The Wilshire Grand Hotel

As a current business owner, I understand the value and impact of a customer review. The purpose of this detailed review is to provide the venue with constructive feedback and the opportunity to make adjustments that could greatly improve their customer service. On Saturday, September 20, I visited this venue for the second time. My sole purpose was to leave a deposit for an event I am planning in early 2026. The day prior, I was informed that the manager I had originally been in contact with was no longer employed there and that I would instead be meeting with his partner. Upon arrival, I was immediately taken aback by the condition of the entryway. It had rained heavily in the days prior, and it appeared that water had soaked into the carpets, leaving a strong, unpleasant odor of moisture. After greeting me, the manager escorted us to his office and asked us to sit. We waited for some time as he completed work at his desk before joining us at the table. From the beginning of our conversation, his tone was unprofessional and passive-aggressive. He made multiple comments about how my information had been entered incorrectly in the system, placing full blame on the previous manager. While I initially tried to make light of the situation and emphasized that I was still interested in booking because of how much I liked the space, he continued to criticize the former manager, even sharing inappropriate internal company details about that person’s termination. The most concerning part of our interaction was when he implied that the original agreement I had made back in April 2025 might not be honored due to “cleaning up” the previous manager’s mistakes. When I expressed that I expected to rebuild trust and discuss the details of my upcoming event, he dismissed my concerns with, “I thought you’re here for a deposit—why is that necessary?” His dismissive and condescending tone made the interaction increasingly uncomfortable. Ultimately, the manager’s lack of professionalism, his unwillingness to build rapport, and his suggestion to “get over it and leave the deposit” led me to end the meeting. I thanked him for his time and left the venue. My decision not to proceed with this location was based entirely on this interaction—if the initial meeting with management felt this hostile and dismissive, I could only imagine the frustrations that might arise during event planning or on the actual event day. Thankfully, I was able to secure a much better venue nearby, one that provided a professional, welcoming, and respectful experience. The purpose of this review is not to disparage the venue but to highlight an avoidable experience. I hope this feedback helps management recognize the importance of professionalism, customer rapport, and respect in ensuring future clients do not encounter the same issues I did.