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What Is This At The Omni Berkshire Place?

Where: 21 East 52nd Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10022

We like to keep it fun but informative here at HotelChatter so our newest series, What is This? is devoted to odd-looking items in hotel rooms that upon first glance look as if they serve only a decorative purpose. But everything happens for a reason, right? And we're here to tell you what these things really do.

It took us a while to figure out what the heck this miniature doodad was, though several factors in the room (a malfunctioning safe, for one) distracted us from the mystery at hand. And anyway, the Omni Berkshire Place is a pretty classy joint, so we weren't about to throw a tantrum when we had delicious cocktails and pink-accented bathrooms to enjoy.

But it turns out it's not so much what this thing does than what it stops from happening.

Too cryptic? Click below to see what we mean.

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Hotel Emergencies / Hotel News / Four Seasons Hotels / Seattle Hotels / Hotel Saftey / Hotel Windows / → All Tags

More Falling Glass From a Hotel, This Time at The Four Seasons Seattle

Where: 99 Union Street [map], Seattle, WA, United States, 98101

Just when we thought the falling glass trend was behind us, some windows have shattered again, this time at the Four Seasons Seattle on Sunday. And much like what happened with the W Austin the loose window panes were actually from the residences that are attached to the hotel. But what's worse here is that this is the third time windows have fallen from the building since July.

Thankfully, no one's been hurt or injured but the glass has cracked the glass awning at the entrance of the hotel and a car was slightly damaged.

Needless to say the hotel has finally gotten the idea that all 300 of the tempered-glass windows need to be replaced. The hotel's GM told the Seattle Times:

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Hotel Safety / Hotel Rooftops / Hotel Windows / Hotel Emergencies / → All Tags

Hotel Safety 101: What to Check Out After You Check In

Hotels. Gravity. There's no reason they have to be in opposition. So far this summer, we've seen one too many tragedies unfold on the wrong side of a hotel balcony—or window. So maybe it's time we go back to basics and lay down some travel safety rules.

· Keep off the heavy drinking at rooftop bars

It's a terrible way to bring a night of fresh-air fun to an abrupt and unsavory end. When you find yourselves drinking al fresco, it may be a good idea to save the heavy drinking for later, when you find yourself back on dry land. One Manhattan-based GM tells us: "On busier evenings, we do have security on the roof to watch for unruly behavior as well as employees and managers keeping their eyes out for any such occurrence."

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Hotel Emergencies / W Hotels / Hotel Windows / Austin Hotels / → All Tags

This is the Letter the W Austin Gave Out to Guests During Glass Freefall

Where: 200 Lavaca Street [map], Austin, TX, United States, 78701

While the W Austin is taking the necessary steps to make its hotel safe from falling glass, it has wisely decided to relocate guests to another hotel.

We've got a copy of the letter the hotel gave to its guests on Monday. Indeed the guest who sent us this letter actually witnessed some of the glass carnage on Tuesday (glass fell from the building on Monday and Tuesday) as he was having lunch at Wich Wich across the street. (You can see a larger version after the jump.)

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Hotel Safety / W Hotels / Hotel Windows / Austin Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags

What is Wrong With The W's Windows?

UPDATE, 3:42PM: W Hotels has released this statement on the two incidents.

The W Austin and W Atlanta Midtown incidents are completely unrelated.

The circumstances of the two incidents are quite different and they are totally unrelated. At the W Austin, a panel of glass broke on balcony railings on two unoccupied condo residences located above the hotel. As such, these are two completely separate incidents, at two very different types of buildings and locations (balcony railing versus window).

Teams of experts are currently investigating each event independently.

We thought last month's horror hotel story about the two women falling through a guestroom window at the W Atlanta was bad enough but it's happened again! there's been another scary incident involving glass at a W Hotel. This time, at the new W Austin in Texas.

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Anti-View / Viva Vegas / Hotel Windows / Hotel Locks / → All Tags

Sorry, But Getting Locked Out of a Killer View is an Anti-View

Where: 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South [map], Las Vegas, NV, United States, 89109

While Vegas is known for its anti-views, anytime you have a room that looks out onto hotels along the Strip, no matter how many rooftops you can see below, it's pretty much considered a killer view. Or at the very least, the hotels are going to charge you a little bit more for rooms with a view of the neon skyline.

But what if you get a room with a decent view and a balcony but the sliding door is locked? That's what we found at Bally's last weekend. Check out these scary-looking window locks on the sliding doors.

This was taken from a room on the 25th floor--a smoking room. Yeah, the cigarette stench is not leaving this room. Ever. Then again, rooms are a dirt cheap $45 a night.

A shot of the room view is after the jump.

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