It’s Tuesday, and we are leaving Perth for Melbourne. After our experience on our Qantas Brisbane to Perth flight (see previous entry) we were looking forward to a direct and uninterupted flight to Melbourne.
We arrive at Rydges Carlton and are greeted by two front desk staff who have quite obviously had enough for the evening. I was given a key to my room, and everybody else had an electronic card, so I started to worry that I would be in a closet or something. Luckily I wasn’t – some of the rooms have cards and some have keys – strange – but Ok. It seems though that the ever so cheery front desk staff, don’t know excatly which rooms have what – and one of our touring party was given a card for a room that needed a key. After we went back down to exchange her card, it was back to the room.
I noticed a sign stuck to the lift that public toilets were only available ono Level 4, I thought it strange but paid it no more attention. The only reason I really noticed it is because there was only one lift – and it takes anywhere between 45 seconds to two minutes to get to your floor.
I got back to the room, and then pretty much fell straight asleap.
Then… The morning came.
I headed down to our function room, it had recently been refurbished and they were doing a nice job. It wasn’t quite finished, but would be fine for our requirements.
I got most of it setup, it took a little time as I was tired, but it got done. The screen was a nice freestanding 8×6 so I setup behind it so I could hide and work my magic.
I went and had a little breakfast (which was on the other side of the room) and then went back to finish setting up. One of the presenters came in and said that they had been sent to the first floor to go to the toilet.
I thought it was strange that she would have to go somewhere else, so I went and asked the front desk staff. New staff from the night before, but same attitude. I was informed that due to construction works, the toilets on the ground floor were unavailable. There were toilets on Level 4, and a hotel suite had been made available on level 1 to use as a toilet.
I informed him that it was not acceptable, and asked to speak to our function manager. She came out apologised, and then informed me there was nothing she could do. When I told her a 2 minute wait time for the lift to level 4 was unaceptable, she said that our guests could use the stairs and use the room on level 1.
She looked a little surprised when I again said that it was unaceptable, and that I would not be paying for the room hire. At that point in time I went up to have a look at the “facilities” on Level 1. It really was just a hotel room that had the door pegged open.
I went back down and asked to speak to the Manager. The front desk gentlemen told me he was the manager, I then asked to speak to the general manager, and I was told the was unavailable all day to speak to guests, but that I could leave a message for him. I left a very clear and concise message.
I then called AHL, explained how the situation was. They were not aware that the hotel was doing this to clients, and were quite embarrased by it.
About 10 minutes after getting of the phone with AHL, the General Manager of the hotel all of a sudden became available. I was apologised to again, and informed that four rooms on level 1 were now available, and of course I would not be paying for the room.
So with that sorted (as best it could), it was time to get into the sessions. Then, just as we start the first one, banging and angle grinding and everything else all starts up.
At times the construction noise was so loud you could not clearly hear the presenter.
I asked the hotel to deal with it, and they did. It didn’t stop – it got quieter. I assumed that was the best I would get – so I lived with it.
