Toshbaf

Should the Hotel Compensate You For a 3AM Fire alarm?
link to original thread
I find this topic interesting and didn't think about it until now. I didn't read the original 2002 thread in 2002.

I'm interested in the more broad topic, "what should you do if the fire alarm rings at 3 am?". Put on a coat if it is cold, take credit card if time permits, wear shoes, consider evacuating. It might also be a terrorist attack, in which case sometimes it's better to hide in a locked room.

If a false alarm, should you ask for compensation? Points? Breakfast? Something else? Once I was promised points but never got them.

Toshbaf

True, but a hotel with 1000 guest may have $300,000 in revenue per day, $100 million per year.

lhrsfo

CPRich

If a fire alarm goes off you would "consider evacuating"? Really? What do you think the statistics are between people killed by fire each year and people killed by terrorists using a fire alarm to kill people?

Compensation for a safety device trying to save your life? Really? Unless it's a system failure due to faulty maintenance, or accidental triggering by hotel staff, I don't see this as reasonable.

Toshbaf

If a hotel fire alarm rings, it's probably either a small fire or a false alarm, not a large fire or a terrorist attack.

I would either evacuate or prepare to evacuate. It also depends on the hotel layout. A 15 story building is different from a two story motel with an exterior walkway.

Low Roller

Redhead

trooper

If you expect compensation for that, answer me this..... if YOUR burglar alarm/smoke detector/car alarm/whatever went off at 3 am...would you offer financial compensation to all your neighbours?

davie355

If my neighbors were paying me for a quiet and good night's sleep, then yes I would compensate them.

Collierkr

danielonn

If a Fire Alarm goes off legitimate or not evacuate. I always have my glasses, room key, wallet, phone and jacket and shoes in a place ready for evacuation. In the winter my PJs are warm and in the Summer they are shorts and a t-shirt an a light jacket. Its always good to be prepared and know your evacuation route. I always look at the evacuation plan on the back of my room door and read the Guest Information guide just to be ready in case of any emergency. Do I expect evacuation because of a false alarm oh Hell No. If it were a University Dorm do you think the University will give you a prorated rate for the lack of sleep? I am just happy to be alive. Now if the hotel offered compensation as a gesture of goodwill then I would take it. At the very least I will mention it to the Front Desk that the false Fire Alarm last night made it for a sleep deprived night not expecting much but you never know they may just comp the night or throw some voucher or bonus points.

aquamarinesteph

We had a situation like this in November at the hotel where we were staying. The fire alarm started ringing at 4 am. I always keep my 'must have this' stuff right beside the bed when I travel. I grabbed my glasses, shoved my phone and its charger into my purse, slipped on shoes & a jacket while my other half was grabbing his shoes, wallet, glasses & jacket. The fire stairs were less than 10 feet from our room. We went down all twelve flights and waited outside until the fire department came and did their thing and said it was all clear.

Apparently there had been smoke two floors below ours, but it wasn't anything major. I know that because we asked at the front desk later in the day. We didn't ask for anything. (We weren't offered anything, either.) I was just glad that their smoke detectors worked well.

lhrsfo

Annalisa12

Agree with you.

emma69

On some occasions, yes, I expect compensation. For example, the time I stayed at a hotel and a group of trouble makers pulled the alarm several times. The hotel told me 'this always happens when we allow groups like [that]' so in that instance, yes, there was something the hotel could have done to prevent it (not accepting the group) so I expect to be compensated. A genuine fire, or accidental trigger, then no, I do not.