heightened security at Marriott properties in London
 

Curious as to whether this is happening anywhere else? We're staying at the JW Grosvenor House and are being required to empty our pockets and submit to bag searches & be wanded with a magnetometer by security every time we enter the hotel. I asked if there was some alternative for hotel guests and was told that the orders came from Marriott headquarters.

Thank you for sharing this. How unfortunate that London is experiencing this. Marriott has taken similar procedures in other countries when situations arise. In addition, at some hotels they look underneath cars, including taxis, before the cars pull close to the hotel.

And have they found anything?

Much more dangerous crossing the road, especially with the traffic driving on the 'wrong' side of the road ...

Not sure why "guests" should be exempt, they don't do a background check on us prior to check in.

I expect this is the new normal for a while.

It isn't anything we've experienced entering any other hotel, bar, restaurant, or other business in London (apart from places that have permanent security apparatuses, like Buckingham Palace). Or any transit stations, for that matter!

I find it odd for a hotel, tbh.

Hi,

This is the first time I have heard of this type of security happening in a UK Hotel ( despite other times when the UK security threat level was at critical ( it has been reduced today to severe)

Maybe someone famous is staying there or it has to do with the hotels relative closeness to the US Embassy)

There have been searches at other US owned hotels in other countries ( ie Hyatt in Delhi a few years ago)

Regards

TBS

I would check out of the hotel immediately if I was forced to undergo a search and go to another. This stuff is absolutely ridiculous.

Not ridiculous at all.

As noted, SOP at other international hotels. I just spent a week at the Marriott Istanbul Sisli. I was screened each time I entered the hotel. All vehicle undercarriages were checked for bombs. Similar experience at Protea hotels in Africa.

mariott mnl
 

mariott mnl has dogs sniff the vehicle, then all bags and metal objects in tray (ala TSA) put thru xray. then a pat down.


some guy with an ar15 shot up the casino and burned the tables with gas earlier this year.

none would have stopped the incident though as it was actually a failure of door guard to engage the perp that allowed him to enter with rifle and petrol.

If catocony wants to leave, that's just voting with his or her feet. I for one would welcome the additional security but if people want to risk their lives to be politically correct or outraged at the inconvenience, then have at it!

Oh good, my upgrade competition just went down by one.

As there appears to be a reason for the caution, I'd take it as a benefit, not a hassle.

A while back I was staying at a domestic property where then-President Obama was also staying. I was searched 3 times, including a popup airport-style scanner at the main entrance.

No big deal.

I've had this in Hyderabad at Novotel before. Check the car on the way in (mirrors under, pop the trunk) then screen the bags and metal detector wand going in. I was there for 3 weeks, same thing every day.

The most interesting thing I saw was someone tried to bring a nerf dart gun in. They had a field day with that and security, despite it being VERY obvious that it was a toy that couldnt hurt a fly.

Just part of it, given the crazy shite going on.

Ok, let me restate this. I would never even check in to a hotel in a 1st-world country that made you undergo a patdown or wanding to enter the building. What might be reasonable in a 3rd world hotel in the PI or India is unacceptable in the Mayfair neighborhood in London.