Hilton Rotterdam {NLD}

Old Feb 25, 2011, 6:03 am
  #31  
 
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Hilton Rotterdam lets coworker into my room

I'm staying at the Hilton Rotterdam. Today I got in after some early morning work, extremely tired, and went to take a nap. Slept through meeting with a coworker for lunch. I guess they called my room and I didn't answer (as I wear earplugs to sleep during the day, since road noise is loud).

For some reason, this coworker was insistent, and asked the hotel to let him into my room, which they did. The do not disturb sign was out (though the door was unchained). He came in and woke me from my sleep. He is nowhere on the reservation nor is he even staying at this hotel. I had not seen him in approximately 3 hours, so there was likely no reason to be concerned about my welfare.

I found this to be a gross violation of my privacy by the hotel. I've never been told a colleague's room number, even - let alone walked to their room and let in. My mind went through a few choice phrases in those first few minutes. The manager will hear about this, and I'm not one to lightly complain.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 7:03 am
  #32  
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Let me guess... Your co-worker is a sales rep and very good talker.

This is totally unacceptable on the part of the hotel, and your co-worker. Definately have a chat with the GM about hotel policy. I'm not sure if there is any amount of compensation to cover, but a very sincere appology is the very least.

Welfare checks are appropriate when warranted, but a 3-hour "escape" is not unreasonable at all. I'm sure your co-worker is responsible for the "override" of reason. Keep that in mind when talking with the GM. A chat with your co-worker is appropriate too.

Years ago I was stuck in an elevator while on a trip with family. My sister was outside playing up the urgency to get me out. The MOD offered up a free meal for everyone (7 people) and checked up on us later. I was enjoying the solitude and occasional chat with the engineer on the telephone.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 7:36 am
  #33  
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Originally Posted by dartagnan
...Slept through meeting with a coworker for lunch... For some reason, this coworker was insistent ... so there was likely no reason to be concerned about my welfare.
I think there's a small reason noted there - you didn't turn up for a meeting with said co-worker.

This is more of a co-worker discussion than a hotel one [assuming that hotel staff walked him up and into your room, rather than just giving him a key].

Imagine the FD staff position if someone comes to them and says 'my colleague is staying here and didn't turn up for our meeting and I'm really worried that they're okay' then there's no answer to repeated phone calls to your room. If they had ignored this, and you'd been ill/incapacitated, they would be in very much more trouble than they are with you....impossible situation. Going to your room with the colleague to check is surely their only course of action.

If they just gave him the key to your room, then I agree with the very strong complaint to the GM - that's massively out of line.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 8:23 am
  #34  
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I agree with Stewie Mac. When presented with someone concerned about your welfare, and you haven't answered your room phone or your cell, it seems logical for the hotel to try checking on you. If it was a staff member escorting him, fine. If they gave him the key to go alone, of course not fine.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 8:24 am
  #35  
 
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Originally Posted by Stewie Mac
I think there's a small reason noted there - you didn't turn up for a meeting with said co-worker.

This is more of a co-worker discussion than a hotel one [assuming that hotel staff walked him up and into your room, rather than just giving him a key].

Imagine the FD staff position if someone comes to them and says 'my colleague is staying here and didn't turn up for our meeting and I'm really worried that they're okay' then there's no answer to repeated phone calls to your room. If they had ignored this, and you'd been ill/incapacitated, they would be in very much more trouble than they are with you....impossible situation. Going to your room with the colleague to check is surely their only course of action.

If they just gave him the key to your room, then I agree with the very strong complaint to the GM - that's massively out of line.
Agree. I actually have experienced this from OP's coworkers perspective. I traveled frequently with a guy who was always very punctual. One time he missed dinner and was unreachable on his phone. I was able to go to his room and check on him with security. Luckily, he had just taken a crazy nap like OP and overslept his alarm.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 10:34 am
  #36  
 
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Generally I am concerned about the level of skepticism/proof that hotels require when replacing a lost key, or just "letting me into my room", or when you arrive and the maid is in your room and you want to come in.

Recently I encounter a situation where i had left my key in the room and the housekeeper was in the room. She wouldn't let me in. ^
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 11:31 am
  #37  
 
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Definitely a breach of protocol here. Many, many years ago, I requested a wake-up call at a hotel in Vegas (back in the days when an actual human being calls you) and I was in the shower when the call came so it wasn't answered. Next thing, Security showed up at my door to check if I was O.K. In the OP's case, security definitely should have accompanied the co-worker.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 12:51 pm
  #38  
 
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He was given a key to my room, and came up unescorted. They had come up to my room prior and knocked to no answer. Said since I had the "do not disturb" sign up they knew I was there and felt it appropriate to give him the key to check on me.

