I raced up to the Executive Floor. This was my first time inside the Hilton Salt Lake City Center despite it having staked a spot downtown since 1997. The business travelers’ hotel promoting advanced tech travel was like nothing I had expected.

I’ve been inside our other downtown hotels and it’s always the usual. Big lobby, big rooms, ballrooms for conferences, a pool and gym somewhere, and one or two restaurants. I’ve attended the Build Your Own Blog Conference at the Little America, the bi-annual meetings and breakfasts at the Marriott and Hotel Monaco for the Outdoor Retailers Show and even romanced the night away at both the historic Peery and Grand America hotels. But the Hilton Center is its own convention center that you’ll never notice.

What’s New At The Hilton Salt Lake City Center

The 18-story complex on the corner of 300 South and West Temple, mere steps from Temple Square, the Salt Palace Convention Center and the sparkling City Creek Shopping Center, recently underwent a multi-million dollar renovation with little fanfare- at least it wasn’t picked up on my radar. About the only thing I knew the Hilton for was the elegant Spencer’s Steakhouse.

The relaxingly upscale, 479 modern guest rooms and 20 suites are also pet and child friendly (kids up to 18 stay free; pets are $25/nt up to $50 max). There’s 24,000 sq. ft. of flexible meeting space, including a 52-seat tiered seminar theater and a 5,000 sq. ft. pre-function foyer space; business center, outdoor and indoor decks everywhere, state-of-the-art fitness equipment, a sizeable indoor heated pool, Spencer’s and a Starbuck’s. Oh, did I forget to mention all of the happy employees who have been there for decades?

Hilton actually has a Sugar Artist:

 

All of this might still have gone unnoticed had I not been invited to attend a Tech Travel bloggers luncheon. I have the Consumer Technology Association, Techlicious and Traveling Mom to thank for sponsoring this grand introduction- in more ways than one (er, won?). The lunch was their opportunity to showcase a little culinary art, hotel architecture and tech trends for the holiday season.

At the end of the lunch there was a raffle. Don’t laugh. I joked with the ladies at my table that “If they don’t call my name, it must not be in the bowl!” Just then, the General Manager of the Hilton announced my name! I had won the grand prize of a night’s stay in the Conrad Suite, $150 to the new Eccles Theatre, $100 to City Creek, passes for ice skating at the Gallivan Center and a gift basket of delectable local snacks and treats.  The Hotel also gifted everyone there with a Spencer’s and Starbuck’s giftcard. I felt like I had just been called down on the Price is Right.

 

Hilton Salt Lake City Center Isn’t Just For Business and Tech Travel

The new renovations brought all sorts of connectedness to business travelers from plugs in the lobby furniture and high-speed wifi to keyless entry check-in where you use your smartphone as the key to your room. But here’s the deal. No, really, the DEAL. Business peeps travel during the week. You want a deal at an executive hotel like this? Stay on the weekends. You’ll find rates as low as $75/nt and all sorts of family packages. With winter (hopefully) coming, you might be looking for a place to stay on your next Utah ski trip. Even if you can’t afford the Conrad Suite, don’t overlook the Hilton Salt Lake City Center.

 

BTW, I was NOT paid to write this post! 🙂