[CrimsonAnime]

Hello all!

I come to offer a possible suggestion as to how to reduce Elevator issues at the Hyatt.

Elevator Passes!

Now - detailed explanation.

1) What is the problem?
- Aside from too many people crowding on to a small elevator, I think the biggest problem is the waiting time to catch an empty elevator period. From what I've noticed people going to the 3rd or 4th floor - who are clearly able to walk the stairs - often crowd on to an elevator and therefore take up room for people on higher floors who have less choice to take the stairs. I have also noticed the people that get on an elevator going in the opposite direction that they want to go just to get a space. And finally - the problem of the street level and lobby level. With two "base" loading floors one floor is almost always given the short end of the stick because of having to see a full elevator open but no one get out.

2) What would the Elevator Passes be?
- According to my thinking Elevator Passes would be Hyatt issued cards (think business cards) that are issued among check in. Here's how they would work: Upon checking in, a room owner would be given a room number. For those who are receiving a room higher than the 5th floor, along with their keys, they would be given elevator passes that would have the floor number and the Hyatt employee's name. These passes would then allow NON CHECKING-IN/CHECKING-OUT con attendees that reside in the Hyatt a chance to get first pick for the elevators. Those on the floors 3-5 CAN board but only after all boarders with passes have boarded. Because the 5th floor is only 3 landings from the Lobby Level I think this is fair.

HOWEVER - I do know that some cosplays prevent people taking the stairs and that some people are not able to take the stairs due to medical issues. For things like this Special ACEN Elevator Passes would be offered via the special needs department. Con goers with hard to move in cosplays (armor, long dresses, big pieces etc) that need the elevator to get to their rooms would go to Special Needs and request a 1-day Elevator Pass for that day (they cannot be received in advance). After passing an examination of Acen Staff's choosing they would be given the pass which like the Hyatt issued pass would state the room floor, and have an Acen Staffers name. It would also list the cosplay and the reasons for having the pass to prevent people that change out of that cosplay from using it.

Those with Medical needs would do the same and receive an Acen pass that along with floor number and staffer name would list the medical issue and why they were issued the pass.

- In order for this to work the following would need to be enacted:
1) 1 or 2 IRT posted at the elevators on the Lobby Level checking passes before people board. It may take time but it will make sure that people with a room on floor 10 don't have to wait 30+ minutes for an elevator.
2) 1 or 2 IRT posted at the Street Level stopping con goers from boarding elevators here. This would stop full elevators coming to the Lobby Level and allow more people to board quickly.



I came up with this on the fly and tried to make it plausible and efficient because I noticed the problems. If anyone has suggestions or reasons this won't work please please please speak up. I'd love to see an end to the over-filled elevators and long waiting lines.

[Smokey]

CrimsonAnime, on 25 May 2011 - 09:03 PM, said:

Elevator Passes!

Interesting idea. I wish we could use it. But just like the smoking areas, the elevators are Hyatt's property, not ours. It remains Hyatt's decision what, if anything, is to be done about it. Send them your idea. Who knows, they might listen. Here's where you contact them. http://www.hyatt.com...recent-stay.jsp

[davebb]

I like you CrimsonAnime. You broke down the issue into problem and possible resolution and gave great details. Maybe not totally doable within our capacity as Smokey said, but I like you because you think it though instead of just posting a complaint and the resolutions are very reasonable (just comes down to having ALL the stakeholders take charge). You should join staff

[SJAkarma22]

At Anime Detour here in Minnesota the elevators have security outside making sure that only 6 people or however many they have as their limit get on and have level 1 for people getting off and level 2 for people getting on that way it keeps from people getting too bunched up on both levels but that wouldn't help at the Hyatt with all the levels unless an IRT was in the elevator...? Just an fyi/ another thought.

[animedancer87]

Cool idea. But once again, that's Hyatt's territory. Always wonder how non-ACEN attendees deal with the elevator hassle...

[The Fujoshi]

Good idea but wondering does the Hyatt do anything about this in general or pass the buck to Anime central staff in general?

