Woman claims Hotel gave Drunken Man her Key

A New York business woman is suing Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, claiming staff at one of their hotels gave her room key to a drunken man who allegedly sexually assaulted her in her bed.

Alison Fournier announced the suit today at a news conference with women’s rights lawyer Gloria Allred.  According to the suit, Fournier was in her locked room in Hotel Kämp, a hotel operated by Starwood Hotels in Helsinki, Finland, on the night of Jan. 15, 2011 when she was sexually assaulted.  The man, who was “visibly intoxicated,” had undressed, slipped into her bed, and proceeded to grope her naked body, the suit says.

Fournier, who is represented by Allred and the New York firm Cuti Hecker Wang LLP, is suing the company for negligence and negligent infliction of emotional distress for an amount to be determined at trial.

Fournier was traveling to Helinski for work and said that she specifically chose a Starwood hotel because of the company’s reputation.

“Starwood is the go-to brand for business travelers and I expected a certain level of security from their hotels,” Fournier said in a statement.  But instead of security, Fournier said she found susceptibility.  According to a release that Allred sent out, a man approached Fournier the night of the incident, expressing a sexual interest in her. According to Allred, Fournier had made it very clear that she was not interested in him and retreated to her room to get away.

That same man, according to the suit, later went to the front desk, said that he was Fournier’s husband, and obtained a key from hotel staff to her room.
The staff did not ask him for any identification or proof that he was in fact Fournier’s husband, according to the lawsuit. He then proceeded to her room and tried to molest her. She awoke, grabbed a housecoat, and ran screaming from the room.

“To this day, I still suffer from the memories of that night and I am still not able to put it behind me,” Fournier said.  She said that, because of the incident, she left her career and moved from New York to be closer to her family.  The suit alleges that there is no indication that Starwood has taken any action to investigate the incident at Hotel Kämp or to disassociate itself from the Finnish hotel.

In a statement given to ABC News by Starwoods Hotels and Resorts, Worldwide, the company said it is investigating the incident.

“The safety and security of our guests is our first and foremost priority. It is company-wide policy to ensure proper identification is shown and verified before distributing a key to a registered guest’s room,” the statement said. “We are taking this allegation seriously and are working with the hotel in question to understand the facts and any breach of security that may have contributed to this very unfortunate event. “  Allred said the case is representative of a bigger problem than a personal assault, because women, particularly businesswoman, have a right to feel safe when traveling and staying at well known hotels.

“Business women have a right to safety and security and especially need that safety and security when traveling abroad,” Allred told ABC News. “They are particualrly vulnerable when traveling alone. Starwood’s negligence, misconduct and reckless disregard for the safety of Ms. Fournier has led to devastating and life changing consequences for her. … They need to be fully accountable and make sure that this never happens again.”

Taken from Yahoo.com
Comments:  What is the proper way for a hotel to make sure that the wrong person is not given the right key?  Ive been to hotels and all they ask is what room number im in or for my name and they provide the keys.  Its a pretty easy way to get into someones room.  I would advocate for the hotel to take pictures of guests, but many go to hotels for the privacy and anonymity.  Anyone have any suggestions on how a hotel can keep track of who can be provided a room key to a room without taking pictures?  They can ask for photo ID, but if a person has been locked out of their room, then they have no way of providing that.  A person can also be escorted up to their room, but many at high dollar hotels would not be a fan of having to be escorted up to their room and then required to show photo ID once in.
For those of you who dont know, starwood hotels and resorts worldwide make millions or billions off their hotels.  They are an upscale hotel if every country, here in the US it costs a minimum of $180 (before taxes at the right time) and usually average $400/night for the lesser rooms.  I have always wanted to stay in one so I joined starwood hotels mailing lists, but have yet to see any offers which fall in the affordable ($120-$140/night) range.
As for the legitimacy of her story, some details which she claims “hotel gave drunken man her room key” dont seem legitimate.  This may have been due to poor management, but I would assume management would have apologized profusely and more than compensated her for the error.  She also claims that she left her career and went back to New York seems outrageous, though I am not a female nor have been sexually assaulted by a drunk man, it would seem like an extreme measure to move back to New York from Helinski, Finland?
Here is a map of Finland since I know most of you dont know where it is located.