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Guide book author describes hotel staff as "strict, unkempt, and immune to 'do not disturb' notices"
The chambermaids of Britain's hotels are cast as the villains in Egon Ronay's 1969 "Guide to Hotels, Restaurants, Pubs, Inns and Refreshments in Great Britain," which is published today. Mr Ronay describes them as "strict, unkempt, and immune to 'do not disturb' notices."
He told yesterday how his eight hotel and restaurant researchers had met to pool their findings, and each had come up with stories of brutality at the hands of the chambermaids.
"One woman penetrated right into the bathroom of one of my researchers," he said. "And when I was sleeping in the afternoon because I wanted a rest, a chambermaid barged right in and put on the light."
The researchers always order breakfast in bed to test the room service. After eight o'clock, while they were still in their rooms, they were subjected to "constant disturbances." "They were used to the place being empty after eight o'clock," Mr Ronay said. "It is due to the fact that a large percentage of hotel customers are commercial travelers, and leave relatively early." Mr Ronay and his researchers, who have been publishing the guide for 12 years, agree that this situation is getting worse.
A spokesman for the hotel in Bristol where Mr Ronay's sleep was disturbed said that its chambermaids were instructed to wait for 30 seconds after knocking before entering a room. "Then they open the door half a yard, and if they suspect anyone is in there, they leave," the spokesman said.
Recalling the incident, the spokesman said that it was possible that Mr Ronay had not heard the maid's knock.
Other hotels would not go along with Mr Ronay's criticism, and the Savoy Hotel, London, said: "We have never had any complaints about any of our chambermaids at the Savoy."
The Savoy Grill regained its three star status in the guide after being demoted to two stars three years ago. The Savoy is now in line with the three star status of British Transport's Midland Hotel, Manchester.
The guide includes a new section on cafes and snack bars, but finds that it can bring itself to mention only 50 of the 4,000 visited.