[CrimsonAnime]

I am so glad that people seem to like this idea and I want to take the time for individual response:

@ Smokey - I will take you up on that and see if I can get them to use such an idea. I hope they will consider it though because it will cut down on broken elevators which means less money they have to put out.

@davebb - Thank you for the compliment. It means alot to me to have staff notice one of the little people. As for joining staff - it's something I look into for when I am done going to acen for acen and want to go to help keep it awesome but right now..i've only been there for 4 years and have only recently gotten the hang on the convention. I think there is a lot more for me to experience.

@SJAkarma22 - having someone posted in the elevators at all times would take up space of one extra person and take up 4 IRT which since they are short staffed would probably be a HUGE hit to their numbers. It might be something worth doing if IRT can get more volunteers though.

@animedancer87 - I have actually always thought that as well and have come up with two solutions. 1 - they are all on the 2nd and 3rd floors and just take the stairs or 2 - they just stay in their rooms to avoid the madness that is acen.

@The Fujoshi - do you mean does Hyatt staff do anything about elevators? IDK...I think they have their hands full with running the whole hotel that trying to keep an eye on how people are using the elevators might not come first.

[CrimsonAnime]

Finally got around to submitting this to the Hyatt. Here's hoping they take it into consideration

[The Fujoshi]

Well I mean in cases such as the elevators breaking down :/

I always wondered why the Hyatt isn't prepare for the rush of cosplayers when this event comes by lol.

and good luck with your submission report!

[CrimsonAnime]

I have actually thought the same thing in general about the elevators in this new building. Granted I never saw the old layout so these could be miles better but...it seems to me...that if you are going to have a hotel next to a convention center...that will most likely be used for conventions...should you make the elevators bigger? Elevators that can EASILY house 10 people? The current elevators each house 7 people squished in. I know. I've counted. At 10 its unbearable. So when all 4 work....a max of only 28 people can go up and down at a time..that's...just sad to me.

But i hope my suggestion at least helps with what they have now. I've heard back from the first round of people and they just thanked me and said the message has been passed on so I look forward to bringing this thread good news.

[Zerox20]

To answer some questions here...

I am sure the Hyatt knows 100% about the Elevators. The main issue is as in other threads is just people overfill them. You just can't change how the Elevator works, it has the max limit, thats why it fails. It never fails due to use, merely to overfilling etc. The Hyatt pretty much leaves most of the convention stuff to us. They will assist with things like Water in rooms, chairs, setting up/breaking down rooms as we need them etc. As far as posting people at elevators and such, that would strictly be our thing not the Hyatts. I do urge you to send suggestions to the Hyatt regarding the elevators though as they specified above.

Lets be realistic here, with over 20K people, their will never be an elevator solution that works in my opinion. Stairs will be your friend. If we can start doing a lot of main programming in Convention Center hopefully it will make the Hotel more where people just stay and keep some of the traffic down.

[Haiiro]

I would absolutely be in favour of this plan, Crimson. My group and I have long ago resigned ourselves to having to beat feet on the stairs for the entire weekend, thanks to the horrendous evelator issues. Too many times have I had to pull a make-yourself-as-small-as-possible in order to fit, and the times I've been in costume? Forget about it.

Sadly, I have to agree that it seems any solution may be hard to achieve given the staffer/congoer ratio; even dedicated staffers doing their very best are outnumbered more than guards in a prison, so being able to post pass checkers at the elevators at all times seems nigh-impossible to me at this point.

I sincerely hope to be proven wrong, and that the Hyatt's people will step up and adopt these new policies. As others have pointed out, in the end it'll save them on both man hours and repair bills.

[Ervyla]

One problem with passes based on floor level, besides the realization that people will overcrowd anyway, is that con-goers aren't the only people that stay at the hotel that weekend and it is next to impossible for the Hyatt to discern who is not involved in order to give them passes. Great idea though.

This post has been edited by Ervyla: 08 August 2011 - 02:23 PM