Tag Archives: Hotels

by | July 13, 2012 · 10:10 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Washington D.C. Hotel And Restaurant Suffer Significant Water Damage When Pipes Burst; Repairs Could Take Six Months

“…due to extensive water damage, the Latham Hotel & Citronelle closed down on July 12, 2012.  The building will be evaluated for the full extent of the repairs, but we are expecting that it may take up to 6 months to complete the necessary improvements…”

Water damage will temporarily close Georgetown destination Citronelle, and the hotel that houses it as well, according to a spokeswoman for the restaurant.

Both venues suffered water damage, though how significant is unclear at this point. Recent storms have plagued the general Washington area, including last week’s derecho that caused major power outages regionwide.

Citronelle spokeswoman Mel Davise confirmed the closure via email and said it could last up to a few months. She said she could offer no further details at this time about the closure or damages.

For more:  http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2012/07/citronelle-latham-hotel-temporarily.html

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by | July 9, 2012 · 4:01 pm

Hospitality Industry Security Risks: Husband Of Slain Woman Sues California Hotel In Wrongful Death Lawsuit; Claims Homeless People Were Known Threat To Guests

“…court documents say that hotel security were aware that homeless people and others had committed “assaults with deadly weapons, thefts, and other disturbances,” but “failed to take any security measures” to keep guests safe, the complaint alleges…”

The lawsuit claims that a homeless man or “uninvited third party” walked through an unsecured first-floor door and killed Finley’s wife while he was sleeping in the couple’s sixth-floor room.

A wrongful death lawsuit against the Biltmore Hotel moved forward on Monday when a man whose wife was found dead at the LA landmark during an audition for “America’s Got Talent” alleged the hotel destroyed evidence to cover up the slaying of his wife.

The body of his wife, Laura, was found in a stairwell at the famed downtown hotel on Oct. 23, 2010.

Hotel security failed to warn guests about security issues related to remodeling work being done on the first and second floors, court documents said.

Hotel security found Laura Finley’s body at the bottom of the first-floor staircase. The body of the 48-year-old woman was found with no top and wearing pants that were inside out. Her diamond rings were missing, court papers said.

For more:  http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Americas-Got-Talent-Audition-Death-Biltmore-Hotel-161855745.html

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by | June 30, 2012 · 6:21 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: Florida Hotels And Guests Defrauded By Homeless Man; Watched Guests Leave Room And Claimed He Was That Person

“…He would apparently watch a guest leave then go into the room and claim he’s that person.  Once in the room, police told WFTV Price would call the front desk and say he wanted to extend the stay, sometimes by 10 days…”

“…At the Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal, Price allegedly racked up nearly $9,000 in charges on an Ohio man’s credit card…”

A homeless man spent Friday night in the Orange County Jail.  He was busted after police said he posed as a guest at lavish hotels and went on spending sprees that his victims paid for. David Price has been homeless for the past two years.  On some nights he found shelter at the most lavish hotels in Orange County including The Ritz Carlton, Hard Rock Hotel and Loews Portofino Bay.  He stayed at those hotels on other people’s dime.

A few days ago, police arrested Price after he finagled his way into a room at the Hard Rock Hotel that was previously occupied by a hotel worker.  Security officers knew the employee had already left so they called the police.  Officers apparently found items from other hotels in the room, including The Peabody on International Drive and the Four Seasons in Miami.

For more:  http://www.wftv.com/news/news/local/investigators-homeless-man-arrested-stays-hotels-o/nPjTK/

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by | June 27, 2012 · 6:28 am

Hospitality Industry Information Risks: Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Sues Hotel Operator Over Guest Account Data Theft That Results In Over $10 Million Of Credit Card Fraud

“… fraudulent charges on Wyndham’s consumer accounts totaled more than $10.6 million following three data breaches in less than two years. The breaches occurred in April 2008, March 2009 and in late 2009…”

The Federal Trade Commission said repeated failures to secure consumer data led to hundreds of thousands of consumers’ payment card information being exported to an Internet domain address registered in Russia.

Wyndham, which operates several hotel brands, including the value-oriented Days Inn and Super 8, is one of a large number of organizations that acknowledged in the past three years that they had been hacked by people seeking either financial gain or intellectual property.

