Expanded #HotelFitnessReview: Embassy Suites Portland (OR) Downtown
The weight/Peloton area of the Embassy Suites Fitness Center inside the John Steinbach Room - Christian Pizarro | CP Personal Training
Location: Portland, OR
Dates of Visit: April 17-19, 2023
Disclaimer: The hotel did not compensate me for reviewing my stay and experience.
(Cue “Feel It All Around” by Washed Out)
I don’t think I am the only one who hears the Portlandia theme song when thinking about the city of Portland. Portland is known for its pedestrian-friendly landscape and arts scene. You may see a lot of roses blooming, as well, due to its ideal climate for growth. Fitness-wise, it is the 11th fittest city in the country according to the 2023 ACSM American Fitness Index (link).
Back in April, my work in film brought me to Stumptown for a gig, meaning finding a hotel to fit four people and, most importantly, having a nice fitness center. Enter: Embassy Suites Portland Downtown. While also having an outpost near the airport, we needed to be closer to the action. As usual, this review will be in two sections: the hotel overall and the fitness experience.
The Hotel
Formerly Multnomah Hotel, Embassy Suites Portland Downtown is registered under the U.S. National Register of Historic Places and is part of its Historic Hotels of America collection. You can reserve a room on the Hilton website or their app using cash, Hilton Honors points, or both. Upon entering the lobby, I felt taken back in time with its 1920s architecture and design. Restaurants and gift shops lined the sides with surprisingly limited seating to the right.
Inside the Lobby - Christian Pizarro | CP Personal Training
In terms of rooms and amenities, this is an exceptional spot for families since most rooms include a sofa or multiple beds and FREE breakfast. This chain is known for its made-to-order omelets and various hot breakfast choices, making it a great “bang for your buck” option. I will say that the original VooDoo Doughnut is a block away if that’s more your speed. As written in the last blog post, the ODB is my favorite.
We could fit four people in our room: two queen beds and a sofa bed at $282 a night. It is a bit pricey but less than booking two rooms. Luckily, three members of our group were family, so there were no awkward moments. You had to use your key card to access the elevator, preventing any wanderers from entering any floor, let alone your room.
Let’s talk about the elephant in the room concerning the city. Portland’s problems with homelessness and crime have been well-recorded. I saw at least one person walk inside carrying a garbage bag full of stuff and wandering the lobby. He had to leave. This incident might explain the limited amount of furniture in the lobby. A news report was published the day I arrived, citing the outdoor retailer REI closing its doors in the Pearl District due to crime. For anyone traveling to Portland, I recommend taking rideshare transportation from the airport instead of renting a car to prevent break-ins. I would also advise walking in groups in the evening if you are coming from dining or entertainment.
The Fitness Center
All the cardio options at the Embassy Suites Portland Downtown - Christian Pizarro | CP Personal Training
If you look at the hotel’s Hilton website, it shows an older, cramped fitness center in the gallery. I can happily confirm that they moved it to a bigger space in the lobby. Formerly a conference room, the John Steinbach room houses the recently opened fitness center. The front desk worker told me it opened last February. Needing your key card (or digital key for Hilton Honors members) to enter, the facility felt fresh and more spacious than the old one shown on the website. More modern than its predecessor, I knew the room would score higher marks than average.
Let’s go more in-depth with the functionality and atmosphere.
Cardio - 1/1
(Six Precor Treadmills, Three Precor Ellipticals, One Assault Fitness Rower, Two Peloton Bikes)
There’s no shortage of cardio machines here. Like most Hilton-branded hotels, Precor is the primary manufacturer, providing the treadmills and ellipticals. They are also newer machines with touchscreen capabilities. The rower is an Assault Fitness model. I did not utilize it, but their technology is similar to their bikes. For Peloton lovers, you have two bikes to fight over and have no excuse for missing a day!
Weights - 0.85/1
(One set of dumbbell pairs [From 5 to 75, increments of 5], Six kettlebells [From 5 to 30, increments of 5], Two benches)
The equipment was more than the average hotel fitness center. With TAG-branded dumbbells and kettlebells, a standard in most hotel facilities, the range of weights would satisfy most gym-goers. Most hotels also only go up to 50 pounds, which earns this venue extra points in my score. I would have given a full star if they provided paired kettlebells or included barbells with plates.
Space - 1/1
If you have ever stayed at an Embassy Suites and seen their fitness centers, they are typically narrow and include the same amount of equipment. This location is the exception. Formerly a conference room, the recent transformation to a fitness center meant more room to perform stretches and exercises. It felt like a modern basement home gym with neutral-colored flooring and colorful accompanying accents in the form of wallpaper next to the rower and in the weight area. Unfortunately, you cannot see through the windows in front of you if you are using a cardio machine. It did not make an impact on the score but just an observation.
Amenities - 0.5/1
Near the entrance was a water cooler, hand sanitizer, and a shelf of towels, albeit of lesser quality. No equipment-cleaning wipes were available to sanitize, thus using the towels to prevent sweat from touching the surface.
Other Equipment - 0.75/1
(Precor FTS Glide cable tower with two handles and a long bar, TAG-branded 3-in-1 plyo box, Five TAG medicine balls [four to twelve pounds, increments of two], Exercise mats [Two of them yoga-style], One medium-sized Swiss ball
With only two handles and a long bar for the tower, I hoped for extra attachments to complement the machine, like a smaller or bent bar. If you wanted to perform a more plyometric-style workout, the box and space along the machines would be your options.
Final Grade: 4.1 ⭐
Conclusion
The design and architecture in the lobby - Christian Pizarro | CP Personal Training
Overall, the fitness center felt clean and fresh, and I consider it one of the best facilities under the Embassy Suites banner. While having plenty of space to perform, more is desired to fill it. The back wall seems void of equipment, and a TRX suspension system or one of the cardio machines (rower or both Peloton bikes) can fill it. Filling the remaining space with a Smith machine or other core equipment would complete the facility.
If visiting Portland, especially with a group, consider this an accommodation option. Between the FREE breakfast and the proximity to major landmarks, including Pine Street Market and Moda Center (home of the NBA’s Trail Blazers), you will be in a great spot to explore. Other boutique hotels are in the area, but those are better fit for solo or duo travelers.
Have you stayed at this Embassy Suites or visited Portland in the past? How was your experience? Are there Portland hotels with exceptional fitness centers, and would you like me to review them? Leave your suggestions or thoughts in the comments section below!
To book a room or for more information about the property, click here. I do not receive any commission from Embassy Suites or Hilton Worldwide for .
To experience other Hotel Fitness Center Reviews, follow my Instagram @cp.personaltraining216 and read my previous blogs about staying fit on the road by clicking here.
References
Hotels with peloton bikes. Hilton. (n.d.). https://www.hilton.com/en/p/partners/peloton/
National Trust for Historic Preservation. (n.d.). Hotel history in Portland, or: Embassy suites by Hilton Portland Downtown. Historic Hotels Worldwide. https://www.historichotels.org/us/hotels-resorts/embassy-suites-by-hilton-portland-downtown/history.php
