[vika838]

Not sure if this is the right place for this topic, please feel free to move. So for the past 3 years I've stayed at the Crowne Plaza Saturday-Sunday, primarily because they are one of the last hotel blocks to open and I can't secure time off to attend ACen in time for the earlier hotel blocks. I've had everything from good to awful treatment there, but my primary reason for this post is because of a recurring problem with accomodation for my food allergies at this hotel. I have a severe food allergy which necessitates that I prepare my own food to prevent cross-contamination. Most of this food is frozen because of a lack of preservatives and needs to be defrosted and cooked before eaten. Every year I request a microwave for my room via my online reservation, and then I followup with a call immediately after making the reservation, and another call the Tues./Wed. before ACen. I am assured that my request is listed as a MEDICAL request. And EVERY year, when I get to the front desk I'm told that the microwaves are first come first served, and I can use the lobby communal microwave. I explain that I need to thoroughly clean/disinfect the microwave before using it, because of cross-contamination, and that I had a medical request placed for a personal microwave that I can maintain at the necessary level of decontamination during my stay. I then get the response that all the microwaves are taken, and I need to arrive earlier if I want to get one, OR spring for a suite ($300+) which already has a microwave in it. I explain that it is a medical need, and it is very difficult for me to eat while staying at the convention without this tool. I then talk to the manager who gives me the same responses. I then talk to corporate which apologize (and actually comped my room for the second year as a result but no I didn't get a microwave.) I find this particular Crowne Plaza staff's lack of medical accomodation rather disturbing, and was wondering if there's anything else that can be done to pressure them to take their special needs requests more seriously via ACen? Thank you!

[Smokey]

vika838, on 01 June 2012 - 06:30 AM, said:

Not sure if this is the right place for this topic, please feel free to move. So for the past 3 years I've stayed at the Crowne Plaza Saturday-Sunday, primarily because they are one of the last hotel blocks to open and I can't secure time off to attend ACen in time for the earlier hotel blocks. I've had everything from good to awful treatment there, but my primary reason for this post is because of a recurring problem with accomodation for my food allergies at this hotel. I have a severe food allergy which necessitates that I prepare my own food to prevent cross-contamination. Most of this food is frozen because of a lack of preservatives and needs to be defrosted and cooked before eaten. Every year I request a microwave for my room via my online reservation, and then I followup with a call immediately after making the reservation, and another call the Tues./Wed. before ACen. I am assured that my request is listed as a MEDICAL request. And EVERY year, when I get to the front desk I'm told that the microwaves are first come first served, and I can use the lobby communal microwave. I explain that I need to thoroughly clean/disinfect the microwave before using it, because of cross-contamination, and that I had a medical request placed for a personal microwave that I can maintain at the necessary level of decontamination during my stay. I then get the response that all the microwaves are taken, and I need to arrive earlier if I want to get one, OR spring for a suite ($300+) which already has a microwave in it. I explain that it is a medical need, and it is very difficult for me to eat while staying at the convention without this tool. I then talk to the manager who gives me the same responses. I then talk to corporate which apologize (and actually comped my room for the second year as a result but no I didn't get a microwave.) I find this particular Crowne Plaza staff's lack of medical accomodation rather disturbing, and was wondering if there's anything else that can be done to pressure them to take their special needs requests more seriously via ACen? Thank you!

I can certainly understand your frustration, and can completely sympathize with you. My ex had a shrimp allergy so severe that we had to leave Costco by ambulance just because we wandered too close to the aisle where they were handing out shrimp ball samples.

Unfortunately we have no control over the hotels, and the sad fact is that despite the promises they make when taking your reservation, microwaves, certain type rooms, cribs, roll away beds and other similar preferences are always handed out on a first come first served basis. Beyond complaining to their corporate offices, there's little else that can be done. It's just the policy that they all seem to go by. If at all possible, you could try booking at the Embassy. They're no more disabled-friendly than the others, but I understand that all the rooms have nukers.

You might consider getting yourself a small, portable-ish microwave like the type marketed for dorm room use. That way you can keep it as clean as you require without having to depend on empty promises. I realize that it can be cumbersome to bring along, especially if you're flying (you could always UPS it on ahead,) but there are times when those with special needs can only depend on themselves.

Sorry we can't be of more help.

[Roark]

Hotels can list requests as medical, and a generous manager may bump you closer to the top of the list, but a request is still a request.

Many people lie about allergies and medical needs to try and secure fridges and microwaves. First come/first serve makes sure that people don't just lie their way into getting priority.

Really the only way to secure priority at a hotel is to have tier 3-5 status with a hotel. Generally, having higher status gets you higher priority for things like fridges, roll-away beds, and microwaves. Which I see as entirely fair, since some of the highest tiers require spending ~125 nights at a selected chain.

[Oreo_Otaku]

Check the room blocks again about a month before the con. Room blocks that are sold out usually have some rooms opening up due to people canceling their room reservation or letting go of one of the multiple rooms they booked. That way you can try Embassy which has a microwave.

[chainedbyroses]

Does the Plaza have a Membership/Rewards Program, like the Hilton does with HiltonHonors (and many, many other chains have too)? If they do, consider signing up (in my experiences, almost ALWAYS free to do); members of the Program are listed specifically in the system & reservations, and they get some small perks simply for being a member. I know personally having stayed the Embassy/Hilton-chain for years, being a member can be a godsend, what with expedited check-in and checkout, personalized welcomes upon arrival from managers (twice so far!), and immediate resolution of all room problems I've ever encountered in stays (whether minor like a non-flushing toilet, to more critical "Room Has Moldy Bathroom And I Have Both Asthma And Severe Mold Allergies"). When you sign up, they allow you to make personal notes attached to your membership account, be it a medical alert, room request, or something you find worth noting (like to regularly anticipate early check-in times). That, and earning bonus points for your stays, meaning a cheaper (or maybe even free!) future upgrades/stays is pretty nice, can be useful, especially if you want a guaranteed specific kind of room or feature (ie, corner room, fancy suite, microwave, etc).

If they don't have a reward program, and refuse to make note on your reservation of medical necessity, you may indeed want to pack a microwave as a personal precaution, and/or read up on the ADA so as to have both reference material for making your point and potentially teaching them How To Be Nice Human Beings Especially To Those People That Life Already Trolls, or perhaps consider switching to the Embassy/rest of the Hilton line (the local head manager's a nice dude, from all interactions I've had!).


Worst case, overall, you'd be welcome to use my Embassy microwave (I stay there every year). As another person who has food allergies, I can understand and relate, especially on the cross contamination aspect. Very few places take it even a little seriously, so if I have a chance to help people out and actually be able to eat (whether directly, or by getting a kitchen to actually make an effort), if I can manage what it entails, I give it my best. At any rate, I do hope this works out for you. :<

[hydrageon123]

Oops wrong forum.

This post has been edited by hydrageon123: 03 May 2013 - 02:34 PM