flyingmike

Hi

Staying at a CY in Toronto this week.

I’ve had several restaurant room charges and noticed each time the cashier rings up a room charge they ask the guest to state their room number verbally before entering information into the cash register. When the slip prints I still need to write in my room number.

It occurred to me this morning, while listening to the lady in line ahead of me announcing her room number, that I do not think i’ve ever seen this before, and it seems very insecure.

Curious if if anyone else is experiencing this or if it is the new normal.

Mike

wharvey

I never provide my room number verbally. To me, anyone asking this information is violating security protocols. I would report it to someone in charge... probably an innocent issue.... but should be corrected.

That is why I always carry my room sleeve... I show that with the room number whenever I am asked for my room number.

ryw

I think it's generally custom to have room numbers written (usually at checkin, they won't even say the floor number anymore, and just write the room number on the key sleeve jacket) for privacy/security reasons.

Though now that I think about it, I'm pretty sure there are concierge lounges/MClubs that have an attendant at the doorway where they've verbally asked me for my room number. Usually there's not a line so there's not other people to eavesdrop, but I suppose bringing the key sleeve might be useful in this case to just show the number instead.

Nuhusky

MSPeconomist

EuropeanPete

C17PSGR

The corporate policy for all major hotel chains is to not speak the room number. This arises from sexual assault cases a couple of decades ago where courts have held it was negligent to speak the room number where others could possibly hear. Of course, how this filters down to someone working in a bistro at a franchise Courtyard and Ontario ... on the other hand, the folks at the Sheraton in Argentina, Marriotts in Asia, autograph in Spain, and other hotels around the world seem to get it as a general rule.

writerguyfl

When you're talking about safety, hotels should do everything possible to reduce the risk of a guest getting robbed, attacked, or raped. Having hotel staff verbally announcing room numbers does increase that risk, whether you want to accept that as fact or not.

For the record, I used to work in hotel, including at the Front Desk. While robberies and attacks are rare, angry spouses calling and/or showing up and demanding to know if their partner checked in happens more often than people realize. That sort of situation happens when people cheat on their spouse or when there are instances of domestic violence.

Aside from safety, announcing room numbers increased the chance of financial fraud. Many hotels allow guests to charge various things to the room solely by writing down the name and room number. (The OP seems to be describing that process.) A scammer could hang out in the front desk area where hotel staff are announcing guest room numbers and surreptitiously get the name off of luggage. They then turn around, charge something, and leave.

Last year I arrived early at a Disney World area hotel. While I waited for a room to get cleaned, I was working in the lobby next to the concierge desk. I watched the woman sell dozens of theme park tickets. Everyone charged them to the room. It appeared the only verification required looking up in the computer to see if the name and room number matched.

A scammer could have easily charged a bunch of one-day tickets and gone immediately the theme park to use them (or scalp them). While all illegal, that's not the sort of thing that would get investigated by the police if it's discovered and reported by the hotel. Police don't generally have time to deal with every case of petty theft.

TL;DR: No hotel employee should ever announce a room number.

margarita girl

GoldenItalianBoy

Everywhere here in Europe I am always asked room number verbally (at breakfast, restaurant, lounges, SPA...) ....

JBord

Unless you are thinking with the mind of a sexual predator sitting at the bar, near check in, etc. It doesn't concern me (and not meaning to sound sexist about it), but if my wife traveling alone or a female coworker were asked for room number with other hotel guests around, I wouldn't consider that a safe practice for them. Even if some weirdo just shows up at the door knocking, it's not a good thing.

I find it very common at resorts and some other hotels, especially in the restaurants. A few examples: Bangkok CY, they asked me for my room number every morning at breakfast check in. Same at the Vienna Marriott. Same at the San Juan Stellaris. In some cases, like the resorts where you get a discount but not free breakfast, it makes sense for them to apply the discount to your bill up front. For those people rightfully concerned about security, I'd suggest carrying your key sleeve (in a separate pocket from your key) to show in these cases.

EuropeanPete

A not insubstantial number of hotels leave guest lists with room numbers, status and comments lying at the breakfast check-in desk. I can think of two in the UK alone. More of a security issue than just saying a room number aloud.

Nuhusky

JBord

Agreed. But that's unavoidable, and can happen anywhere at any time, not just a hotel. It's why I tell people not to take alleys as a shortcut in Chicago (but you'd be surprised how common it is). Also, if someone is following me from the lobby, onto the elevator, and toward my room, I'm going to notice that. They have to be making an effort to keep up because an elevator is a great separator if they don't know your room number. If someone is knocking at my door when I'm asleep an hour later and disoriented, posing as hotel staff...

Maybe I just have a paranoid, suspicious mind. I don't mind if it's one on one with a hotel employee who asks for my room number, but it's different to me when it's a bartender (definitely happens) with a lot of eavesdroppers around. It just seems like a simple layer of extra security to only ask for it in writing.

Nuhusky