Hotel too busy to cope

[mel-world]

Booked into the Fairmont in SFO, a 5 Star property at the top of Nob Hill. It was the first night of a package tour to Seattle along the Pacific Northwest. From the time of check-in, it was obvious that we were in for problems despite the fact that there were 40+ pax on the Tour.

There was a major conference booked into the Hotel and every person and every space was assigned to the conference despite any other guests. The only restaurant and every public room was booked and we were told there would be pastries and coffee in the Foyer or we should book room service for breakfast despite having paid for this on the Tour. We were assigned the worst room in the Hotel but I did manage an upgrade using Aussie charm.



We booked room service breakfast for 90 mins prior to departure, only to be told when we rang that there was no hope of us getting any delivery prior to our check out as they were just too busy. No real apology just a statement. Almost all of the Tour suffered the same fate. Not a good way to start a Tour. Not the fault of the Tour Company but I am sure they will not use the Hotel again soon.

Has anyone else had a similar experience? Nothing much we could do except enjoy the rest of the Tour. Many Americans not at all happy though.

 

[Pushka]

Yes we had a similar experience in Atlanta at the Hyatt. We’d booked a family room months earlier travelling with 2 kids. We arrived at the foyer and it was jam packed and I mean no space to move. Turned out that Atlanta Peach bowl tournament was on and all the fans were staying there. They had those noisy clacker things you twirl to make a noise. And they were all doing it, inside the damn foyer.

So our room had disappeared. They gave us one tiny room with 1 bed for the four of us. We insisted on at least two other mattresses to be put on the floor, the kids were 6 and 10 and both boys. They did that, then some inspector or other came in and told US off as the now mattresses were a fire risk. MrP was in the next years Olympic Team in Atlanta in 1996 as a Senior official so he had a little chat to the Manager at how shabby we’d been treated and threatened to seek action. The next night the fans were disappearing so we were given a huge suite and I think free breakfasts etc. But the first night was pretty awful and the worst was that we were threatened by this inspector guy.

 

[RB]

Had a similar experience in Boston where the hotel was hosting a conference-a few similarities so far!

 

[Pushka]

Had a similar experience in Boston where the hotel was hosting a conference-a few similarities so far!

And there is nothing worse than when large groups of people who ‘know’ each other take over all the space and make so much noise.

 

[serfty]

And there is nothing worse than when large groups of people who ‘know’ each other take over all the space and make so much noise.

Yep, just like a hotel club/exec lounge when there's an AFF/FT Do on ...

 

[JohnK]

And there is nothing worse than when large groups of people who ‘know’ each other take over all the space and make so much noise.

Try being around in hotels with Chinese/Indian tour groups. They congregate in the foyer and block entry/exit for hours before they are due to depart.

Try to avoid them but the tour groups seem to book out the 2-3 star hotels in our price bracket.