I just spent the last week at the Chicago Renaissance, and had a disturbing security issue. Friday morning around 2:00 am an (apparently) drunk guest woke me with his shouts outside my room and banging of (what I assume was his) door. Although I couldn't go back to slepp, I did not call the front desk since he eventualy shut up. When I checked out the next morning and mentioned it to the front desk, they did not care. I found this surprising for two reasons: I love that hotel and the staff; and given recent events, I would think security would be a higher priority.
My wife now wants me to avoid the Renaissance in Chicago. Any suggestions on another good hotel in the Loop?
Tim

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I tend to think lax security is the norm at most hotels -- using another Marriott in Chicago would probably soothe your wife's soul but I imagine the level of security would be exactly the same...

I've stayed at some hotels that have had a highly visible security presence, but they've tended to be at the very top end or abroad.

I'd call Paige Koerbel (GM) and discuss your concerns about the lack of caring by the desk...I'm sure he'd be most interested in your comments

With all due respect, I wouldn't characterize a loud drunk as a "security" concern. Did he threaten anybody?

If I were the hotel, I'd make a suitable expression of concern, but this has already been blown out of proportion, in my opinion.

Bruce

What did you expect them to do?
If you had called at night, they would send someone up.
The next day, there is not much they can do.

How is this a security issue? Its just a loud drunk person.

Exactly how do you think the drunk got up on the 25th floor? He had to pass the doorman coming into the property, (should have) passed (at least one) security personnel on the way to the elevators, passed the front desk on the way to the elevators, and should have been observed by at least three security cameras in the various hallways. This was "just a drunk" - yet there was no response at 2:00 am, usually a time of the morning when only staff (and presumably security) is wandering the halls of the property. The lack of oversight the night at issue, and the lack of concern the next morning,make one wonder what woudl have happended if this was not "just a drunk". To put it another way, if the property's security cannot appropriately handle "just a drunk", there are real questions as to whether they can handle a "real" security issue.
Having said all of that, I still love the property and 99.99% of the time the staff does a wonderful job.
Tim

I wont give my opinion on the security concern but the front desk's lack of care should be addressed

Taking a guess that he wasn't loud & drunk & pounding on the elevator doors on the ground floor (as opposed to what he did on your floor), or they might have stopped/asked him for a key (guessing they don't require it on the ground floor; if they did, then he did provide it). And short of disturbing people, if he did have a key, he'd still be allowed up, rightfully so as he was a guest. The hotel (and guests) might not like loud drunks - but unless there's a problem w/ continued disturbance or destruction, etc, - there's not much the hotel can do, short of telling him to pipe down. If he ignored that or was threatening in some other way, then they could take further action.

You should have called when he was being noisy, not reported it the next morning. They would have sent someone up to deal w/ the situation.

I don't regard this as the security issue you seem to; if he had a key to your room that worked, that would have been a security issue!

Having said that, notifying the management of the front desk's lack of concern & your mindset of transferring your bizness to another hotel who you feel has better security would be totally appropriate. You have to decide if this incident has put you off totally the hotel. If it has, then move on & speak w/ your $$. If not, then give it another try if to date you've been happy w/ the property.

And getting back to the question in your post - there are a # of good hotels in the loop in all hotel chains.

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Sharon

[This message has been edited by SkiAdcock (edited 04-02-2003).]