Now, I always assume the do not disturb means "leave me the hell alone," but I guess not. I really did appreciate them giving my key to a coworker to come see me sleeping in my underwear.

It wasn't like the meeting was an important, big deal thing. We're traveling together and he said - hey, let's get some lunch later (no set time). I decided I'd rather sleep than eat, and didn't have a way to contact him as we're at different hotels and have no cells. I spoke with the coworker and let him know of the need to relax and calm down instead of freaking out. Guess next time I'll leave a note with the front desk, too.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 2:42 pm
  #39  
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Originally Posted by dartagnan
He was given a key to my room, and came up unescorted.

...Now, I always assume the do not disturb means "leave me the hell alone," but I guess not. I really did appreciate them giving my key to a coworker to come see me sleeping in my underwear.

...Guess next time I'll leave a note with the front desk, too.
1. Totally unacceptable. GM needs to retrain staff. They do have an obligation to respect your privacy.

2. More and more properties ignore the DND sign. I put it out when I leave and do not want anyone in my room, so the fact the sign is on the knob/lock does not mean there is anyone inside. Now had the deadbolt been set, then I would believe someone present in the room.

3. And had you been sleeping in someone else's underware there would be all sorts of stories floating around the office... Not that there won't be now anyways.

Get to the GM and make a habit of setting the dead bolt upon entry.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 4:46 pm
  #40  
 
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Let's suppose your co-worker calls you from the lobby, you say "I'll shave and be down there in 5 minutes".
20 minutes later you still don't show up and don't pickup calls made to your room/cell.

Your co-workers goes to the concierge and reports he's concerned about your conditions.
The concierge says "Sorry. Hotel policy is our guest has to have been missing for at least 24 hours and an official police report has to be filed."

It turns out you were indeed bleeding on the floor after slipping and actually died there.
Would your heirs email Hilton Customer Service praising them for protecting your privacy ?

Their only mistake was to give him the key. Security should have taken care of that.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 7:02 pm
  #41  
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Originally Posted by thesaints
...Would your heirs email Hilton Customer Service praising them for protecting your privacy ?

Their only mistake was to give him the key. Security should have taken care of that.
Now how many HH points should be expected?

The OP said Security was dispatched but did not enter the room... They should have done that instead of giving a key to a non-guest.

Every situation should be evaluated and appropriately handled. I credit the co-worker for talking his way into getting a key, but hotel policy should say NO. Training is needed.
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Old Feb 25, 2011, 9:18 pm
  #42  
 
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Originally Posted by Jimage
Agree. I actually have experienced this from OP's coworkers perspective. I traveled frequently with a guy who was always very punctual. One time he missed dinner and was unreachable on his phone. I was able to go to his room and check on him with security. Luckily, he had just taken a crazy nap like OP and overslept his alarm.
Just 'blindly' giving a key is unacceptable and reckless in my book. In college I worked at a hotel and we would not even give a phone caller the guest's room number (there had been an issue with a spouse showing up to find the husband with another woman so privacy was enforced-right or wrong in that case). At a bare minimum hotel staff should have been present as they really have no way to know another person's intentions if not supervised.
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Old Feb 28, 2011, 5:27 pm
  #43  
 
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I don't excuse this behavior for either your co-worker or the hotel but I really think the lesson learned is lock the door and put the chain on!
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Old Mar 1, 2011, 6:55 am
  #44  
 
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[QUOTE=BBFD;15934635]Just 'blindly' giving a key is unacceptable and reckless in my book. In college I worked at a hotel and we would not even give a phone caller the guest's room number[QUOTE]

This is my expectation of any hotel. I was disappointed that the Hilton did not provide this level of privacy. They should have been willing to ring me once or twice, then when I did not respond, leave it alone.

This hotel does not have locks on the doors, only chains. I hesitate to imagine what they'd have done had the door been chained. I suppose my only reprieve is that I wasn't mid-coitus or something even more embarassing that precluded me from answering the phone/door.
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Old Mar 24, 2011, 2:12 pm
  #45  
 
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Anyone here at Easter 2011? Just booked! (no status though - boo)
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