Hilton Garden Inn ★★★★

Thank you Hilton for your unwavering high standards and wide range of services that keep even the most demanding customers (like my boss) satisfied! With three naturally-lit meeting rooms and five conference rooms equipped with sophisticated technical equipment, I didn’t have to worry about the ‘business’ aspect of our stay at all. Not only was there cutting-edge equipment, you also acted as our back office with your complimentary remote printing service and fully-functioning Wi-Fi.

The immaculate white façade of the contemporary hotel was pristine, and the charming and efficient staff were immediately on hand to greet colleagues coming from around the world (in the language of their choice) and show them to their rooms.

The rooms themselves were extremely comfortable. The specially-designed Garden Sleep System® beds with their adjustable mattresses were heavenly, and we all loved the modern style, clean lines and classy dark wood features against bright red walls. And as expected from a Hilton establishment, the hotel was absolutely spotless.

Between meetings and excursions, we made the most of the fantastic rooftop terrace with its outdoor swimming pool, as well as the well-equipped and modern Fitness Centre. Our evening meeting spot was the spa, where we received tailor-made treatments from professionally-trained therapists. The salt cave and Turkish baths were quite popular with our group, as was the relaxing whirlpool. Some of us even got our hair and makeup done before our fancy cocktail evening on the last night.

The Cube Bar and Restaurant offered excellent Southern Italian specialties with an innovative twist in the light and airy dining room. Breakfast was a regal affair with a huge buffet of fresh fruit, cold cuts, local cheeses, and pastries, plus international favourites like boiled or scrambled eggs, bacon, yoghurts, and breakfast cereals. One of our organised activities was a cooking class with the hotel chef. We set out one morning to the colourful fish and vegetable market in the historical centre of Lecce where we learnt about local produce and bought the ingredients for the typical meal we were to make from scratch back in the sparkling hotel kitchens. Delicious!

So thank you again, Mr Hilton! I can now rest assured that I’ll be chosen to organise our next company seminar – in fact, I looked forward to it if it means I get to continue travelling the world, staying in superb hotels such as the Hilton Garden Inn in Lecce!