Male Staff At JB Hotel Enters Female Guest's Room Despite 'Do Not Disturb' Sign On Door
In a statement, the hotel management insisted there was no malicious intent or forced entry.
By Sadho Ram — 20 Nov 2024, 03:18 PM
A hotel in Mount Austin, Johor Bahru, has come under fire after a male staff member allegedly entered a female guest's room without permission, despite the 'Do Not Disturb' sign being turned on
The incident, which took place during a Singaporean woman's two-night stay at Hako Hotel Mount Austin from 8 to 10 November, was detailed in a now-deleted post on the Facebook page Complaint Singapore.
The woman, who stayed with friends, listed a series of grievances, including a flooded bathroom and poor soundproofing. However, the most alarming issue was a breach of privacy experienced by one of her friends.
According to the post, the 33-year-old friend was changing after a shower when the male employee unexpectedly pushed open the door and entered her room.
"I was shocked and yelled at him to get out," mothership quoted her as saying.
She reported the matter to the front desk with her friend, emphasising that the 'Do Not Disturb' light was on and the door lock was faulty, leaving the room vulnerable.
The male staff member defended his actions, claiming he believed the room was unoccupied as there was no response to his knock
Expressing her frustration, the woman shared that the lack of privacy made her feel deeply "violated".
Hako Hotel Group has since issued a public apology and confirmed that it had conducted an internal investigation, reviewing CCTV footage and gathering statements from all parties involved.
The management clarified that the male staff member was a housekeeper who "accidentally and briefly" opened the door without entering the room.
In the statement, the hotel management insisted there was no malicious intent or forced entry.
"We deeply regret this incident," the hotel stated, adding that they had offered the guest a full refund and personally apologised to her.
"We understand that a guest's sense of privacy and security is paramount, and we are truly sorry for any discomfort or distress this situation may have caused."
