Tag Archives: Valet Service

Hospitality Industry Parking Risks: Kentucky Hotel Guest's Auto Stolen By Man Posing As A Valet

“…(suspect) was posing as a valet at the Seelbach Hilton Hotel on June 29. After helping the owner of the vehicle into the hotel with their luggage, Gibbs then drove away with the $25,000 SUV…”

A Louisville man has been charged with theft after he pretended to be a hotel valet and stole a SUV. A short time later, the vehicle’s owner said someone told them the person who drove off in the SUV was not a hotel employee.

Police identified Gibbs as the suspect after looking at hotel security footage and said he later confessed to the crime. The vehicle was recovered that same day parked in front of Gibbs apartment.

Gibbs is charged with theft by unlawful taking of an auto over $10,000.

In a statement to WAVE 3, Jon McFarland, general manager of the Seelbach Hilton, said, “The Seelbach has not had a prior incident like this. We are aggressively looking at how it happened, and preventing it from happening again.”

For more:  http://www.wave3.com/story/19054310/police-fake-valet-steals-suv

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Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Theft

Hospitality Industry Legal Risks: Virginia Hotel Sued For $12 Million By Family Of Woman Killed By Valet Driver

“…A multi-million dollar lawsuit is filed in Richmond Civil Court, by the husband of the woman killed outside of a downtown Richmond hotel, allegedly by a valet driver for that hotel…Court documents say that (the valet) pulled out of the driveway of the hotel and instead of turning onto the street, he turned left down the sidewalk and ran right into (the woman)…”

“…Among those named in the suit is the Hilton Garden Inn. And the valet company employed at the hotel…”

In (the civil lawsuit) — Stone’s husband, John, lays out the pain, sorrow and anguish he’s been dealing. Stone died just a few days before their wedding anniversary. The suit says Josephine Stone’s death was a direct result of the negligence, recklessness and a conscious disregard for her rights and safety. The total amount wanted: more than 12 million dollars.

The Hilton released this statement, saying, “We deeply regret the tragic loss of any life especially this promising young person. We continue to work with the third party operator, parking management services, on this matter and will continue to cooperate with local authorities as we have done since this tragic accident. We continue to keep the stone family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.”

Gray is facing a involuntary manslaughter charge as well. That is set to go to a trial on May 25th.

For more:  http://www.nbc12.com/story/17170161/civil-lawsuit-filed-in-woman-killed-outside-richmond-hotel

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Filed under Guest Issues, Injuries, Insurance, Labor Issues, Liability, Management And Ownership

Hospitality Industry Guest Parking Risks: Keys Stolen From "Unattended" Valet Box At Atlanta Restaurant Result In 2 Stolen Cars And Personal Property

 Several sets of car’s keys were taken from an unlocked and unattended valet box near the trendy diner. Another car owner had his 2010 Audi stolen.

The owner of the valet company, Pro Park, said his insurance will cover costs of the stolen cars and replacing all the victims’ keys. 

  ‘It’s pretty brazen to go after them in the view of everyone.’

At a restaurant in Atlanta where a thief took car keys from an unlocked valet box and drove off with a Mercedes which had the ashes of the owner's dead father inside

 

A thief drove off with a car which had the ashes of the owner’s dead father inside the vehicle. Michael Doane’s father died the week before in a car accident and he had planned on scattering the ashes the next day with his family.

The 45-year-old’s Mercedes was parked right in front of  Murphy’s Restaurant in Atlanta’s Virginia Highland area when the cheeky thief struck. Madison Burnett told WSB-TV: ‘It’s pretty brazen to go after them in the view of everyone.’

Restaurant owner Tom Murphy said: ‘This is a tragic situation where a valet company who we subcontracted made a horrific mistake.

‘It is just heartbreaking that this occurred and our prayers go out to this family.  Hopefully the media recognition will greatly assist on the car being found as soon as possible.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1359936/Thief-drives-ashes-car-owners-dead-father.html#ixzz1G70BlETl

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Filed under Crime, Guest Issues, Insurance, Liability, Management And Ownership, Risk Management, Theft

Hospitality Industry Technology: Hotel Management Must Look To Increase Service To Improve Guest Satisfaction Via Cell Phone Applications Such As “E-Butler”

The E-Butler program is actually a mobile app that is available from the iTunes app store for free.

  • Guests can download it prior to arriving at the hotel and then once they arrive
  • They can start communicating electronically with their butler.
  • The app also features an “Insider’s Guide” from New York’s various personalities such as Vogue’s André Leon Talley, fashion designer Jason Wu, chef Alain Ducasse, architect David Rockwell and the Village Voice’s Michael Musto.
  • They comment their favorite shops, restaurants and city landmarks
  • If the guest wants to book one of these recommendations, they can do so directly through the E-Butler.

While the app is available to all to download, there are some restrictions accessing the butler–namely the app prompts all guests to enter their passcode, name, email and room number.

For more:  http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2010/12/21/17165/533/hotels/ButlerLeaks_Messages_from_the_St_Regis_New_York_s_E_Butler

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Filed under Guest Issues, Management And Ownership, Technology, Training

Hospitality Industry Liability Insurance: Hotels And Restaurants That Provide Valet Service Must Have Liability Insurance And Garage Keepers Legal Liability Coverage

Liability insurance and garage keepers legal liability insurance are two specifically different coverage’s.

In the news recently, a man used a valet on a lunch date with his wife. A man, pretending to be the valet, used his claim ticket to steal his wife’s brand new BMW...

Liability insurance provides protection for the parking company for their negligence should they injury or damage someone or someone else’s property (i.e. Bodily Injury and Property Damage Coverage).

This would be to a third party. Garage keepers legal liability insurance provides protection for the parking company for their negligence should they damage the customers vehicle in which they have taken into their care, custody and control.

For more:  http://www.valetpark.net/ins.html

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Filed under Insurance, Liability, Theft