Bellhops rolling cab drivers?
Jul 2, 2007 | 1:13 pm
#1
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Join Date: Apr 2002
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Bellhops rolling cab drivers?
I just finished a two week stay at the W Montreal. It was great, I really like the W product. I was a really taken aback however when I got into a cab to the airport. I looked back out the rear window as the driver and the bellhop were closing the trunk, and I clearly saw a $5 bill change hands. My SO noticed this as well when he flew home earlier that week after visiting me, but in his case it was much more blatant.
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
Jul 2, 2007 | 1:41 pm
#3
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A bit OT (not SPG-related), but... I just had a conversation about this today with a taxi driver on the way to BUR from the nearby Courtyard Marriott. He said that the shuttle vans to LAX have to pay the hotel $20 to pick up pax (the charge is passed on to the customers). He also muttered something about hotels that expect payment for calling a particular cab company, but I couldn't completely follow everything he was saying on the subject.
Jul 2, 2007 | 1:43 pm
#4
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I just finished a two week stay at the W Montreal. It was great, I really like the W product. I was a really taken aback however when I got into a cab to the airport. I looked back out the rear window as the driver and the bellhop were closing the trunk, and I clearly saw a $5 bill change hands. My SO noticed this as well when he flew home earlier that week after visiting me, but in his case it was much more blatant.
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
Jul 2, 2007 | 1:56 pm
#5
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Jul 2, 2007 | 1:58 pm
#6
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The reason that it is our business is that if the cab drive has a choice between a hotel whos bell hops engage in this and an equivalent hotel (in terms of the chance of getting a good fare) across the street - where do you think it would go? Therefore, periods of high demand for cabs - guess whos guests are going to have to wait abnormally long periods for a cab. It's definitely the guests business.
Last edited by sts603; Jul 2, 2007 at 2:46 pm
Jul 2, 2007 | 2:43 pm
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Jul 2, 2007 | 2:44 pm
#8
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Taking this somewhat OT from SPG, I witnessed this at the Fairmont Winnipeg in April. I wasn't sure if it was because I failed to give a tip to the bellman or if the cabbie would've given that money to him anyway.
I was there for a three day stay. The bellmen failed to open the hotel's heavy front doors when we arrived with luggage or any other time that we passed in or out of the building with items in our hands. When departing by taxi on the last quiet morning, the bellman was so persistent about making sure to get his hands on my suitcase and into the cab after I'd just struggled out the front door. Lack of service until the very last minute when it wasn't even needed, so no tip from me. I hated to see my taxi driver pass him some cash. This overrated and overpriced hotel needs renovation. OTOH, the Four Points attached to the Winnipeg airport looks nice. Too bad it wasn't downtown where I needed to be.
To give the Fairmont chain some credit, though, they provide free HSIA to all members of their frequent guest program. ^
I was there for a three day stay. The bellmen failed to open the hotel's heavy front doors when we arrived with luggage or any other time that we passed in or out of the building with items in our hands. When departing by taxi on the last quiet morning, the bellman was so persistent about making sure to get his hands on my suitcase and into the cab after I'd just struggled out the front door. Lack of service until the very last minute when it wasn't even needed, so no tip from me. I hated to see my taxi driver pass him some cash. This overrated and overpriced hotel needs renovation. OTOH, the Four Points attached to the Winnipeg airport looks nice. Too bad it wasn't downtown where I needed to be.
To give the Fairmont chain some credit, though, they provide free HSIA to all members of their frequent guest program. ^
Jul 2, 2007 | 2:59 pm
#9
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I just finished a two week stay at the W Montreal. It was great, I really like the W product. I was a really taken aback however when I got into a cab to the airport. I looked back out the rear window as the driver and the bellhop were closing the trunk, and I clearly saw a $5 bill change hands. My SO noticed this as well when he flew home earlier that week after visiting me, but in his case it was much more blatant.
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
I asked the cabbie if he had to pay to pick up fares at the W, and he said that it costs $5 for an airport fare; I asked if this was typical and he said that only one other Montreal hotel charges taxi drivers to pick up at their hotel (The Queen Elizabeth).
Is it just me, or is this a bit corrupt? The government sets a fixed rate to the airport, and the cabbie loses 14% of it to the bellhop. As an aside, I dragged my two roll aboards & laptop bag down the stairs and out the door before one of the three bellhops kindly carried my bags the last 3 feet to the taxi...
Jul 2, 2007 | 4:06 pm
#11
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Now, what does that mean? Calling the Montreal taxi authority? The hotel's general manager?
Jul 2, 2007 | 4:08 pm
#12
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Jul 2, 2007 | 5:36 pm
#15
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Pretty amusing some of this 
One stays a $300 a night hotel and gets upset when the bell-hop gets $5 from the taxi driver.
Nobody much worries when the hotel contacted rates to the airport are $15 higher than regular taxis ( off course in this case the hotel management is the one pockets the " bribe")
And I bet some of those unhappy with the above process are the same ones to slip the concierege or front desk clerk $20 to get a better seat at a Las Vegas show or a better room at casino hotel. (see long thread in Las Vegas forum)
mike
One stays a $300 a night hotel and gets upset when the bell-hop gets $5 from the taxi driver. Nobody much worries when the hotel contacted rates to the airport are $15 higher than regular taxis ( off course in this case the hotel management is the one pockets the " bribe")
And I bet some of those unhappy with the above process are the same ones to slip the concierege or front desk clerk $20 to get a better seat at a Las Vegas show or a better room at casino hotel. (see long thread in Las Vegas forum)
mike