Adrian wrote:I attended a conference at the Long Beach Hilton the other week and found an Aston Martin parked in the clearly marked, only EV charging/parking spot in the structure. I asked about it at the front desk and on day one I was promised the spot would be available the next day. Though it had the old type chargers next to it, it also had a 120V outlet which I was planning to use. The next day, the Aston Martin was still parked in the EV spot. Turns out it belonged to a high level Hilton manager that over the years had appropriated it. So, I stopped by the front desk again. I was told the chargers were out of order and the 120V outlet was also out of order so Hilton management (probably the owner of the Aston Martin) would not allow me to park in that spot. So on my way to the car, I checked the 120V outlet...it worked perfectly. So I went back to the front desk and told them the outlet worked fine and I did not appreciate being lied to, and re-iterated my desire to park and charge in the EV parking spot. I was told they would get back to me. I got a call later that evening that regardless of whether the 120V outlet worked, Hilton would not make the EV charging spot available to me, the driver of an EV since it is private property and they don't have to. I haven't had the time to file a complaint on Hilton's website. I have to say this experience left me very annoyed with Hilton as a chain in general. I wonder what it will take for EV charging spots to be respected in the future.
Well isn't that just nice of them! They've given you a perfect script for a yelp review, hotels.com review and a letter to your local paper. PlugInCars.com may also be interested in the story:
http://www.plugincars.com/being-leaf-ow ... 07139.html
Sure they have the right to do whatever they want with their private property, though the incorrect signage might get them into trouble. You might be able to push it and park somewhere that signs prohibit it at that Hilton and then fight it on the grounds that they don't enforce and the signage lies, but that's probably more hassle than it's worth.
We also have our right to publicly express our opinion of the Hilton's practices, good or bad.
Also send something in to Hilton corporate and see if they approve of this perk for only one Hilton high level manager that is not extended to all employees at the site and violates posted signage. It's like advertising an amenity for the hotel guests like "Free Wifi" but not letting anyone use it but a certain over privileged high level hotel manager.
They might also get inn trouble with the city for false signage on their property. If it's his private spot, take down the EV signage, put covers on the chargers that say "Not for Use" and put up a standard "Reserved" sign saying all others will be towed.
If you ever return to the site, get their before the manager does and park in the EV ONLY spot!
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1999 Green GM EV1, 7.2kW Solar Electric (PV); 2002 RAV4 EV; Carbon Neutral since 2010
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