Highlights: The Townsend Hotel

•Located in the trendy suburban town of Birmingham, The Townsend Hotel boasts one of the Detroit area’s most desirable locations

•Efficient and gracious staff service

•Guest rooms are appointed in a tasteful, traditional style with spacious marble bathrooms, luxurious linens, and super-comfortable beds

•Rugby Grille is a popular spot for “power” meals

•24-hour business center and ample space for meetings and conferences

•Many celebrities and sports figures stay here while in town, so there is high potential for celebrity sightings and, in general, good people-watching

Amenities: The Townsend Hotel

• 152 rooms, 4 story. Pets accepted, some restrictions; fee. Check-in 4 pm, check-out Noon. High-speed Internet access. Restaurant, bar. Fitness room. Airport transportation available. Business center. Credit cards accepted.

General Impressions: The Townsend Hotel

Located on a quiet side street in fashionable downtown Birmingham, about 25 minutes north of Detroit, The Townsend Hotel is a favorite haunt of top executives and visiting celebrities, including Paul McCartney, basketball superstar Shaquille O’Neill, and New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner.

The Townsend Hotel boasts arguably the most desirable location of all Detroit’s top hotels -- especially for those with business in town or who enjoy upscale surroundings. Just steps from The Townsend’s unpretentious office building-like exterior, pedestrian-friendly downtown Birmingham attracts crowds of all ages, including cell-phone toting teenagers, stylish couples, and stroller-pushing families, to its lively cafes and coffee houses, bistros and bars, movie theaters, art galleries, jewelry shops, and one-of-a-kind boutiques. A short cab ride away, the Somerset Collection, an elegant indoor shopping emporium, offers retail therapy in such chic shops as Tiffany, Cartier, Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Brooks Brothers, and Saks Fifth Avenue.

The first thing I noticed about The Townsend Hotel was a steady stream of expensive cars -- from a ritzy, black Mercedes Benz and silver Porsche Carreras to the occasional sunflower-yellow Lotus convertible -- either checking in curbside with a uniformed valet or parked out front near attractive flower-boxes. When you enter the lobby, you’ll be impressed with its glittering chandelier, cherry wood wall panels, and traditional couches and chairs surrounding the fireplace.

Business travelers are pampered with a fully equipped 24-hour business center and 30,000-plus square feet of function space ranging from an intimate boardroom meeting for 16 to an elegant dinner for hundreds. The staff has event planners and audiovisual support services to help you plan before you arrive, and continue to tend to the smallest of details in the midst of your event.

Getaway travelers will find much to do since this elegant gem is located amid parks, designer shops and galleries that can keep you busy for days. Romantic travelers can arrange for rose-petal turndowns and in-room massages to personalize their visit and arrange for the utmost privacy.

While there’s no pool and no special services for children, I found that families are still welcome and will find other amenities to suit them. Several little girls, clad in birthday party boas and sparkling tiaras, were spotted enjoying afternoon high-tea, complete with fancy china, white linens, and scones with clotted cream, in the hotel’s genteel main lobby graced by a crystal chandelier, fetching floral arrangements, and a cozy fireplace. Duncan, one of three pianists who play during afternoon tea service Tuesday through Saturday, responded to special requests, including “Happy Birthday.”

The Townsend blends refined style with comfort, and prides itself on customized service. The hotel guarantees anonymity to the point that each staff member must sign a “confidentiality agreement” pledging to protect the privacy of its famous guests. When I asked a solicitous waiter at afternoon tea what celebrities had stayed there, he politely demurred.

Valets in gold-buttoned, double-breasted long coats, tuxedoed waiters, and crisply dressed front desk clerks, bellstaff, reservation agents, and concierge staff do their best to meet guests’ needs and generally succeed, though I encountered a few glitches along the way that easily could be improved with training.

I found the well-appointed standard rooms and junior luxury suite each comfortable and roomy. Done in pale shades of blue, yellow, beige, and white, they feature traditional furnishings with rich fabric and gleaming wood, plush and plentiful towels and bathrobes, and super-comfy beds with high thread-count Egyptian sheets and custom Italian-made duvet covers.

(+) Good location with lovely ambiance and attentive staff to suit all types of travelers

Guest Services: The Townsend Hotel

The Townsend Hotel staff does it best to cater to all types of travelers. The concierge desk is consistently attentive, offering detailed shopping, gallery, and restaurant recommendations. You can take advantage of a personal trainer or workout guru to help you maintain your health and fitness routine. Families can look forward to popcorn and a tray of specialized chocolates arriving just in time for their in-room movie. Couples will be delighted with in-room massages or candlelight dinners arranged by a personal concierge.

The hotel offers 24-hour room service, valet service, and twice-daily housekeeping with excellent turndown service, including modulated lighting, fresh ice, and wrapped truffles. Terry bathrobes and slippers are provided, and in-room massages are available. You can order coffee delivered to your room at the same time you receive your wake-up call.

Although I didn’t use all of the services available, I felt special most of my stay. The reservation agent provided me with vivid descriptions of the property and what to expect. When I arrived, I was pleasantly greeted like an old friend.

The front desk staff, overall, was helpful, gracious, welcoming and friendly, with some attendants addressing me by name for that special personal touch. Valet and bell services also were efficient and eager to please.

Housekeeping did a wonderful job during turndown service, creating a relaxing atmosphere, with the curtains drawn and modulated lighting. My clothes were neatly tucked away, and toiletries were thoughtfully arranged.

While there is no in-room coffeemaker, complimentary coffee is served in the lobby until 9 am, or delivered to a guest room when requested with a wake-up call. There is no curbside cab service but the staff is helpful in arranging transportation.