Other victims have included entertainment giant Sony, the International Monetary Fund, Google, Lockheed Martin and Citigroup.

For more: http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/uk-ftc-wyndham-idUSLNE85Q01Q20120627

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by | May 1, 2012 · 7:54 am

Hospitality Industry Health Risks: $6 Million "Negligence Lawsuit" Filed Against Maryland Hotel After "Legionnaires' Disease" Outbreak Confirmed In Water System

“…The lawsuit seeks damages of $6 million dollars, $5 million for negligence and $1 million for loss of consortium…”

“…The Virginia resident who filed the claim reportedly spent 6 weeks in the hospital suffering a number of severe medical conditions and that cost hundreds of thousands of dollars in medical bills…”

The Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene announced the illnesses in October 2011, which occurred after the individuals stayed at an Ocean City hotel. The hotel was later closed for several days to perform tests on the water systems to try and locate the bacteria that cause the disease.  Earlier this month, it was reported that one of those who contracted Legionnaires’ disease while staying at the hotel has filed a lawsuit against the hotel. 

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HB7g81JxCq0]

  • Each year, between 8,000 and 18,000 people are hospitalized with Legionnaires’ disease in the U.S.
  • It is believed that many infections are not diagnosed or reported, so this number may be significantly higher.
  • More cases are usually found in the summer and early fall, but it can occur any time of year.
  • “Legionnaires’ disease is caused by Legionella bacteria,”
  • “Legionella bacteria can sometimes be found in manmade environments that contain warm water. 
  • These may include hot tubs, cooling towers, hot water tanks, large plumbing systems, or parts of the air-conditioning systems in large buildings. 
  • Proactive testing for Legionella can help prevent outbreaks of the disease. 
  • If an outbreak has occurred, testing for the bacteria can pinpoint sources of the potentially deadly pathogen to prevent further illnesses,”

For more:  http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/victim-of-legionnaires-disease-files-lawsuit-against-maryland-hotel-292018

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by | April 22, 2012 · 7:20 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Motel Damaged By "Wind-Fueled Fire" That Momentarily Traps Firefighters; Firewall Proves Useless In Windy Conditions

“With the winds, even if you have firewalls, if somebody puts a cable hole — every little breach of a firewall for cable, electric, whatever is going to be a void. That firewall’s not intact anymore.”

San Antonio firefighters had a close call Friday afternoon when the rear of a burning motel collapsed on them. Crews responded to the fire reported at the Studio 6 motel at Highway 281 and Rhapsody to find flames shooting through the structure, according to WOAI-TV.

The wind-fueled fire originated on the first floor of the hotel, extended to the attic and then spread to a neighboring building. Fire Chief Charles Hood said that his firefighters had to rely on their training when the blaze quickly became out of control and a Mayday was called.

“That’s one of those moments when your heart just goes to your feet because we have reports of firefighters trapped,” he told the news station. Luckily, all of the firefighters made it out safely and no injuries were sustained.

Hood said that winds played a big role in helping the fire grow, and that if the building did have firewall, they wouldn’t have stopped it. Around 100 firefighters were on the scene and after the collapse, crews switched to a defensive fire attack to put out the blaze.

For more:  http://www.firehouse.com/news/10704188/san-antonio-firefighters-have-close-call-at-motel-blaze

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by | · 7:20 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Texas Motel Damaged By "Wind-Fueled Fire" That Momentarily Traps Firefighters; Firewall Proves Useless In Windy Conditions

“With the winds, even if you have firewalls, if somebody puts a cable hole — every little breach of a firewall for cable, electric, whatever is going to be a void. That firewall’s not intact anymore.”

San Antonio firefighters had a close call Friday afternoon when the rear of a burning motel collapsed on them. Crews responded to the fire reported at the Studio 6 motel at Highway 281 and Rhapsody to find flames shooting through the structure, according to WOAI-TV.

The wind-fueled fire originated on the first floor of the hotel, extended to the attic and then spread to a neighboring building. Fire Chief Charles Hood said that his firefighters had to rely on their training when the blaze quickly became out of control and a Mayday was called.

