Unfortunately, my experience during our five-day stay at The Duniway in October 2026 has been…read moreoverwhelmingly negative. Two separate incidents required management intervention, hotel security assistance, and ultimately police involvement. Both incidents raised serious concerns about guest safety, the security of our property, and the hotel's ability to respond appropriately when problems arise.
Incident One: Valet Service and Vehicle Safety
On the second morning of our stay, we waited more than 30 minutes for valet service to retrieve our rental vehicle. Despite our repeated attempts to obtain our car, we eventually had to ask the front desk staff to intervene. Approximately five minutes later, the valet arrived with our vehicle.
The valet employee smelled strongly of marijuana smoke, as did the interior of our rental vehicle. This raised serious concerns that our vehicle had been operated by someone who may have been under the influence of marijuana.
When we expressed our concerns, the valet responded by telling us to "park our own car next time" in the public parking garage. His dismissive and unprofessional response only compounded an already troubling situation.
Anthony, the manager on duty, was apologetic and offered to waive our parking charges for the remainder of our stay. While I appreciated his acknowledgment of the situation, the incident left us concerned about the security of our rental vehicle and the standards of conduct and accountability for employees entrusted with guests' property.
Incident Two: Guest Disturbance and Failure to Respond to Safety Concerns
On the final night of our stay, an extremely heated altercation involving several guests erupted in the hallway on our floor. The confrontation involved prolonged screaming, profanity, and escalating hostility. The disturbance was so intense and continued for so long that we became genuinely frightened for our personal safety.
We contacted the front desk to report the situation and were assured that hotel security would respond.
After approximately five additional minutes of continued screaming and escalating behavior, with no apparent security intervention, we called the front desk again. During that call, the staff member hung up on me.
I called back and reiterated that we did not feel safe. I was told that we would be transferred to security, but the call was disconnected again.
When I called a third time to explain what had happened and express our continued safety concerns, the front desk employee, Kass, responded in a manner that conveyed annoyance rather than concern.
Eventually, police arrived and removed the individuals involved in the altercation. The entire incident lasted nearly 30 minutes.
What I find particularly troubling is not simply that an altercation occurred. Hotels cannot necessarily prevent guests from behaving inappropriately. However, they are responsible for taking reasonable steps to protect guests and responding appropriately when serious safety concerns are reported.
Instead, we experienced repeated disconnections, dismissive communication, and an apparent lack of timely intervention during a situation that was frightening and potentially dangerous.
As I write this at 11:15 p.m., I remain unable to return to sleep following the incident. What should have been a peaceful final evening of our vacation has instead been overshadowed by fear, frustration, and a profound lack of confidence in the hotel's ability to ensure our safety.
Overall Experience and Concerns
I have visited Portland approximately a dozen times over the past several years and have consistently enjoyed positive experiences throughout the city. Unfortunately, this stay at The Duniway has been a striking departure from those experiences.
To encounter two significant incidents during a single five-day stay is disappointing enough. That both incidents involved concerns about our personal safety or the security of our property makes the experience considerably more troubling.
I recognize that hotel management cannot control every action of its employees or guests. However, management is responsible for establishing appropriate standards, ensuring staff are prepared to respond to safety concerns, and taking reasonable action when those concerns arise.
In both instances, those expectations were not met.
While I appreciated Anthony's willingness to address the valet incident, the hotel's overall handling of these situations has left me questioning its commitment to guest safety and accountability.
I believe these incidents warrant serious management review, particularly regarding valet oversight, security response procedures, front desk communication, and the treatment of guests who report feeling unsafe.
I would appreciate a substantive response from hotel leadership addressing these concerns and explaining what steps will be taken to prevent similar experiences for future guests.
