I have visited Long's Bar more than five times, but my recent experience was a mix of excellent service and a shocking lack of professional empathy.
The Arrival & Booking:
The process began with a call to the hotel to inquire about Ladies Night after I couldn't find details on the website. The operator, Mr. Nour, tried to assist but transferred me to the bar, where the phone rang without an answer. I called a second time and a lady answered; she sounded Filipina but immediately transferred me without speaking, and again, no one answered. On my third attempt, Mr. Nour picked up again and finally provided the details.
The Experience at Long’s Bar:
We arrived 30 minutes early and waited in the lobby before proceeding to the bar. Inside, everything was great. The staff explained the Ladies Night food and drink details perfectly. My colleague, who was visiting for the first time, was amazed by the speed of service. We both enjoyed the night. Because she was exhausted from work and had little sleep, she became tipsy, so I assisted her out quietly to ensure we did not disturb any other guests or staff.
The Incident in the Lobby:
The situation changed completely once we reached the lobby. While waiting for a taxi, my colleague began vomiting. As someone who has worked in hospitality for over a decade, I know how a guest in distress should be treated. I approached a staff member at the entrance named Ahmed for tissues.
Instead of showing empathy, he told me to "call housekeeping." When I made it clear I was a guest and not staff, he started shouting at me. He was very rude, standing with his chest out, proudly giving me his name in an aggressive way. He showed zero empathy and did not realize how unacceptable his behavior was. He even tried to come with security and pretend to help after he had already shouted at me, and I didn't want his help at that point.
Luckily, another staff member saw the situation and assisted us in a polite way, even though we hadn't interacted with him before. It is a shame that a great night at Long’s Bar was ruined by Ahmed’s unprofessional and biased attitude. He is not a good role model for the hotel industry. If there were a 0-star rating, I would give it to him!!!