Sheraton Imperial Hotel Raleigh-Durham Airport at Research Triangle Park — Hotel in Durham

I will reserve the negatives for last as the positives were much more plentiful.

Our organization utilizes the services of this facility every three years which I am sure lends some weight to the quality of the property. I was greeted immediately upon arrival by a very cordial staff with offers for assistance if needed and directed to the appropriate places accurately.

The front of the hotel was very spacious and inviting with easy access to adequate and comfortable seating and the restaurant. The parking was a bit of a hike from the entrance, but it was ok. Though it is winter, the large trees in the parking area are beautiful and I'm sure offer wonderful shade in the warmer months.

The staff worked furiously and with great attitudes to meet our needs. Their efficiency with the take down and setup of spaces was wonderfully done. Their dress was impeccable and without exception they appeared to take pride in their work. The staff at the front desk were very professional and courteous, anticipating and offering assistance on queue.

The restaurant was well staffed and the food was very good, though I did have to finally just charge one meal to my room as I could not seem to get anyone to pick up my meal check and credit card. Being able to charge the meal to my room was a nice option though and I would have used that initially had I realized it. The food was very good and the portions very satisfactory. I bought a slice of chocolate cake and it was absolutely unbelievably good. The prices were within expectations though I did think the dessert prices were a bit excessive even as good as they were.

My room was very much within the norm of what I've grown to expect most anywhere I travel. The beds were very comfortable and having a real thermostat on the wall was very nice. The temperatures were accurate and that made a significant difference in my comfort level. I haven't slept that well in a hotel in a very long time. I was disappointed that the room did not have a microwave or refrigerator, but it was only a minor inconvenience for this particular stay. Had my family been with me, it would have been a deal breaker most likely. We need access to those amenities when we travel due to food allergies. The bed cover on the second bed (which I didn't need as I was traveling alone) had what appeared to be some dried mucous on it on one side, so that was a bit disconcerting. It was fairly visible, so I'm not sure how it was missed. The very nice LG flat screen TV quit playing sound at one point, but maintenance came within minutes and had it working again in no time at all. After he left, I had to repeat the procedure two different times during the 3 day stay, but it was very easy. Just unplug and replug on the back of the TV. I was hoping for a power outlet by the bed but there weren't any. I use my phone as my alarm clock and had nowhere to plug-in the charger. It was just as well as having it across the room helped get me up promptly to turn it off. The coffee pot in the room was supplied with Starbucks coffee. The chair provided for the desk was very comfortable, one of the better ones I've had in a room in quite a while. A nice feature they offer is if you decline room service, they will give you a $5 voucher that can be used for food and beverage in the hotel. They do this for each night of your stay except for the night prior to your departure.

The ugly - If you are only staying in the hotel and eating at the restaurant, this won't apply to you, so skip this part. If you are here to attend a conference in the hotel and will be eating the food provided for the attendees, be set to be disappointed. I had three high priced ($30) meals, one at lunch and two dinners and honestly, they were terrible. One meal I didn't even recognize the protein and everyone at the table was asking what it was. We think it was meatloaf, but it was completely unappealing. The pork chops were very thin and high in gristle, very much overcooked. I was not alone in making this observation, otherwise I might just assume it was an occasional miss when serving 300-400 people and not say anything. I heard the same comments about the food at every meal by multiple people within earshot. If I had it to do over again, I would skip the mass served meals. The only redeeming thing about any of them was the service and the dessert. The desserts were basic and not the same as what is served in the restaurant, but they were ok. I have to say that of all the meals I have every purchased in a hotel setting in over 20 years, these were the worst I have ever had, bar none. I can only hope that it was a rare three days in the kitchen.

Overall, I would definitely stay at this property again, but I will not eat the mass served food without assurances of quality beforehand. The restaurant was awesome and I highly recommend it. The staff were great and a significant credit to their employers without exception.

See you in three...

