It all started with my needing a hotel near the Ohio Theater because I was attending an evening opera performance there. However, since Columbus was hosting The Arnold Sports Festival that weekend, the prices at every downtown hotel were exorbitant. I settled for the Sheraton, and got a AAA rate of $298.90 for one night. When I arrived, at 3:00 p.m., the receptionist told me that even though my “corner room” wasn’t ready yet I was being “upgraded”. I asked if it included breakfast and was initially told “No”. However, when I mentioned that since I was paying a premium rate for the room and felt that they could at least comp me a breakfast, a supervisor stepped in to give me a breakfast voucher. So far so good. UNTIL I went to my room and discovered that it wasn’t a corner room, but rather a standard 19th-floor room overlooking the State Capitol. Unfortunately, the windows were filthy, which considerably diminished the view. Furthermore, the room had a musty smell, the carpet had water stains, and the wallpaper was peeling in a number of places. In addition, a light was out over the bathroom vanity, there was no wastebasket in the bathroom, and a there was hole in the bathroom drywall where the door handle bumped against it. The room’s desk had none of the hotel information (about dining, gym facilities, check-out times, laundry services, near-by attractions, etc.) typical of most downtown hotels. There was also no phone in the room, no bathrobe, no mini-fridge, no TV remote and no clock or radio, though there was a strange device on one of the end-tables that appeared to require insertion of a smart phone in order to make it function as a clock or a radio. I don’t have a smart phone, and didn’t have the time or energy to figure out how to make it work. The room was also a tad chilly, but when I tried to manipulate the thermostat it continued to read “62” degrees, despite my efforts to increase the temperature. Luckily it never FELT like 62 degrees. Ultimately I gave up fussing with it and headed to the receptionist to share my litany of problems with my “upgraded” room. However, with The Arnold in town, and only two staff members manning the reception area, there were always waiting lines no matter when (e.g. before the opera, after the opera, the next morning) I made an attempt to connect. Eventually I gave up. As if to add insult to injury, the pop-music Muzak in the elevators was so loud that it drowned out the voice announcing each floor. Visually-impaired guests take note. Having said all that, the bed was clean and comfortable. And the “continental breakfast”, a lavish spread which was apparently enhanced to accommodate The Arnold’s body-building attendees, was ample. My total one-night bill, including taxes and valet parking, was $396.21—nearly the most expensive hotel room I’ve ever “enjoyed”, after travelling to all 50 states and 39 countries. Decide for yourself whether this property deserves the “Sheraton” name, much less “Bonvoy by Marriott”. I’ve stayed in many Red Roof Inns that were better.…