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#830721 by Daffodil
19 Nov 2012, 20:20
We had booked into the hotel on Saturday 17th November as we had been given guest list tickets for X Factor Live at the nearby Fountain Studios. The tickets were compensation for not been admitted to Tom Bradbury's The Agenda ( As David Cameron was appearing everyone who attend had to be vetted by Downing street, the organisers hadn't been able to get in touch with us having the wrong telephone number. )
We checked in to the hotel and were given an upgrade to an executive room on the 8th floor. We had time for afternoon tea in the lounge before leaving for the X Factor. We had a great evening - the show was amazing.
After the show we returned and settled down for bed. At 5.40am we were awoken by a siren and a broadcast message "Attention a fire as been reported. Please leave the building by the nearest available exit. Do not use the lifts." The message was repeated so we decided it was not a false alarm and quickly threw on some warm clothes and made our way down the fire escape stairwell along with other hotel guests. On reaching the outside we found quite a large crowd of people gathered in front of the hotel. Most people had dressed however everyone had disheveled hair and a small number were still in their nightwear. After about 10 minutes we were told to go back into the hotel lobby. There was no sign of management - all instructions were given over the tannoy. I presumed that at that time of the morning only a skeleton staff was on duty. After another 20 minutes or so we were told to go to the restaurant where we would be more comfortable but not to use the lifts. The restaurant soon filled up with all tables and chairs taken. Three young girls than started to serve Tea coffee and orange juice but it was a very slow process with so many people. Eventually the all clear was given and we were allowed back into our rooms via the stairwell. As we were on the top floor it was quite a climb back up and we passed many people out of breath so I was quite pleased with myself that I wasn’t breathless when I reached the top. On reaching our room the siren and message was still being played and it took a long time for them to figure how to turn it off, so getting back to sleep wasn’t an option. On check out we were given £50 off our bill and this morning received an email apologizing stating;-

“Please accept my sincerest apologies for the inconvenience caused due to the fire evacuation that took place on the morning of November 18th. Unfortunately due to a burst water pipe from one of our main sprinklers this enabled the hotel to go into full evacuation.
I trust you can appreciate that the safety of our guests and staff are of paramount importance and our first priority is to evacuate in such cases whilst an investigation is carried out.
As soon as the fault had been identified and we were confident there was no immediate safety concern, my team were conscientious of our guests comfort and therefore allowed guests back in the hotel lobby and Restaurant area until we were sure the fault had been fully resolved.
We would really like to the opportunity of welcoming you back, with that in mind for the inconvenience caused on this occasion, I would be happy to extend a 50% discount off the best available rate on a future stay at Hilton London Wembley. This offer is subject to availability, not applicable on Wembley Arena and Stadium Event Dates and valid for 12 months as of today, 19/11/12. Please do contact me when you would like to make a reservation as I would be more than happy to assist.”


Apart from this drama the hotel is very nice with friendly and efficient staff. Everything is very new and modern and it has a good executive lounge to escape to. So I expect to return at some time to take them up on their offer.
#830739 by pjh
19 Nov 2012, 22:44
Daffodil wrote: Most people had dressed however everyone had disheveled hair and a small number were still in their nightwear. After about 10 minutes we were told to go back into the hotel lobby.


Interesting they should offer any form of compensation for a fire alarm. When I was a regular at the Caledonian in Edinburgh there was a period (in winter) of false alarms between 2am and 4am. The only compensation was seeing a very dishevelled and grumpy Sean Connery. :D
#830740 by hazban
19 Nov 2012, 22:52
These things happen, and it's always at an inconvenient hour!
I have experienced a false alarm many times, I'm getting on a bit, Washington, London, Scottsdale and Denver to drop a few but the most memorable was the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester.
We were on the 23 floor when the alarm sounded in the early hours. Having seen ' Towering Inferno' thought it wise to start making our way down to the street. Made it down approx. 15 floors when the alarm was silenced so we all made it in the lift to reception.
Got no apology or offer of any refund or compensation, not even a cup of tea. So consider yourself very lucky for the offer. y)
Despite everything have returned there many times to enjoy the views from the high floors! :D
#830742 by pjh
19 Nov 2012, 22:56
hazban wrote:he most memorable was the Hilton Deansgate in Manchester....
Despite everything have returned there many times to enjoy the views from the high floors! :D


Love the view from the lounge both across the city and down to the ground below on that bit that juts out.
#830746 by jodash
19 Nov 2012, 23:29
when the children were young we were staying in a hotel in LA where the fire alarm went of and was told to evacuate our room and head to the bar area where we were told that the children were not allowed and told to leave!
#830750 by tontybear
19 Nov 2012, 23:47
Is not the strangest aspect of this story that Daffodil was given tickets for the fixed-Z-factor tickets as compensation in not being able to see a political programme ??