I fully recognize this is a long review, but I’ve tried to keep it as objective as possible. After reading other recent reviews, I see a lot of common themes, which speaks volumes.||Having stayed at the freshly and fully renovated Sheraton Chapel Hill several times for work travel, I booked the Sheraton Imperial near RDU without hesitation based on location. Unfortunately, the two properties aren’t comparable in quality or experience—and I regret not doing a bit more research before booking.||While Sheraton Chapel Hill underwent a thoughtful, comprehensive renovation (including HVAC and infrastructure), the Sheraton Imperial feels dated, with only a surface-level refresh. The lobby shows some cosmetic updates, but the overall condition and building systems reflect significant cost-cutting and deferred maintenance.||First impressions weren’t great.|The curb appeal is lacking with overgrown landscaping, wilting flowers, dirty stonework, and no signage or welcoming presence. The vestibule and main lobby smelled musty and featured banged-up side tables.||On a positive note, the front desk team was polite, professional, and helpful throughout my stay. However, it was clear they’re used to handling room change requests which, unfortunately, became part of my experience.||My first room on the 10th floor was nearly 80 degrees with stale air and a noticeable smoky odor. I was told the hallway HVAC on upper floors wasn’t functioning and was promptly moved to the 6th floor…same issue. Only after a third room change to the 2nd floor did I get a cool, comfortable, smoke-free room.||As someone who spends 60+ nights a year in hotels, it’s rare that I need to change rooms—let alone three times in one stay. I also noticed several other guests requesting room changes at the front desk, which seemed telling.||The guest rooms show what I’d call a partial renovation. Some finishes look updated, but the HVAC units are old and noisy, the bathroom still had a stained drop ceiling, and the vanity was from a prior room design. It feels like corners were cut.||The Club Lounge was another letdown.|The space, spanning the 9th and 10th floors, was uncomfortably warm due to nonfunctioning AC. No signage acknowledged this, and a few portable AC units scattered around weren’t enough to make it pleasant. Food offerings were basic and below the standard I’ve experienced at other Sheraton lounges.||The lobby bar setup felt like an afterthought. It’s tucked awkwardly in a corner of the large lobby, with a small footprint and a worn, sticky photocopied menu. Food and drinks were average—but again, the staff was friendly.||Important to note also, there’s no gym onsite. Guests have access to the adjacent Fitness Connection via a short walk past the pool. While large, multi-level, and fully equipped, the gym is very dated and doesn’t feel like a premium amenity for a hotel in this category.||The lounge offerings were limited, with short hours, and the quality fell far below what I’ve experienced at Sheraton Chapel Hill. That property isn’t extraordinary either, but in comparison, it’s night and day.||Funnily enough, I received two welcome emails from the hotel prior to arrival, neither mentioned the HVAC issues or any service limitations with the lounge. That would have been the perfect time to set expectations. Had I known, I likely would have booked at the Marriott or Delta just up the street.||Bottom line:||This hotel has potential but is in serious need of a comprehensive renovation and not just cosmetic updates. Unless you’re in a pinch, I wouldn’t stay here or...

Please avoid staying at the Sheraton Imperial Hotel at all costs. I had a dangerous experience and believe that I was not given appropriate compensation by hotel staff.

During my stay, I rotated the shower handle and the entire fixture came off. As a result, the space previously held by the shower handle turned into a Geyser and spewed water (see photo). The room quickly flooded and water seeped out into the hallway, prompting a hotel worker to check in. At this point, I wrapped myself in a towel and the hotel worker called for backup. While support arrived, I evacuated my hotel room - all while in just my towel - and wound up carrying my belongings to a vacant room next door.

The flooding situation worsened. The hotel staff had to arrive with hundreds of towels before they could contain the leak (attached). The room to which I vacated experienced mild flooding as well. Fortunately, however, I could still use said room to ready up before leaving for a business trip.

When I returned in the evening, the front desk allowed me to move to a third room since the first two rooms were getting dried out by industrial dryers (attached). I asked the front desk person if there would be any sort of compensation for the dangerous and embarrassing situation from the morning. The receptionist said there would be no compensation but his managers might consider re-evaluating overnight.

In the morning, I spoke with the hotel manager to debrief about the incident and inform her that the flooding damaged a pair of my shoes. She was very apologetic and - in the end - offered 10k Marriott points (~$90 USD). I was somewhat taken aback, as the ordeal was terrifying and $90 is less than the cost of my now-drenched shoes. I expressed my concern and she said that she would get back to me via email.

Ultimately, the manager reached out to me via email and increased the compensation to 15k Marriott points (~$135 USD). I understand that there is likely bureaucracy that goes behind this sorts of compensation, but the fact that I had to advocate for myself in multiple instances to get what equates to less than a night's stay after going through a flood is insulting.

Beyond the major incident, I must also add that the rest of the hotel has signs of wear and tear (e.g., the elevator buttons displayed below). These defects - while likely only aesthetic - put what I can only describe as potential safety hazards further into focus.

I must add that those who responded to this unfortunate incident were all incredibly warm. I in no means intend to mitigate the many staff who rushed to help me evacuate and stop the flood.

I, however, felt compelled to document my experience given the outright safety concerns and somewhat insulting compensation...