dcstudent

Hi all, looking at booking Courtyard Toronto Downtown and saw this alert: "Please note - All registered guests staying at hotel Jun 22-24 and Aug 3-5 2018 must wear a wristband issued by the hotel at check-in." Any idea what gives? Really enjoy the hotel due to its location and (usually) much cheaper prices than any other downtown Starwood/Marriott properties but I will absolutely not wear a wristband like I'm at an all-inclusive in Mexico.

imverge

That is Pride and Caribana weekends. The hotel is extremely busy, most likely sold-out as it is every year. Having guests wear wristbands is to ensure people coming and going are actual guests.

KRSW

@imverge: thanks for the heads up! Toronto's on my list of places I want to visit...but I'll gladly skip those weeks. Too much commotion.

imverge

Actually, you'd be surprised how many locals get out of the city (including myself) because of the crowds. The Courtyard is "party" central for sure.

RogerD408

Crowd control is difficult during major events and checking IDs doesn't work. I've done NOLA during Mardi Gras many years and the hotels there limit access to registered guest, especially the elevators. I too dislike wearing wrist bands and avoid them when I can. What tends to work most times is to wrap it around my wallet (being sure I can still open it) and flashing that like an ID when entering the property. If they insist on the band being worn, I will set it to where I can slip it off when I don't want to be identified as a hotel guest when out and about (just make sure you keep it somewhere safe).

pinniped

This is dumb. Maybe they should stamp my hand to say I'm over 21? Do I get a plastic cup for the keg at checkin? Although I'm not surprised that this hotel treats its guests like they're at a frat party - it's barely above youth hostel quality. Seriously, my worst Marriott stay in 25 years of Marriott stays was at this hotel. I remarked later to a local friend that it felt like I was at Howard Johnson's and they said "bro, it literally *was* a Howard Johnson's."

I've been in lots of hotels (ones that cater to fully-grown adults) that limit access to guests and do it in a variety of other more-professional ways. There's no way I'd walk around the streets of Toronto wearing a wristband. Maybe on alumni weekend in my college town I'll do it. Maybe.

Fortunately Toronto has several excellent Marriotts/Starwoods. I was lured into this one with one of my Megabonus or CC certificates. That won't happen again.

bitterproffit

I have stayed at this hotel, it IS party central. And if you were there during Pride weekend and were not taking part in the festivities, wrist bands would be your smallest complaint.

When I was younger, this property was the go to for a crazy weekend in Wes/Church. Now that I like to sleep on weekends, I couldn't imagine staying here during pride. Well, I could, but not without party favors.

I am curious as to what 'professional' way you would limit access during a party weekend?

CJKatl

Reminds me of this: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/woman...OTWUUW0msP3KO/

FA_COR_YYZ

The hotel will be torn down (somewhat soon) if the owners get approval for a new mixed use project on the site. The complex would still include a 289 room hotel and some commercial but most of the project is earmarked for residential.
Kingsett Capital's 475 Yonge Redesigned in Latest Submission Urban Toronto

LondonElite

You're over 21 and are still called 'bro'?

pinniped

I've stayed in many hotels where security required you to show a keycard, either to enter the property grounds or at the entrance to the main hotel building. Sometimes just flash the key, other times with a full check of cars, bags, etc. for explosives/weapons. Sometimes basic hotel security guards; other times you can tell it's more sophisticated security professionals.

I've stayed in Vegas hotels that checked keycards near the elevators. That's probably the closest analogy to this. Not necessarily a terrorism threat or protection for a VIP, but just deterring loads of drunks from getting to the floors.

I've stayed in lots of hotels that required you to use a keycard inside the elevator. This by itself doesn't prevent guests from bringing people into the hotel, but it's a modest deterrent against random people being in the halls.

I've stayed in tons of hotels that had many different reasons for security, and none needed to treat me like a boozed up college student to accomplish their goals.

That would be a huge upgrade to the Courtyard brand, regardless of whether or not a new hotel is built.

joshua362

Had to wear one at the JW SF New Years Eve. And I didn't think it was as solid as others do after 2 x 5 night stays unfortunately.

SkiAdcock

Geesh - am I the only thinking you don't actually have to wear the wristbands but just show them at the appropriate time?

I was at a property (not this one) that did similar when the hotel was taken over for a huge (Super Bowl) event (w/ the team staying at the property). They wanted the guests to have access but not non-guests, so you got a (fill in the blank) to prove you were a guest/had access. Ironically some folk took that as a badge of honor - aka, I'm staying here & you're not.

Both wristbands & keycards can be bought/sold, but the odds are most who have legit access will keep the (whatever).

To me this is much ado about nothing.

Cheers.

CPRich

I'm pretty sure Marriott doesn't require you wear a wristband while you walk around the streets of Toronto.

writerguyfl

Especially since this quirk seems to have been disclosed to potential guests prior to booking.