KatiesMom, I am totally positive you will have another outstanding and wonderful experience at the Sofitel to report! Before a trip, I also usually put service lower on my list in general when comparing 2-3 places on the short list. If I never needed service on trips, it would stay lowest on priority. But darn it, sometimes I need it. Then, after a trip I'll remember a great service interaction more than what the room was like. And people's attitudes encountered matter. Like the TSA guy who was extra kind to me, yet he was not at all nice to an elderly man who was moving a little too slowly for TSA guy. So I asked TSA guy, "When you are his age, do you think you will need more time than he does, or less time?" Suggestion for the Sofitel NYC and a must when traveling across the pond: If you use 2 wash cloths a day (AM shower, wash face in PM, or vice-versa) and especially if you are not traveling alone, bring some old washcloths from home that you wouldn't mind throwing away, or buy a 5-pack of low-quality thin ones from Walmart. Then, when you need more, you don't need to call or wait for service. If you don't need them they can stay in the suitcase or cushion something you buy. I've also become much pickier about location, especially when traveling alone. I'd choose a much older or not as freshly designed hotel (like the Marriott Marquis) vs the Sofitel because I feel it's in a slightly better location. It's just one of those landmarks you see multiple times when you visit a place - when I'm in Times Square and I go from point a to point b, or b to c, I always seem to walk near it, cut through it, etc. As a brand vs other hotel brands, Marriott seems to do a great job with staff training across every segment of their brand. If the location I need or want to stay in only has 3-star hotels, I'll pick the Marriott. That being said, the Marriott Marquis Times Square has been just OK in terms of service. But their location is killer. Last time I was in NYC it was during Fleet Week. It's astounding what a consistent brand of politeness all of the military guys there exhibited in their interactions. Not just the ones working the exhibitions. Also the ones just 'on the street' in Times Square. Ma'am this and ma'am that. Makes me stand up straighter ;-).