A guest at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch posted a notice they say they received from the hotel, saying that the property apparently had presumptive Legionnaire’s Disease and that they were testing the building water systems. They closed the hot tubs.
And they suggested guests get more information about risks. In this notice, they did not offer any guidance to guests about use of showers, drinking water from sinks, or any flexibility for those who may want to be relocated.
Legionnaires’ notice at hotel – first time for this! Would you leave?
by
u/dsf_oc in
marriott
Legionnaires’ disease is a severe pneumonia that often leads to hospitalization. The bacteria can also cause Pontiac fever which is a flu-like illness without pneumonia.
- People usually get it breathing in misted water containing Legionella from showers, hot tubs, fountains, and plumbing.
- It can also transmit from swalling water ‘down the wrong pipe’ into the lungs.<
- Those 50 years and older, current and former smokers, immunosuppressed, and those with cancer, diabetes, kidney or liver disease are at especially high risk.
- It has a ~10% overall case fatality rate
I’m flagging this notice because it’s appalling to me that any hotel would hand out this notice, written this way.
Credit: Ritz-Carlton
At very first instance of guest communication, they should be proactively offering (1) penalty-free cancellation with full refund for unused nights; (2) relocation assistance where they book and cover accommodation at another property for guests who leave; and (3) Marriott Bonvoy points, a rate adjustment or amenity credit for anyone who stays.
Not only are property amenities limited, but showering on property seems ill-advised! And showers are a basic part of the value proposition of a hotel room! Nonetheless, hotels – even that purport to take care of guests – view their guests as due nothing in similar circumstances.
Two years ago I wrote about problems with Legionnaires’ Disease in the water system at Marriott’s Renaissance Newark airport. The hotel remained open – telling guests not to shower – and refusing refunds to guests who didn’t want to stay there.
They continued taking bookings, enforcing their cancellation policy. And Marriott customer service told complaining guests that they needed to be understanding of what the hotel was going through facing a “difficult challenge” and that these are “extenuating circumstances.”
Early in the pandemic, one employee lived all alone at the W Barcelona in order to open all the water taps every five days to guard against Legionnaires’. He lived himself on the 24th floor, cooked his meals alone in the huge hotel kitchen, and washed his socks in the hotel’s industrial washer.
Name ‘em and shame ‘em. The Marriott’s Renaissance Newark airport story was two years ago? Time really is flying by.
I wonder how the county health authorities would handle the situation if every guest called them requesting direct advice from them. If the advice said not to stay there, they could use that in a class action against the hotel.
Agree with jns!
I stayed there a few years ago. Very nice place.
L737,
Reading that letter that he posted, it mentions “Eagle County.” That pretty much narrows it down to Colorado…and there’s two R-C properties there. You’re welcome.
Thank you, Gary Leff, for sharing that The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch in Avon, Colorado, has alerted guests to a Legionnaires’ disease bacteria risk but will not offer refunds or relocations. Legionnaires’ disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by Legionella bacteria. It’s concerning to spend $2,019 per night for a Club Level, King Room, Club level, Guest room with one King bed, only to later discover you have a one in ten chance of waking up dead when infected with Legionnaires’ disease. If you die, your tombstone might read, “I’ve been Bonvoyed.” Guests should also know Club access requires an upgraded Club Room booking. Marriott Bonvoy Elite Status does not provide complimentary access to Club.
For guests seeking an exceptional value, the $60.00 per day resort fee at The Ritz-Carlton, Bachelor Gulch includes:
* Daily Welcome Prosecco for two guests
* Daily Fitness Classes -Yoga and Pilates taught by a certified instructor for two guests
* Year-round Daily Guided Hikes: Our Naturalists conduct a Daily Snowshoe Hike at 10 AM in the Winter, and regular Hikes during the off-season/Summer on Bachelor Gulch Mountain for two guests
* Daily Ski Valet: Overnight storage of skis and boots / Non ski season: Overnight Bike and Golf Storage
* Daily 1 S’mores kit per room, available year-round
* Daily Enhanced high-speed internet access (Wi-Fi)
* Bonvoy Elite Amenity (gold members and above): Daily Choice of Specialty Coffee, Tivoli Beer, or House Glass of Wine or Riki Seltzer or 3 Scoops of Ice Cream, Sorbet, or Gelato.
There really needs to be a large scale social media platform for publicly shaming misbehaving companies. Something that points out their shameless behavior with a dark, humorous twist to get it to go viral.
@L737 — “Name ‘em and shame ‘em.” You can say that again! Legionnaire’s is no joke. Every now and again there’s a building in the city (usually cooling tower) with this; it’s awful.