I am not the competition, nor is it my first time in India or Chennai, but I do know what I just experienced at the Park Chennai , and it wasn't similar to all the stars other evaluators give this hotel. Some might say that the Park is a good value, but for the rate I paid (and I had a local Indian colleague book so I wouldn't incur the ghora rate) the Park was no great deal for cost, cleanliness, or value. The lobby is nice and the Leather bar is OK, crowded, and smokey. The exterior seats were dirty, the tables covered with dust- and it wasn't incidental that they were serving outside that evening.

While the hallways are not filthy, the carpets show some signs of wear and the walls are smudged and marked- I do not know if there is an amazing floor in this hotel I have not seen before, but the place shows wear. The rooms are adequate size but the bathroom showed a good bit of wear and tear complete with thin lines of black mold in some of the bath caulk. The most novel thing is the bath door, which can shut closed either the entire bathroom or the WC alone. Beds were decently comfortable but the slippers provided at bedside had most obviously been worn before. TV and work area were good, temp control functional.

If what I just described strikes you as an ordinary hotel- that's the point. There is a Taj, Hyatt, Hilton, Sofitel, Marriott standard of quality that regularly assures (there are exceptions) cleanliness and quality to a high level deserving of "excellent" as the ratings go here at Trip Advisor. This is an ordinary hotel with a few cool features and a desire to be very trendy. If you are looking for 4 or 5 star by industry standards or Tripadvisor standards this is not the place. Average hotel, average food- won't probably stay again unless most of everthing else is booked in town.

I was there Saturday night and thoroughly enjoyed the place. The rooms and corridors were sparkling and bright. The dinner buffet was incredible with North and South Indian vegetarian and non-vegetarian as well as a nice selection of European food and a great dessert table. Very nice red and white wines.

Service was great, the manager was with us all evening and couldn't have been nicer. There were NO stains, mouldy smells or anything like that AT ALL.

I really cannot see what all the complaining is about. Maybe the competition writes the bad reviews. I have NO complaints of any kind and thought it a delight.

I stay at the Park several times a year on business. Every time I walk in I am greeted by name and treated like a queen. I stay on the residency floor (the business floor) and the staff there is outstanding. My room is always perfect (in fact, they give me the same one every time!) and clean. The big draw to the park is the food and the Leather Bar. Lotus is one of the best restaurants in Chennai, and the scene is always going at the Leather Bar. I wouldn't even think of staying anywhere else in Chennai! I look forward to my stay there every time.

p.s. I've never had an issue with the damp room!

We second a majority of the reviews I saw. Pretty grungy rooms for high prices, service not good, understaffed at the front desk (and not friendly or professional). One plus side was the pool restaurant at night, but next day in daylight we were able to see how worn everything was.