I flew from Canada to join my Irish cousins on a ski trip to Austria. Check-in was "efficient' and I was assigned a nice room on the first (European) floor. However, it quickly became apparent that room was very noisy as it was right in front of the elevator. All other guest rooms on the floor were some distance from the elevator foyer and and the foyer is isolated by glass doors. After spending one night in the room I realized that I would not get a good nights sleep without earplugs.
I approached the front desk and requested a change of room to a quieter location. I was informed that an equivalent room would not be available until after the weekend. On Monday morning, after two nights in my noisey room, I again approached the front desk. This time I was shown a tiny room at the very end of a hallway. Although, no doubt, the room would have been quieter, I had the feeling that reception was giving me a message about asking for a room change. When I politely requested a room of similiar size as the room I had been assigned the reception manager interviened and told me that my assigned room was actually an "upgrade" (although no one informed me at check-in), and any room change would be to an inferior room. He also informed me that there were no rooms of an equivant size available, despite that it was apparent, from the number of skis in the ski room and the number of patrons in the restaurant, that a large number of guests had checked out, and consequently, more rooms were available. His manner was crisp and dismissive. I had the distinct feeling that I was being punished for having the audacity to request a room change.
Overall, this is a lovely hotel in a beautiful location. The restaurant, bar and cleaning staff are friendly and inviting, as are some of the front end staff. However, there appears to be a reception management culture that is more concerned with efficiency than "hospitality."
A feeling of being welcome and, within reason, being accommodated, is paramount to guest satisfaction. My experience with reception management left me feeling that, as a result of requesting a room change, I was viewed as an irritant rather than a valued guest.
Tip: For a good night sleep do not stay in rooms 615, 715 or 815.
