'Room key given to drunk': investment banker sues over sex assault in hotel (SMH)

[ermen]

'Room key given to drunk': investment banker sues over sex assault in hotel

Just shows how important it is for females to keep the latch on when travelling.

Once, a hotel in Auckland (which I shall not name) gave me a wrong room number and programmed the swipe card with it as well. I walked into a room with a bloke watching TV on the chair. No drama but could have been much worst!

 

[Robert K]

She quit her job over this? Really?

 

[anat0l]

Why is there also no connected information about the woman suing the man who "assaulted" her, or at least is guilty of fraud?

Surely she is not sympathising with the man for his conduct because he was surely drunk and that the hotel process was solely responsible for protecting her (when it is equally that the man should not have attempted the fradulent act in the first place and even so it was him who actively decided to knowingly invade her room - at least this is the article context; it may be different to how it has been stated...)

 

[NM]

Why is there also no connected information about the woman suing the man who "assaulted" her, or at least is guilty of fraud?

I assume any criminal charges against the man would need to be processed in Finland as that is where the alleged "crime" happened. She is now in the USA and suing a US company in a US court.

Surely she is not sympathising with the man for his conduct because he was surely drunk and that the hotel process was solely responsible for protecting her (when it is equally that the man should not have attempted the fradulent act in the first place and even so it was him who actively decided to knowingly invade her room - at least this is the article context; it may be different to how it has been stated...)

I doubt her court claim is that the hotel chain is "solely responsible". But she is claiming that they hold some responsibility. But we only have one side of the story and not the complete context. But this does high-light the a serious risk for all travellers, not only women.

 

[Mal]

Yep keep the latch on. I had a couple enter a hotel room I was in, they ignored the dnd sign, were incorrectly given the wrong key at reception.

I went down to reception, demanded they give me the spare key from their key drawer, they gave a faux apology and handed over the key. No further issues.

 

[Mal]

Also I wonder how the man knew her room number or surname. This one will be an interesting case, but will be settled out of court I assume.

 

[casanovawa]

Checking into a hotel in Darling Harbour I was given a key, went up to the room and opened it up and the room was all unmade etc, glad i didn't walk in on any couple etc, but went back down and got given a key to a different room, so not sure what happened there...

 

[Febs]

Friends of friends walked into their room at the Shangri-La on their wedding night, to find another couple, also uh...celebrating their wedding night! :shock: Whoops.

Hope we don't have the same experience in a few weeks - also spending our wedding night at the Shangri-La (because Park Hyatt decided to delay their opening. Boo).

Edit: Just read the article - I received the best Platinum suite upgrade I've ever received at that hotel! It had its own library, and was easily as big as a BIG two bedroom apartment! Not bad considering I booked a basic room.

 

[munitalP]

Novotel Glen Waverley, was with American guest staying on same floor. At dinner he mentioned he was dozing and a lady entered his room thinking it was her's - 6 years ago or so. 6 months ago, Hilton Adelaide, Flight Attendant (Singapore maybe) was swiping at my mates door, he opened it with her thinking it was her room - dyslexia on behalf of receptionist...

It happens frequently by mistake*





*I am eager to have my room invaded by Female SIN Air FA's!

 

[tuapekastar]

Along the lines of Febs' story, a few years ago a couple I know in their 60s entered their motel room in NZ to find a couple, err, entertaining each other.

 

[Verde]

Checking into a hotel in Darling Harbour I was given a key, went up to the room and opened it up and the room was all unmade etc, glad i didn't walk in on any couple etc, but went back down and got given a key to a different room, so not sure what happened there...

I've had a similar experience. Was issued the swipe card, went up to the room, walked in. Bed wasn't made, place was a bit messy, but then I saw there was luggage in there too. Went back down to reception and they apologised, had misread the number on the screen or something and so issued a card for the wrong room.

I never use the in room safe, but I guess given how easy it is for a simple mistake like that to happen means I probably should (not that I travel with much of value normally, but when overseas losing a passport would be pretty inconvenient and I always have my little emergency pack with a spare credit card/cash etc in a bag separate from me when out for the day when overseas).

 

[opusman]

I stayed at a hotel in Buenos Aires where the key to my room also opened the room next door

 

[haydensydney]

If my +1 and I were getting jiggy with it in our hotel room and someone walked in due to being given an incorrect room key - what sort of compensation would we expect to get from the property?

 

[DrAndyC]

..............

 

[SeatBackForward]

How "damaged" is this woman really? Some people need to get a life.

According to the story, the drunken guy was attempting to rape her. Thats pretty traumatic.

 

[kamchatsky]

I had a similar incident in 2003 at a Staybridge Lincolnshire (around Chicago): I checked in on the night and then got someone else's key and welcome voucher with someone's name on it. Now if I actually looked at the voucher carefully I would not noticed this error. However I was quite tired and all I did is grab them and went into the room, and I did not noticed anything as the room was unused and clean.


Then I went out and had late dinner, by the time I came back I saw police cars outside and then saw 2 policeman with a lady crying uncontrolledly. I went and asked what is going on. Then the policeman asked me if I checked in to the room xx_X which I said yes, and then they asked me for ID which I showed them. Then they asked how I got this room and I told them that I just checked in normally through reception. Then they asked me the credit card to use to book the room and I showed them my Green Corporate Amex.


What happened is that the lady was freaked out that the room is already checked in when she tried to check in on the same night, and the staff would not give her the key to her room that she already pre-paid for, and she suspect that it was some kind of fraud and her credit card being used etc etc etc and she cried and hence police was called in. Obviously after I told them what happened the hotel sorted out and reissued our keys and the police just left.


Obviously both her and myself complained to the management about this stuff up at the counter. But the management did not apologise at all. I told her to write a complaint to IHG/Priority Club about this, and I did this myself. I then got myself 20000 points from IHG as compensation!

Apart from the incident, the hotel itself is actually quite nice!

So whenever I stay at hotel, I will always lock the room, or at least put the secure chain on it! Also if there is some welcome voucher/envelope I will check the names on it!

 

[chrisb]

In the past year I've been given a room that was already occupied - by the time i got back down to reception they had realised and had new keys for me.

At a different hotel I returned to my room after dinner to find someone else's bag in there. The concierge was rather happy when I called because they had no idea where it had been dropped off to and the owner was a bit annoyed. (this is one of the reasons I always handle my own bags)

 

[awilcockson]

How "damaged" is this woman really? Some people need to get a life.

Did you read the article? She was (allegedly) asleep and woke to find a drunk guy on top of her groping her and attempting to rape her. I'd say that could cause considerable "damage".

 

[chrisb]

Did you read the article? She was (allegedly) asleep and woke to find a drunk guy on top of her groping her and attempting to rape her. I'd say that could cause considerable "damage".

Agreed. If your job required you to travel and stay in hotels I imagine you would have a hard time sleeping and feeling comfortable in strange hotel rooms after experiencing this. It would make it difficult to effectively do that job anymore.