“That’s one of those moments when your heart just goes to your feet because we have reports of firefighters trapped,” he told the news station. Luckily, all of the firefighters made it out safely and no injuries were sustained.

Hood said that winds played a big role in helping the fire grow, and that if the building did have firewall, they wouldn’t have stopped it. Around 100 firefighters were on the scene and after the collapse, crews switched to a defensive fire attack to put out the blaze.

For more:  http://www.firehouse.com/news/10704188/san-antonio-firefighters-have-close-call-at-motel-blaze

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by | April 19, 2012 · 6:43 am

Hospitality Industry Theft Risks: Man Arrested For Using Fraudulent Credit Card Information At California Hotels; Police Seize $32,000 Worth Of Cashier's Checks

“…(the man) was arrested on suspicion of using fraudulent credit card information at hotels and resorts in Laguna Beach, Costa Mesa and Dana Point…between Feb. 15 and April 12…”

“…it was common for Larson to give his hotel room to someone else before the end of his stay and move on to another hotel…”

Harold Eric Larson, 36, of Orange was arrested April 12 at the Costa Mesa Marriott, where detectives seized documents, hotel booking information and $32,000 worth of cashier’s checks from 39 different accounts.

Larson is facing charges of burglary, identity theft, grand theft and credit card fraud, said Laguna Beach police Sgt. Robert Rahaeuser.

According to court records, Larson pleaded not guilty Monday to 20 felony counts.

Laguna police first got a tip March 2 that Larson was committing fraud at a Laguna resort.

For more:  http://www.dailypilot.com/tn-cpt-0420-larson-20120417,0,413551.story

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by | March 10, 2012 · 8:24 am

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Jury Awards Maryland Woman $225,000 In Nation's Largest "Bed Bug Liability Judgment"

On Thursday, a jury ordered Calidad Furniture & Linen Inc., the store that sold Jackson a pair of wood-frame beds, to pay Jackson and her sons $225,000 for the ordeal. It is one of the largest bedbug liability judgments in the country.

Multimillion-dollar lawsuits over bedbugs have become increasingly common as infestations have spread across the country and victims seek to hold landlords, hotels and retailers responsible for their exterminator bills and mental anguish.

But a public judgment is rare in bedbug liability cases. Lawsuits seeking millions of dollars in damages have received publicity in recent years, such as several filed against the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York. But most fade away with confidential settlements.

In July 2010, Adarien Jackson’s 6-year-old son, Kaden, began complaining of itchy bumps on his ankles. They soon turned into a rash and spread to his back, behind his ear, and on his eyelid.

The child’s pediatrician and dermatologists tried allergy drugs, diet changes, oils and oatmeal baths. But it wasn’t until months later that Jackson discovered the cause of the problem. Kaden’s twin brother, Kyler, began waking in the middle of the night, crying out, “Bugs are crawling on me!”

Jackson realized her sons’ beds — which she had recently purchased from a furniture store in Elkridge — were teeming with bedbugs, according to a lawsuit she filed in Anne Arundel County in December 2010.

 

For more:  http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2012-03-09/news/bs-md-bed-bug-verdict-20120309_1_bedbug-infestation-bunk-beds-bed-wetting

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by | September 9, 2011 · 10:39 am

Hospitality Industry Property Risks: Hurricane Irene Damage Forces Closure Of North Carolina Hotel Until 2012

 “…(a review of)…the situation with repair and restoration companies, insurance and safety inspectors, and a host of others, we have regretfully concluded that the safest option for our guests and associates is to temporarily close the hotel in order to thoroughly and efficiently complete the work,”

Damage from Hurricane Irene has forced the Sheraton Atlantic Beach to close for the remainder of the year. The hotel is now contacting all the groups and individuals who were booked through December 31.

An employee meeting is being held this afternoon. Ninety employees will be furloughed during the repair process, according to Barnes.

“We will be communicating with employees twice a week regarding our process and sincerely look forward to the opportunity to welcome everyone back after the first of the year, ” Barnes said. “Until then, we are working to place our employees in temporary positions and we welcome calls from employers who are looking for quality staff.”

For more:  http://www.witn.com/home/headlines/129527083.html

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