A Tsim Sha Tsui hotel has apologized to a staycation guest and offered her a free afternoon tea set as compensation after a stranger charged into her room while she was asleep.
The guest, surnamed Chan, shared her experience at the four-star Gateway Hotel in a popular Facebook group on Feb. 18.
“I was sleeping when suddenly, a male stranger charged into my room. I immediately called [the hotel] to complain, and waited an hour before they replied,” she wrote, adding that she was “super angry.”
Chan said that the hotel initially told her the intruder was a “cleaning lady.” After reviewing CCTV footage, the hotel clarified that the person was a male staff member who was wearing a t-shirt that was work-issued, but not the traditional hotel uniform commonly worn by personnel.
She said she declined the hotel’s offer of afternoon tea on the house, and demanded a refund for her room before leaving.
Chan’s post generated buzz online, with many in the “Hong Kong staycation hotel sharing” group—which has 11,700 members—sharing her anger.
“I would be scared too. That’s why I always double-lock my door,” one person wrote.
Some said they had had pleasant experiences at Gateway Hotel before, and were surprised to hear her account.
With the COVID-19 pandemic grinding international travel to a halt, many hotels in Hong Kong have shifted gears, targeting local customers by promoting attractive staycation deals.
According to their website, Gateway Hotel is currently offering a number of themed staycation experiences, including the “Camping Fun” and “Festive Seafood Eatcation” package.
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