Holiday Inn Holiday Inn Rolling Meadows Put all the wedding guests in danger Rolling Meadows, Illinois
I was attending the wedding of two close friends of mine over the weekend of August 6, 2011. The first issue that occurred was when I attempted to check into the hotel. I had confirmed my reservation that afternoon over the phone with one of the front desk staff two hours prior to my arrival. Tehy coul;dn't find the reservation!!! The best man (who is a close friend from high school) had even checked my reservation and confirmed it as well. Finally, they did find the reservation, as it was misspelled in the computer!!!
On the day of the wedding, the area outside the room for the wedding was extremely hot. How hot you ask? Lets just say that the best man was sweating bullets, along with most of the people there. There was a member of the catering department of the hotel there, and she should easily have noticed that the A/C was not up to par; it wasn't that hard to see (and hear people saying) that it was very hot in the rooms.
The wedding and reception started off without a hitch. However, the first issue with the serving staff was that they acted like they didn't give a ****, insomuch as harassing my guest, constantly asking if "I was done with my salad" (I wasn't) and not serving the small child that was at my table her childrens meal. It took literally cornering one of the service staff to get the little girl served; the person I spoke with had an attitude, and basically pointed to a person who supposedly was our table server. The server for our table finally brought out the food for the little girl.
Also during the reception, there was an incident involving a guest of the wedding, who was putting "gang type" graffiti on the "congratulations" board for the bride and groom. The best man, a few groomsmen, and myself had to physically escort this person out of the wedding reception, and when we got outside, he tried to start a fight, and started spouting gang affilliations. There were numerous calls to the police, which included several squad cars from the local police, and an Illinois State Trooper!! (For full disclosure, I spoke with several people, who said that they told the 911 dispatchers that the incident was involving a gang member; hence the heavy police response). And where was the hotel representatives when this was going on?? Nowhere in sight!! This includes not only the hotel catering representative, but the "security guard" who was at the hotel the night before, doing his rounds!! The major issue with this is what if this idiot was packing a firearm, a knife, or some other kind of weapon?? Not only would there have been a police presence, but maybe even multiple ambulances for injured people!! To add insult to injury, the service staff took my dinner away (which I had taken two bites of), and also took my piece of wedding cake (which I hadn't even touched) and took that away too. However, for the hotel's sake, there was a security camera in the area where this idiot committed his acts; it caught him doing the acts on video, which the police now have.
I did place a call to Holiday Inn Customer Service; the representative who I relayed the story to seemed to be absolutely in shock hearing this horror story. She said the manager would be calling me back; this call was made Monday and I haven't heard anything from any management member from the hotel since
If you are planning to stay here as a regular guest, the hotel is okay; the room was perfectly cleaned, and the bed was soft as a cloud. However, if you're planning a major event (wedding, bar mitzvah, etc.) my suggestion is to steer clear of this place, unless you bring your own fans, air conditioners, and/or your own armed security.
6 Updates & Rebuttals
mr rik
miami,Florida,
USA
Your report has been noted
#7Consumer Comment
Thu, August 11, 2011
Thanks for getting the word out about your experiences. This should prove beneficial to anyone wishing to avoid the same inconveniences.
Christiana
Cincinnati,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Here we go again
#7General Comment
Thu, August 11, 2011
Why is it that when people don't get the answers they want they automatically assume that the poster who questions things works at said place? What kind of mentality is that?? I won't even go on about the cake and dinner. Crikey.
Ozzie!
Deviot,Internet,
Australia
Dear God. And all his saints.
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, August 10, 2011
I should have been prepared for this report by the beginning whinge about the hotel's gross neglect in failing to air condition the whole state of Illinois so that wedding guests could stand outside in the middle of a midsummer day in comfort. The description of the episode with the drunken and obnoxious guest is a common feature of weddings the world over and usually dealt with with minimal mayhem, except in Ireland perhaps where all the guests being drunk can make things tricky. One slightly lippy drunk could be relatively easily contained by half a dozen large male guests I would think. If not, the arrival of the sheriff, deputies and a car load of troopers to the possible gang related incident probably had it in hand I would think. If not, I fail to see what the caterer could possibly add to the situation. An artfully lobbed vol-u-vent perhaps. Those things are mean when they're hot. What really stunned me was the assignment of blame for the ill advised guest. Bluff old traditionalists, if they thought about blaming anyone but the idiot in question, might blame the people who invited said fool. Presumably knowing him at least slightly. Maybe not. But no! Apparently it is the fault of the hotel. I am completely in awe of the feat of mental gymnastics that has created this view. I am utterly stunned. Honestly, I bow down at the knee of quite possibly the world's biggest and most artful whinger. I have no doubt the incident was unpleasant, but seriously. After enduring the torment of being asked if you had finished your salad as well. Lots of times. Those heinous hotel people even had the hide to provide CCTV footage to the no doubt irritated and somewhat embarrassed local constabulary too. Why do I suspect they don't get to attend many gang related incidents in Flushing Toilet, Illinois? Probably felt like popping a cap in the fool just for the practice. Then you had your cake nicked. Bless. I feel for you, I truly do. Still, man up. I'm sure the hotel have fixed the weather for you now. It's safe to go out in Da Hood.
Cory
San Antonio,Texas,
U.S.A.
What's That Old Saying?
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, August 10, 2011
If you lay down with dogs, you're bound to get fleas. WHO invited the scumbag to the wedding and why couldn't they keep a leash on their dog? Here's a suggestion. IF you're planning a major event, don't invite any gang members. I think you should have known you were going to have a problem when the "person" starting "tagging" the congratulation board. Most events I've been to require wedding parties to provide their own security and I mean real police and not rent-a-cops and the number of guests states how many officers are required.
RenegadeChauffeur
Evanston,Illinois,
USA
Well Robert...you weren't there.
#7Author of original report
Wed, August 10, 2011
No, Robert, this was not a joke.
First off Robert, you were not there. Had hotel management (who were represented by their banquet manager) provided effective security, none of the wedding party would have had to remove this idiot after his deeds were done. Secondly, the serving staff were doing everything WRONG; they treated a lot of the guests like pieces of ***, and were extremely pushy. Third off, I wanted to eat my dinner after the incident occured. As to a doggy bag, I'm sorry but I don't do that.
As to the housekeeping staff breaking up a fight...they weren't there when this happened.
My thinking is that you either represent the hotel (with the way your comments are worded) or work for a Holiday Inn property; either way, I stand by my comments; take them for whatever value you feel they are.
Robert
Irvine,California,
U.S.A.
The hotel put your life in danger?
#7Consumer Comment
Wed, August 10, 2011
This has to be a joke.
One of the WEDDING GUESTS had to be "escorted out", once outside they wanted to start a fight and was spouting gang affiliations, there were also several calls to 9-1-1. Yet you are upset because there was no hotel representatives there? Well perhaps the housekeepers were busy trying to break up the knife fight at the family reunion down the hall and couldn't help get to your situation.
The wedding cake was cut and served yet you had still only taken 2 bites out of your meal? Exactly how much longer were you going to wait until you ate it or were you actually waiting for a "doggie bag".
You just need to add one line to your last statement. "and/or your own armed security if you are going to invite gang members to your event."