This past weekend my wife and I attended a conference at the Renaissance Waverly and came away pleasantly surprised. I have stayed in numerous hotels in Atlanta for continuing education as well as weekend Braves games and shopping trips with my wife and have only had a better experience at the Ritz Carlton Buckhead. The staff at the Renaissance are very similar to the Ritz in that the at least act like they genuinely care about your experience at their hotel. From the valet to the check-in staff to the bellman to the housekeeping staff each employee we came in contact with had a smile and a "we are here to make your stay pleasant" attitude. You really don't see that these days very often especially at a mid-range priced hotel. The facilities are quite nice, clean and well maintained. The room (ask for a corner room if available as they are larger and have a large bank of windows) was nice, clean, well maintained, and comfortable. The a/c was quiet and worked efficiently. The bathroom was nothing special but it was clean and everything worked well. The bed was stocked with a variety of pillows and was very comfortable. Our conference included breakfast pastries and lunch and the food was outstanding for mass prepared food. The conference facilities were all very nice. The neighborhood is a typical suburban office park with plenty of space for a nice jog and seems very safe. It is a short walk to Cumberland Mall and just to the South several other shopping and restaurant venues. In summary, The Renaissance Waverly is a surprisingly nice and comfortable hotel. If you are splurging you can't go wrong with the Ritz-Carlton but for a weekend shopping trip or a home base for a Braves or Falcons game the Renaissance Waverly is an outstanding choice.

The rooms were large and well maintained. Room service was quick and efficient. Housekeeping came early. Restaurants were quick and accommodating

Every year the GACTE conference is held here and they do a stellar job with the food, check-in, housekeeping, etc. A few gripes... a ceiling tile fell on a teacher dousing her and those around her with water...the Sunday brunch music was way too loud to be able to hear it on the 10th floor with the doors closed...the outdoor pool was closed leaving only a small, 3ft deep indoor pool that was overcrowded. They definitely know how to do a conference, they just need some improvement with maintenence. I will be back next summer.

This hotel is about 12 miles from the heart of Atlanta, except during rush hours an easy enough drive on the Interstate 75. From Atlanta airport it's about 25 miles/30 mins on the perimeter highway, the 285. The hotel is situated in a developing, unincorporated suburban area called Cumberland and in what they call an "office park." It is connected to the Cobb Galleria convention center and shopping mall. The red-brick building looks formidable from the outside, a monolithic 14-floor cube devoid of architectural distinction. The rooms are accessed by glass-sided elevators and then from long galleries that surround and open onto a gigantic atrium. Aesthetically this Atriam space is grim looking, despite the overhanging (real) plants and the interior decoration of this huge public space lacks cohesion and elegance. Nothing is right about it. It's intimidatingly vast and inhumane. If you're taking breakfast in the atrium you can be viewed from all the galleries above; hardly intimate or relaxing. The bar and other dining room are better and a coffee counter near the main entrance will be appreciated by those in a hurry. The rooms, in contrast to the atrium, are tastefully decorated in muted but not bland colors. The bed in my suite -- which included a fridge, two full bathroom, a sitting room, dining area and separate bedroom -- was exceedingly comfortable. The bathroom was ordinary, much what you'd find in any hotel designed primarily for the business traveller although it did have a shaving mirror which is often omitted. There was also a weigh scale and bathrobes were provided. Water in the sink and bath emptied quickly, a pleasant surprise if you've suffered in hotels where seemingly they never take a plunger to the drains. The hotel offers a $12.95 a day or $48 per week communications package which includes high-speed internet access (ethernet), plus free local and U.S. long-distance calling. That would work well for a business person using the room as a quasi office as I was. The room air conditioning functiioned very efficiently -- essential if you're visiting in the summer -- and operated very quietly. The 2nd-floor fitness area is better equipped than in many such hotels and they give you keys for the lockers. The indoor pool is small but enough for relaxation and, if not busy, for serious laps. It also incorporates a hot whirlpool and there are chaises longes on the deck. There is a smaller outdoor pool but it is unattractive. Only dedicated sun-worshippers would be drawn to it. A sauna and steamroom outside the locker rooms are shared by both sexes. The hotel staff was uniformly courteous, friendly and responsive. The room maid did a decent enough job There are plenty of free self-park spots adjacent and valet parking is available for those who have money to burn or who find walking to their vehicle too onerous. The entire building is non-smoking (strictly enforced) although there is a designated smoking area across from the main entrance. I saw folk with drinks in hand enjoying their vice there contentedly. Overall, a functional business-person's hotel. Immediately in front of the hotel is a park with various fountains and sitting areas. Like the whole office park area, is seems very safe at all times of day and night. The large Cumberland Mall is not far away, as is a beautiful new theatre, the Cobb Energy Performing Arts Center. With its bold exterior form It actually looks like a piece of genuine architecture. It opens mid-September 2008. The CEPAC will feature touring entertainment as well as performances by Atlanta Ballet and Atlanta Opera; worth checking if you're culturally inclined.