Sheraton Bloomington Hotel

Popular with business travelers, the Sheraton Bloomington Hotel is a sleek and upscale business chain hotel that underwent a major facelift in 2015. It exudes modernity even from the outside, with slate- and charcoal-gray boxy exteriors and large mirrored windows giving clues to what sits inside. The lobby is big and modern, with a mix of cream-colored tiled floors and seats and gray patterned carpets scattered with sitting areas featuring gray, brown, and lime-green chairs. A similar design/color scheme is found in the Lela restaurant, with its dark- and light-gray chairs paired with wooden floors and brown faux-leather siding. 

Sheraton Bloomington Hotel is located in the Normandale Lake neighborhood of the Twin Cities suburb of Bloomington, right where the I-494 meets Highway 100. The area is strip mall heavy, with a handful of upper-middle-range chain hotels and lots of chain restaurants (Dairy Queen, Burger King, Subway, Chili's Grill and Bar). Braemer Golf Course is a seven-minute drive away. It's about a 15-minute drive from the hotel to both the Mall of America and the airport. Getting to both Saint Paul and to downtown Minneapolis takes about 25 minutes by car without traffic. 

The hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites that range in size from 400 to 1,000 square feet (37 to 93 square meters). The decor is nearly identical across categories, with two-toned gray patterned carpets and white, sparse walls decorated with framed-photo artwork of a model covered with lime-green flowers giving only the slightest pop of color. Amenities found across categories include flat-screen TVs, safes, irons and ironing boards, and coffeemakers with Starbucks Coffee. All are furnished with one king-size bed or two double beds topped with white bedspreads; white-and-silver tables and desk chairs; muted gray sofas; and matching blackout curtains. The bathrooms aren't nearly as modern as the living areas, with brown granite countertops that harken back to the hotel's pre-remodel days paired with shower/tub combos. All come with magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and basic toiletries. Club Level Rooms and Suites include access to the Club Lounge, with free breakfast and business amenities. Pet-friendly units with dog beds and ADA-approved accessible rooms are also available with advanced notice. 

Features are geared toward business travelers. There's a good variety of sleek event rooms ranging from 20-person conference spaces to the expansive Bloomington Ballroom, with seating for up to 500 guests, theater-style. All sorts of catering options are available, as are wedding-planning services. There's also a large, open-plan business center with computers and printing, plus lots of areas for guests to have impromptu meetings or chats. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel for all guests, as is valet and self-parking. Guests staying on the hotel's Club Level also get access to the Club Lounge, with perks such as free breakfast and evening snacks, plus additional areas to meet and work. Other features include a well-equipped, if snug, fitness center, with modern Life Fitness-brand cardio and weight-training equipment. There's no spa or pool here.

Dining options include Lela, the main restaurant featuring a big open kitchen and a sleek gray-and-white decor scheme that's similar to what's found in rooms. Breakfast is served here buffet-style, as is a special Sunday brunch, but neither are included in room rates. The restaurant also offers a fixed-price, three-course lunch menu on weekdays, plus a happy hour with all sorts of food and drink deals. Room service is available, and there's a small cafe, The Sidebar, which serves breakfast pastries and grab-and-go snacks along with coffee in the morning, plus cocktails and snacks in the afternoon and evening. A free Social Hour is held most weekday evenings.