more frustrating. I lost my temper, expressed my anger, and made it clear: this was not theft, and I was not a thief.

This wasn’t even the first rude encounter with the staff but it was certainly the worst. The hotel team shows zero understanding of international etiquette, no customer service awareness, and treats guests in a way that is humiliating and reckless.

After this disgraceful incident, I have completely cut ties with this hotel and will never return. I highly advise others especially diplomats, professionals, or anyone expecting respectful service to avoid this place.

This hotel is not worth your time, your money, or...