NY Hilton Midtown discontinuing room service

[Pollywaffle]

The New York Hilton Midtown is the largest hotel in the city, with nearly 2,000 rooms. In August, it will earn another distinction: It will discontinue room service.
The move will eliminate 55 jobs. It could also ignite an industrywide trend. Other hotels, such as the Hudson in New York and the Public in Chicago, are already nibbling at the concept, offering meals delivered in brown paper bags...

See full article here: http://www.crainsnewyork.com/article/20130531/HOSPITALITY_TOURISM/130539976

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I'd hate for this to become the norm across the industry. I know it's not the most economic of options but I do like room service on occasion - it's part of being on holiday!

I think Keanu says it best...forward to 53sec

[video=youtube_share;PJmKLzmPMso]http://youtu.be/PJmKLzmPMso?t=53s[/video]

 

[Mal]

The problem is the economics ... Really, Room Service is generally priced outside of market tolerance and thus is disappearing (Hey, what a throwback to other industries and even the hotel mini-bar thread here recently).

Yes it is great. Yes it is convenient. But, at the prices that are charged, hotels are basically telling the market "Help us kill room service".

 

[Mollycram]

I'm at the midtown hotel now....definitely not my favourite Hilton hotel. They don't even provide tea or coffee facilities in the room. I too like the option of having room service so really hope that this doesn't become the norm.

 

[Hvr]

And yet how many local food outlets are there nearby? Given it is in the centre of the city I can't really see that there would be much use for room service.

Hopefully the hotel will facilitate delivery to the hotel from local food outlets.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Im a huge fan of room service and use it all the time... unless there is a 24 hour restaurant in the hotel.

 

[muppet]

The issue I have relating to "premium" hotels/airlines cutting services to reduce costs, is that it's fine during off-peak as due to discounting you get a lower rate to compensate the loss of service. However during peak costs are not a factor of prices, it's a factor of demand and so you end up paying premium rates for less service.

 

[oz_mark]

The problem is the economics ... Really, Room Service is generally priced outside of market tolerance and thus is disappearing (Hey, what a throwback to other industries and even the hotel mini-bar thread here recently).

Yes it is great. Yes it is convenient. But, at the prices that are charged, hotels are basically telling the market "Help us kill room service".

The problem is, that even at the prices that are charged, they are loss-making services. Having someone around 24 hours a day to prepare something and deliver to your room is an expensive undertaking. Even so, it would be nice if they could keep room service for some sort of core hours....

 

[jetlagger]

I have used room service in many hotels in various locations on a regular basis. I rarely find it overpriced for the convenience factor alone. Nothing worse than being in a unfamiliar place when hungry @ 130am & have to hunt for decent food besides the ubiquitous slurpee outlets.
Not every provided service in a quality hotel generates revenue, though I find helpful concierge & room service to be amongst the more valuable attributes.
Certainly hoping for this not to be a demise trend.

 

[Hvr]

Thought it looked familiar. Last month I got a shuttle from this hotel to another Hilton brand hotel in New Jersey. There are so many food outlets very close to this hotel that there would probably be very few people who would actually miss room service.

I suggest that for this location room service wouldn't be missed as much as other more isolated locations.

 

[drron]

I have used room service in many hotels in various locations on a regular basis. I rarely find it overpriced for the convenience factor alone. Nothing worse than being in a unfamiliar place when hungry @ 130am & have to hunt for decent food besides the ubiquitous slurpee outlets.
Not every provided service in a quality hotel generates revenue, though I find helpful concierge & room service to be amongst the more valuable attributes.
Certainly hoping for this not to be a demise trend.

Ah but room service for me at the Midtown Hilton is to go to the Halal cart on 53rd and 6th.Even at 0130 you will have to line up.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I use room service on the occasion. Mainly for the kids because they often prefer to watch TV in the room than join us for a meal in the restaurant. The other need is poolside. Ordering a coughtail and some nibblies whilst lounging poolside is almost mandatory!

Ditching room service (and I'm assuming it's only the food options...not basic housekeeping), would seem to me to be an attack on the concept of a serviced hotel. Getting short stay apartments is usually a far cheaper/better option for those of us with kids in tow and it's these small things which still hold the attraction for a hotel instead.

 

[jetlagger]

Ah but room service for me at the Midtown Hilton is to go to the Halal cart on 53rd and 6th.Even at 0130 you will have to line up.

I'm sure they do a lovely turkey 'bacon" melt.. As long as you don't have to run the gauntlet through the street hookers & other dubious nocturnal creatures.. ;-)

 

[drron]

We have often walked from Tudor City(UN area) to Hilton midtown after midnight and dont run into any hookers,just the occasional homeless person-but they are usually asleep in their cardboard box by then.

 

[Flashback]

I've been using hungryhouse ? Find local takeaway delivery menus and order food online for my meals on recent stays as the room service menus have been very meh, but only when I've been busy with work and the hour or so spent heading out of the hotel to look for a meal isn't convenient.