Disclaimer: This review is about the Events Sales Team at the Epicurean, not the hotel itself.
My family chose the Epicurean as the venue for our daughter’s graduation celebration. Initially, our experience was very positive. Nicole was excellent to work with and helped us create an event that fit within our budget. The servers on the day of the event were also professional and attentive.
Unfortunately, our experience with the sales team—specifically Fatima Paz—overshadowed what should have been a memorable celebration.
From the moment Fatima became involved, there was a continual effort to upsell us on additional services and increase our spending. I understand sales; I work in sales myself. However, this felt less like helpful recommendations and more like a bait-and-switch approach. We were led to believe our event was finalized when we signed the contract, yet we were repeatedly told that we needed to add thousands of dollars in additional services to make the event successful.
The pressure only stopped after I scheduled a call and clearly stated that we would not be adding any more items—including a proposed $225 charge simply to cut and serve our daughter’s graduation cake.
The event itself went well, and we were grateful for that. However, after the event, we received an unexpected $740 beverage charge. We were told that our party of approximately 65 guests consumed 212 soft drinks during a two-hour event. We had also provided a gourmet coffee cart for our guests, making that number even more difficult to understand. According to their count, that averages more than three soft drinks per person. Some guests, including my wife and several others, didn’t have a beverage at all.
When I questioned the charge, the response was essentially, “That’s what our team counted.” At that point, there was no meaningful review process—just their word against ours. That is a frustrating position for any customer to be placed in.
What should have been a wonderful experience celebrating our daughter ultimately ended with frustration and disappointment. Nicole and the event staff helped create a great event, but the sales process and post-event billing practices left a sour taste.
For that reason, I cannot recommend the Epicurean’s event services to families, organizations, or businesses looking to host a celebration or corporate event. Local Tampa families deserve transparency, fair billing, and a planning experience free from excessive sales pressure and unexpected charges.
