This definitely seems like something that could be handled better…
The multi-purpose SLS Beverly Hills
A Reddit user shares their experience staying at SLS Beverly Hills, which is a Marriott Luxury Collection hotel. The guest, who is also a Marriott Bonvoy Ambassador member, was staying there last weekend, and recounts “the weirdest experience” they’ve ever had at a hotel.
They noticed curtains next to the door of their room, which blocked off about a quarter of the floor, and had an “employees only” sign. Initially they didn’t think much of it, until they returned later in the day and noticed a heart rate monitor in the hall next to their room. They decided to take a peek past the curtains (which were already pulled a little to the side), and saw a nurse station, heart rate monitors, a doctor, hospital gurneys, and instructions with how people should be medicated.
Not only that, but when they returned to the hotel at 1AM, it was allegedly “super loud,” with nurses talking to one another, and heart rate monitors beeping.
Understandably they were confused. Were there some guests with coronavirus who were quarantining and/or being treated, or what was going on (not that this seems likely, but I think nowadays it’s the first thing that comes to mind)? The next day they decided to ask the hotel staff, and were told that the hotel has a relationship with Cedars-Sinai, and recent plastic surgery recovery patients are sent to the hotel to recover until they can fly back home.
The Reddit user concludes:
It wasn’t just one, but multiple plastic surgery recovery patients on the floor in the rooms next to us and we were sharing the same linens, towels, etc. with them at this hotel. To be honest I felt really grossed out. I felt like I was staying at a hospital seeing and hearing everything that was going on. Also, if you stay here in the future you might very well be staying in one of these recovery patient rooms and might have absolutely no idea. Some people might not be too bothered by this, but I think I’d not expect this for a category 7 Marriott property in Beverly Hills. Let me know your honest thoughts if you’d feel a certain way if this would’ve happened during your stay there too. I’m not sure if I should follow up with our Marriott Ambassador about it or not.
My take on this situation
First of all, it’s normal for hotels to have special rates and agreements with hospitals and plastic surgeons for them to stay while they’re recovering. That being said, I think there’s a distinction between someone who is just recovering for a few days without the need for medical attention, and someone who is receiving active medical attention.
The former is totally fine, if you ask me, while the latter is a different story. In my opinion if a hotel has a setup whereby patients are actively being monitored and treated, there needs to be more separation between that and other guests, perhaps in the form of blocking off a floor for this. At an absolute minimum, if there’s not going to be separation, there should be more proactive communication of this practice.
It kind of takes the fun out of a hotel stay if you’re seeing and hearing heart rate monitors right outside your room, without a clue of what’s going on.
The only thing I don’t agree with the Reddit user on is the concern over mixing towels and sheets with guests recovering from plastic surgery, or eventually being assigned those rooms. Much “grosser” stuff happens in sheets and towels without any sort of plastic surgery recovery, so that wouldn’t be my concern…
Bottom line
Reports suggest that the SLS Beverly Hills is being used as a plastic surgery patient recovery center. While that’s not that unusual, it seems like the hotel should do a better job separating that side-business from the rest of the hotel. If people are going to require medical care while they’re recovering, other guests probably shouldn’t have to see or hear heart rate monitors in the hallways, and wonder what’s going on.
Would you have issues with this practice if you stayed at the SLS Beverly Hills?
(Tip of the hat to @gummibaat)
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