Today's is apparently the soft opening of Aloft Harlem on 124th and FDB/8th Avenue but a reader found out in our past post that reservations will not be taken until December 9th:
LINK. The above photos were from this afternoon and fences along with some road barriers are still up out front. From what we can gather, some major flag poles have been installed and some sort of banner should be arriving soon. So folks, it's kind of open but nobody can check in at this point from what we understand.
Hopefully the staff can start working there at least.
ReplyDeleteSo, philosophical question for the day: If a hotel opens and nobody can check in, is it a hotel?
ReplyDeleteIs the bar open, perhaps?
ReplyDeleteThe employees were treated scandalously with all these delays
ReplyDeleteI think the employees will be pretty ecstatic to have a job in the first place.
ReplyDeleteWell, if you had quit your job to start at Aloft on its first opening date in August, I imagine you'd be kinda upset.
ReplyDeleteHopefully UE and/or temp work filled the gap for folks in that situation.
Why would anyone build a hotel there anyway?
ReplyDeleteHmmmm...that last comment wasn't mine. Some moron had to go with the same name? Anyway, there are a ton of reasons why you would build a hotel there. Think about it.
ReplyDeleteVic, forgot the original opening was scheduled that long ago. Yeah, I would be a little peeved.
The front desk is open and a couple of guest were seen checking in this past Friday. Apparently online bookings won't be up until mid December but some reservations are being made even though construction is still on site.
ReplyDelete@ Greg, Chris and Vic: according to management, the hotel has kept all staff on payroll since August, despite a lack of paying guests. Kudos to Aloft for that.
ReplyDeleteI have reservations for Dec. 18th. I called and they said they aren't going to be opened by then and are relocating guest to other Starwood hotels. They are very kind in the process but I can't imagine how much the room rates will have to be to make up for all the money lost in paying employees and not being able to honor reservations.
ReplyDeleteMost of the employees didn't have to quit their jobs - they where already unemployed - I was at the unemployment office the day they were doing the interviews. having worked for Starwood Hotels, This is typical of this brand.
ReplyDelete