But back to hotel alarms!

A few years ago I was staying in the Sutton Place hotel in Toronto and I was woken up by some sort of announcement at about 1.00 AM. I thought it was from the TV (not on) and then the radio alarm but wasn't that. It was my first night so was a tad jet lagged so just couldn't understand where the voice was coming from until I realised it was from some sort of tannoy in the room.

Anway turned out to be a false alarm and this was part of the "don't evacuate yet but get ready" procedure.

No compensation (and wouldn't have expected or even asked for any )but a 'sincere apology' letter was left under the door - and all prepared overnight because it mentioned the specific time and date of the incident and wasn't some badly photocopied copy of a copy standard letter.
#830827 by Sealink
20 Nov 2012, 15:59
Daffodil wrote:On check out we were given £50 off our bill and this morning received an email apologizing stating;-


We would really like to the opportunity of welcoming you back, with that in mind for the inconvenience caused on this occasion, I would be happy to extend a 50% discount off the best available rate on a future stay at Hilton London Wembley. This offer is subject to availability, not applicable on Wembley Arena and Stadium Event Dates and valid for 12 months as of today, 19/11/12. Please do contact me when you would like to make a reservation as I would be more than happy to assist.”




I thought all hotels offered comp nights in these circumstances.
#830856 by RachelCox
20 Nov 2012, 22:11
tontybear wrote:Is not the strangest aspect of this story that Daffodil was given tickets for the fixed-Z-factor tickets as compensation in not being able to see a political programme ??


That is definitely the strangest thing about this story! I can't imagine the same people want to see both!
#830896 by Daffodil
21 Nov 2012, 10:52
Tonty wrote
Is not the strangest aspect of this story that Daffodil was given tickets for the fixed-Z-factor tickets as compensation in not being able to see a political programme ??

Rachel wrote
That is definitely the strangest thing about this story! I can't imagine the same people want to see both!

Tonty and Rachel it's OK. I enjoy watching both pop and political programmes. We had a great night at the X-Factor and it was very interesting to see how the show was produced. You get to see all the staging that goes on during the commercial breaks. The warm up man is fantastically funny and on the plus side Rylan was probably much more entertaining than David Cameron!

Love
Daffodil
#831900 by pjh
05 Dec 2012, 13:59
Hoping for no fire alarms, I have booked this new to me Hilton for the night of The Boss's Wembley concert in June 2013 for a small mileage + cash outlay. Thanks for pointing out the fact that it existed..
#831902 by hat
05 Dec 2012, 14:30
we had an alarm in the hotel on my last visit to the US, rigt around breakfast time. Despite the alarm going off full bore absolutely nobody made any move to leave the building, including the staff & duty manager who's only response was to go look at the alarm board & then return to the reception desk. A lot of people were at breakfast & the area was open to reception but hardly any guests appeared from rooms. Two fire tenders turned up & still nobosdy made any effort to evacuate.

We left for the office with the fire crews still in attendance & had checked out that morning so never found out if there was a real emergency but the whole episode was slightly disturbing
#831905 by pjh
05 Dec 2012, 15:42
RachelCox wrote:Ooooh can I use VS miles to stay at the Hilton?!


You can do swapsies with HHonors points and do it that way, but I think the rate of exchange is a little like swapping one of the really cool and gory US Civil War collectors cards that were about when I were but a nipper with a collector card featuring Jedward.
#832010 by pjh
06 Dec 2012, 22:37
RachelCox wrote:I checked out the date I wanted and they want 205,000 HH points! I think I read that it's one for one, surely that can't be right?!


A wee bit extreme I think...

Mine was 25,000 points + £25...
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