Horrible Experience - Stay Away From This Hotel…read more
We booked Sleep Inn, Spring Lake, NC, based on good reviews. Still, our experience was nothing short of a nightmare due to the unprofessionalism, power-tripping, and outright harassment by their so-called "supervisor," Chanel--who has no business in any management or customer service role.
Unprofessional & Hostile Staff
Upon check-in, our room smelled musky and damp, but we were too exhausted from driving to deal with it. The actual disaster happened at breakfast.
We went down in pajamas and socks, and while the staff were too busy loudly chatting to restock plates, we waited. When we finally got food, a kitchen staff member said we needed shoes but immediately followed with, "Go ahead and eat." No sign or policy was posted anywhere.
Not even five minutes later, Chanel aggressively approached us, demanding we put on shoes. When we explained we had just been told to sit and eat, she immediately escalated the situation, saying: "Well, there's no sign, but I can call my GM and make you leave." From that moment on, she was on a power trip, more concerned with threats than solutions.
Rather than argue, we took our food to our room--only to have hotel staff knocking on our door 10 minutes later, demanding we leave the premises entirely, despite our fully paid stay and checkout being three hours away.
Retaliation, Lies & Incompetence on Full Display
Before leaving, I requested a zero balance receipt--a standard request to ensure no additional charges. Chanel initially agreed to print it, but when my wife clarified that we needed a receipt for standard paid service, Chanel suddenly refused and spitefully denied it to us, citing it's 3rd party.
While on a speakerphone call with "manager" Stephanie, it became clear that neither intended to de-escalate or assist me as the customer. Instead of resolving the issue, the conversation was nothing but:
Telling us what they "couldn't" do
Rude, dismissive, and unprofessional behavior
No effort to help, only to argue
At one point, Stephanie had to tell Chanel how to do her job--reminding her to stop getting loud and aggressive with customers and to answer the front desk phone, which she ignored. It was embarrassing to witness firsthand how incompetent Chanel was at basic responsibilities.
Even when the police and I asked for the written "shoes required" policy, Chanel could not produce one. She also lied about speaking to the GM when talking to Stephanie--who wasn't even on-site.
Chanel Has No Business in Any Customer Service Role.
This woman is utterly unqualified for any supervisory or customer-facing role. Rather than de-escalate or assist, she was more focused on power-tripping, being rude, and making threats.
Final Verdict:
Do Not Stay Here
This hotel is poorly managed and employs staff with no idea how to handle customers professionally. Chanel should never be in a position of authority, and Sleep Inn should be embarrassed to employ someone this incompetent.
The misleading good reviews do not reflect the reality--avoid this place at all costs.