True Hotel Stories
 

After many requests and from responses on this thread: http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...ML/007472.html

I think I feel comfortable with this now. Thank you everyone for your enthusiasm and legal advice. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

For those not familiar, I have been asked to share some stories from my hotel experiences. Also, I would encourage anyone to add their own hotel experiences if they are worthy (no complaints please). This first post is a start, there will be more to come. Also, please feel free to continue to ask questions on the other thread. Enjoy!!


Here's a favorite story of mine, which I SWEAR is true.

A certain actor from the TV show "The A-Team" who was also in "Rocky III" was a regular guest of a hotel I worked for. A very nice, gentle person despite his TV character and physical appearance. We all knew him and he was usually the perfect guest.
Well, his daughter lived in the city of the hotel I worked for and when she got engaged, they decided to have the wedding at the hotel. Because this person was paying for several rooms on his credit card, the card declined after the automatic security system flagged it as "excessive spending". My job was to call American Express and fix the problem so as not to embarrass the guest. Well, AMEX thought I was prank calling them and wouldn't help me. I suppose I would be skeptical too if I wasn't in the situation myself. Finally we had to contact the guest and get it worked out. This was no problem, he was very nice about it as it was really not the hotel's fault.
Everything for the rest of the weekend went great....until Sunday afternoon.
After a very beautiful (and expensive) wedding, this guest along with his 80 year old mother (who is in a wheelchair) and about 6 other relatives were coming down from their rooms on the 44th floor to check-out. Unfortunately the elevator got stuck in between the 38th and 39th floors........
....for 45 minutes!!.........
.....and the emergency call button DIDN'T work.....
Uh oh....
Finally the elevator reset itself and slowly came back down to the lobby.

I was in the back doing paperwork, when one of the desk agents comes running back frantically "Mr. ____________ is out front and he is REALLY PISSED OFF!!
Well, the manager was at dinner, and was called to come handle the situation. She was short and in her mid-20s, she looked like a dwarf in comparison to the person who was YELLING at her.

Actual quote: "I'm really, really mad!!!!!!!!! I just got stuck in the elevator for 45 minutes!!!! I am so mad right now!!!!! I am so mad!!! I can't even talk, I'm so mad right now!!!!
I'll never forget it.

At this point there is a large crowd gathered in the lobby to watch this event. I had to go back into the office because I've never laughed so hard in my life.

Anyways, after he (and all his relatives) had vented their frustration, and threatened lawsuits, etc, etc, he calmed down and was finally appeased by a free weekend in a suite and some serious butt-kissing. He continued to patronize the hotel after that, and still does to this day according to my friends that still work there.
I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes.

[This message has been edited by g_leyser (edited 09-12-2002).]

Hmmm. I thought the mystery guest was still having some financial difficulties. I guess those commercials are paying off.

Great story! I didn't think Sylvester Stallone was so tall http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...rum/tongue.gif

I pity the fool that won't fix my elevator!!! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/mad.gif

I've narrowed the suspects down to 12. One more hint and I might be able to guess who this guest was.

Sherlock Opus.

It was quite clearly his fault.

The gold jewellery tipped the scale and the lift stopped.

That's why I never travel with all my stuff on (what are service elevators and minions for??).

Mr C

http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

I'm curious, did he have his real name on his Amex, or his stage name?

g_leyser, thanks for starting the hotels stories. I'm looking forward to read more.

Very interesting report!
Looking forward to the next one.

Tim

I was on a flight from LAX to IAD with your guest back when he was at the height of his popularity. It was on July 3 and he was flying in to participate in the July 4th events in DC.

He was in FC and throughout the flight there was a line of kids coming up to meet him. I don't think he got ten minutes of peace on the entire flight, but he didn't disappoint a single kid. It was a very impressive performance.

In December 2001, my colleague stayed at a leading hotel near Union Square, San Francisco (don't remember which but not the Westin). He was on some high floor and the same floor housed a visiting minister from Vietnam. One morning he rang me to say that he'd be late because he could not use the lifts owing to this dignitary and his security. The secret service (or FBI, whatever) assigned to him had an agent denying the lifts to other guests since the dignitary was about to use one of them. He was sent back to his room. He tried this a couple of times and then complained to the front desk. Now, he is an extremely good complainer and he does not hide his displeasure, but in the politest of ways.

The conversation went something like this:
Manager: "I'd like to offer you a room upgrade on another floor"
Guest: "No, I am happy with this room."
Manager: "I can offer you a voucher for two nights free of charge."
Guest: "No thanks, my company pays my hotel bill, but I have been personally inconvenienced and held a prisoner. I needed to be in a meeting 30 minutes ago and am talking to our General Counsel about pursuing this matter through the courts."
Manager: "Sir, we have no control over the security arrangements, but what if I give you 200,000 points that you can redeem with an airline?"
Guest: "Oh, I suppose that may be fair compensation, thank you."

The points showed up duly on his account. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/wink.gif

Eric,

I saw him at the LAX United terminal about four or five years ago, absolutely keeping a slew of kids entertained. This went on for about twenty minutes, and he clearly seemed to be enjoying the routine as much as his fans.

He must of set off the metal detector big-time though!

Yea. But at least you didn't have to see him in nothing but his silk, utlta-tight briefs, tying to squeeze into a pair of tights. http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/eek.gif

Almost made me go blind. And no, I did not stare! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...orum/smile.gif

Opps. He did have a lot of gold chains on if that counts....

And how were you accorded this pleasure? http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/biggrin.gif

If they had some sort of doubt as to the legitimacy of your inquiry, wouldn't AMEX call the hotel back at a number they could verify and ask the switchboard for you by name? Or ask anonymously for the on-duty manager (not by name in case they thought you were in collusion)? Sounds odd to me that they wouldn't pursue the matter that way.