(+) The concierge is knowledgeable and efficient
(+) Thoughtful turndown service sets the stage for a great night’s sleep

Guest Rooms: The Townsend Hotel

The Townsend Hotel is a U-shaped building with 150 guest rooms, including 48 luxury suites (most with balconies, a few with interior views), a two-bedroom relocation apartment, six specialty suites, two penthouse suites, and 93 standard rooms.

No matter which room you choose, you can look forward to a special retreat for rest and relaxation. The large beds are dressed in 100 percent Egyptian 300-thread count cotton sheets, custom Italian duvet covers, and 100 percent goose down overstuffed pillows that hopefully, will put you to sleep as soon as you lay your head down. An overstuffed couch with traditional lamps and a simple coffee table create a cozy sitting area off to the side, ideal for reading the newspaper or enjoying an afternoon tea. New, flat-screen replacement TVs are scheduled to be installed.

The marble bathrooms include deep-soaking tubs and a separate shower, and L’Occitane and Bulgari spa products, including the Effervescent Revitalizing Sugar Cube, thoughtfully placed on the vanity. A ring-holder is a nice touch on the big marble counter, but the old-fashioned scale has seen better days.

Most suites on the south side feature beveled glass French doors and a small balcony with wrought-iron table and chairs. Window treatments and bed coverings are in the process of being updated in a brighter palette: regal gold and reds, harvest gold and greens.

I found my room to be well appointed, with a feeling that it had been newly renovated. The furniture was in excellent condition, and an in-room iron and glossy magazines were a thoughtful touch. My bathroom featured a heavy marble counter, deep-soaking tub, and numerous products for cleansing, gels for soothing, and bath salts for soaking.

Occasional complaints surface regarding noise from air-conditioners or loud guests on busy weekends, but the hotel generally is quiet. If you are ultra-sensitive, request a north-view interior room or a north view, top-level, non-connecting room.

(+) Luxurious bedding and bathrooms are a treat
(+) Thoughtful turndown service sets the stage for a great night’s sleep

Facilities & Activities: The Townsend Hotel

It’s easy to get a full-body workout in The Townsend Hotel’s 24-hour fitness center, a bright and clean facility with state-of-the-art treadmills, elliptical machines, StairMaster, Cybex weight machines, and two stationery bikes. Make time pass faster by donning an individual headset to listen to your choice of music or watch the news or a favorite show on raised TV monitors. Afterward, browse through current magazines or newspapers and cool down with fresh fruit and chilled bottled water. Access to the center is by guest room key only, a security plus.

A block away, downtown Birmingham beckons with one-of-a-kind shopping and a lively dining and nightlife scene. For serious retail therapy, head to the Somerset Collection, a short cab-ride away. And the acclaimed Cranbrook museums, house, and gardens are a few miles north on Woodward Avenue, a busy main thoroughfare.

(+) Guests will never be bored at this well-located hotel, where leisure time can be enjoyed both inside and outside exploring the area
(-) No on-site pool

Dining & Lounge: The Townsend Hotel

In addition to 24-hour room service, The Townsend Hotel offers one restaurant, the Mobil Three-Star-rated Rugby Grille and one lounge, the Corner Bar. Afternoon tea, served in dainty, mix-and-match china, is a special treat in the lobby, Tuesday through Saturday.

The Rugby Grille, one of the Detroit area’s leading restaurants, is known for its Dover sole (more than 200 are served weekly), as well as prime center-cut steaks, caviar service, and an extensive wine list. The library-like atmosphere is comfortable and clubby with wood paneling and expert tableside service for such favorites as Caesar salads and flaming desserts. Popular for power breakfasts, lunches and dinners, the restaurant is a destination in itself for well-heeled Detroiters celebrating special occasions and Sunday brunch. A new “Light Fare” dinner menu offers trendier fare, such as a trio of Kobe beef, ahi tuna, and Angus mini-burgers with creative sauces. Waiters are efficient and conscientious and the entire staff well choreographed. Overall, was efficient and personable.

The Corner, as The Townsend Hotel’s sleek somewhat smoky lounge is called, strives for a younger, edgier crowd with a fresh sushi and sashimi bar, plus sake, fancy martinis, premium cocktails, champagne, and nightly entertainment, including live music and DJs.

When I preferred some privacy, I opted to try the 24-hour room service. My cheerful waiter brought my order in exactly 30 minutes, and the food was delicious. The presentation, however, lacked a little attention to detail, with silverware missing and a bare tray without flowers, and wasn’t as polished as service in the main dining area.

(+) Quality cuisine in a main elegant dining room and drinks in a hip lounge area
(-) Room service presentation isn’t as polished as main dining areas

Business Services: The Townsend Hotel

I found The Townsend Hotel’s business center tucked away on the third floor. Though it’s not staffed, it is open 24 hours and entry is gained by guest-room key. Unlike guest rooms, where there is a charge to use the Internet, the business center offers free Internet access.

The center is equipped with updated and good quality equipment: guests can print on laser printers and copy and send a fax for free there, rather than paying a fee at the front desk. The only thing lacking is a color printer/copier – and some colorful art on the walls. Wireless access in the hotel’s public areas is a bonus.

The hotel offers 30,000-plus square feet of function space, ranging from large formal ballrooms to meeting room salons for smaller groups. The main boardroom features a long marble table, high leather chairs, and motorized projection screen in a corporate-like room with cherry wood paneling and modern lighting.

(+) Business center, extensive meeting space cater to business travelers
(-) No staff is on hand to assist at the business center, but you can notify the concierge if you need additional help