Was in town for the Ultra Swim event that was happening right across the street at the Mecklenberg Aquatic Center. We received a special room rate that was negotiated by SwimMac so thanks guys for that. I would have been kind of annoyed to have paid the full rate.
As many others have said they are trying to put off that The Blake is like the Mondrian or something like that but it is not. A bunch of modern furniture/interior design does not a good hotel make. (although the lobby pool table was in heavy use by many of the swim teams in attendance)
Things seemed pretty clean but the hallways smelled of carpet cleaner or something and the elevators are kinda creaky and you never know which one is coming.
Good Points:
-Bed-bigger and more comfortable than my bed at home
-Location-easy to get to where we were going and other places
-front desk received our packages and had them brought to our room
Bad Points
-the much maligned showers-I don't much love the glass wall/stand up scenario and the water temp was okay when I used it but I HATED the shower head.
-my main gripe was with the breakfast situation-breakfast was part of our room rate. The first two days we ate in the Milano "restaurant" portion from a buffet. The buffet was okay although by day 4 if I was one of the coaches or swimmers staying at the hotel I would have been pretty annoyed because it was sub par. We had vouchers for everyday including our fifth morning which was Monday but there was no breakfast to be found-whatever.
-Charging for internet/parking
I would maybe stay here again if we were attending the Swim meet but will definitely investigate other options.