Somebody else's Champagne in the room... What would you do?
Oct 10, 2014, 4:09 pm
#1
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
Somebody else's Champagne in the room... What would you do?
We checked into an Intercontinental today. Had a few issues initially, when the room was not available after being told that it was. We then didn't get informed when the room became available.
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Oct 10, 2014, 4:24 pm
#2
Join Date: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,470
We checked into an Intercontinental today. Had a few issues initially, when the room was not available after being told that it was. We then didn't get informed when the room became available.
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Oct 11, 2014, 12:36 am
#7
Join Date: May 2004
Location: SIN (LEJ once a year)
Programs: SQ, LH, BA, IHG Diamond AMB, HH Gold, SLH Indulged, Accor Gold, Hyatt Discoverist
Posts: 7,739
What note? 
Service recovery right?
I stayed at the IC Berchtesgaden last year and had made individual one night reward bookings for 2 rooms to retain some flexibility in my schedule (you can't modify points bookings later online and award inventory may be used up).
Anyways, as RA back then I got a welcome gift (some sweets / pastries) and a bottle of Austrian red wine. Fine for the first night, but on the second day they brought a new bottle and gift so I told them about it so that they can stop it (yeah silly me right). Well while overall a great hotel I found staff don't communicate well with each other and are slow to respond / get back on customer queries (YMMV). So of course the wine kept coming every day of my stay with glasses and all piling up.
I gave up to correct them and my mother took a case (6 bottles) of Austrian red home and we drank one bottle while there. Did I feel bad about it, not at all.
Service recovery right? I stayed at the IC Berchtesgaden last year and had made individual one night reward bookings for 2 rooms to retain some flexibility in my schedule (you can't modify points bookings later online and award inventory may be used up).
Anyways, as RA back then I got a welcome gift (some sweets / pastries) and a bottle of Austrian red wine. Fine for the first night, but on the second day they brought a new bottle and gift so I told them about it so that they can stop it (yeah silly me right
). Well while overall a great hotel I found staff don't communicate well with each other and are slow to respond / get back on customer queries (YMMV). So of course the wine kept coming every day of my stay with glasses and all piling up. I gave up to correct them and my mother took a case (6 bottles) of Austrian red home and we drank one bottle while there. Did I feel bad about it, not at all.
Last edited by demue; Oct 11, 2014 at 12:46 am
Oct 11, 2014, 12:45 am
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Atherton, CA
Programs: UA 1K, AA EXP; Owner, Green Bay Packers
Posts: 21,690
We checked into an Intercontinental today. Had a few issues initially, when the room was not available after being told that it was. We then didn't get informed when the room became available.
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Anyway, despite being promised an upgraded room with a great view, we got a pokey room with a view of the hotel air conditioning units. The worst thing was that we were next to a service door that was constantly in use, and slamming so hard that things shook in the room. It was happening every 30 seconds.
I complained and we got promised a new room. The new room is actually a club room. But...
There is a bottle of Champagne, and a note addressed to somebody else. There is also a 'goodie bag' containing another half bottle of champagne, and various other things. It's obvious that whoever had the room booked originally had canceled. I actually think that everything has been here for a night already (the ice for the champagne had melted and the water was room temperature).
So, what do we do? My idea is to get some fresh ice and crack on
Oct 11, 2014, 2:19 am
#10
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,613
Oct 11, 2014, 2:26 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 1999
Location: Seat 1A, Juice pretty much everywhere, Mucci des Coins Exotiques
Posts: 34,339
It's nice to tell them in any case so they can send another bottle to the intended recipient. However when we came back to our IC suite late at night after dinner and found not only the bottle of Champagne, but the bed and bath strewn with fresh rose petals, I thought by that time it was just too late for them to rush to Mr. Abdul Azziz's suite to redo it all again.
Oct 11, 2014, 2:29 am
#12
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: UK
Posts: 11,969
You should be ashamed of yourself for those few moments you hesitated. Outrageous.
Clearly the staff got your name wrong on the note. DYKWIA !!!
It would have been quite wrong for you to let this go to waste or unappreciated. Think of all those starving people. Do the right thing. You know it makes sense. Drink the wine and when done put the remnants outside someone elses suite/room so as not to confuse anyone at the hotel. It isn't fair to cause uneccessary confusion. If you really must, let the reception know they spelt your name severely wrong - "but thanks - it was a kind and thoughtful way of apologising".