FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - Advice needed: Horrific experience at Park Hyatt Vendome
Old Nov 1, 2004 | 7:42 pm
  #1  
katz
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 217
Advice needed: Horrific experience at Park Hyatt Vendome

I need some advice on what to do about a scary and depressing event that occurred at the Park Hyatt Vendome.

I used a couple of FFNs to go to Paris for the first time this past weekend. The hotel was beautiful and the service with the following exceptions was excellent. I am extremely saddened by the actions of two employees (one of which has since been fired) and a manager at the hotel and I am not sure if I should do anything about it.

On one of the evenings in Paris, Ms. katz wanted to go to the spa. So, she went to the women's and I went to the men's respective saunas. It was around 9 pm and each room was empty except for us. About twenty minutes after I got into the sauna, an employee came in to tidy up the shower area as well as the locker area (the entire room is probably 20 feet by 20 feet?). After sitting in the sauna for a few more minutes, I had enough and decided to get out and take a shower. When I opened the sauna door, I noticed that a female employee was leaning in the door and talking to the male employee that was cleaning. I was wearing a towel and at first didnt think much of it, but as I walked into the shower, I noticed that she hadnt even flinched. I thought that was very strange considering the very high standards this hotel seemed to have displayed. I can understand that occasionally a female employee enters a male locker room/restroom, but she didnt seem to care what I thought of the fact that she was there (dont forget that the locker room and shower was right in front of her). So, having such a wonderful time in Paris and at the hotel, I chose not to say anything (not that I can speak any French anyway) or get upset and I chose the shower that had a door. I then proceded to take a shower. When I was finished, I opened the door and found that she was again inside and talking to the male attendant. I had to walk toward her to get towards the lockers (where my clothes were). Not only didnt she not leave but she ACTUALLY checked me out up and down and paused at my private area. I could not believe that. Only when I got to the lockers and then turned around to stare at both of them (again, I speak very little french) did she decide to leave (and she took her time too). Finally, I got dressed and exited the room and was anxious to tell the story to Ms katz. I called her through the door of the women's spa. She told me, through the door that she was changing and that I wouldnt believe what happened to her. She said she already called to speak to a manager. I asked her what happened. She said that she was in the sauna and when she got out, a male employee was standing there alone with her. He didnt bother to leave or to excuse himself or apologize. He rudely stared at her while she struggled to cover herself with a towel. She screamed and asked him why he was there. She said that the spa wasnt closed and she yelled at him to leave. Finally, he slowly and deliberately walked out the door.

I was shocked and told her that I experienced nearly the same thing (although obviously nowhere near as horrific). I waited for her to get dressed and I wanted to go directly to the manager to inform him. She was scared and humiliated and wanted me to ask the manager to come to our room because she did not want to discuss this in public. So I asked him to come to our room.

We explained the story with Ms Katz unable to speak at times and crying with sadness and humiliation. The manager said he would begin an investigation and to help make up for what we experienced he offered us <drumroll> a drink at the bar.

We were not at all in the mood for drinks. Ms katz doesnt even drink alcohol. She told the manager this and he said with a big smile "ahhh, but we have excellent juices".

I told him that he was adding insult to injury. We (mainly she) couldnt believe that we just experienced this at this incredible hotel and we already felt awful. Now the manager suggested with a big smile that juice would make up for it? He asked me what do I want? I told him that 10 minutes after this happened, I hadnt thought about that...but for him to suggest a drink was wrong. We agreed to meet the next day.

When we met, he said that the male employee was fired but that the female had worked for Hyatt for two years without complaint, so she wasn't. I was disappointed but I told him that what he does with his employees is his problem. If he wants to risk upsetting more guests - I wasnt going to argue with him.

Several times in our discussions he spoke down to Ms katz and told us that the situation that we described was 'your opinion'.

In the end, he gave us a free breakfast. The real manager of the hotel was out of town for the weekend and he could not do anything else for us. He gave me a card and suggested that I write him.

I figured I'd write here first, hopefully getting some help and advice from you seasoned experts.

Last edited by katz; Nov 1, 2004 at 8:26 pm Reason: spelling, clarification and grammer
katz is offline