voco - Gold Coast, an IHG Hotel

Worst experience ever

Location was in the city near the heart of town

I was staying at the hotel and thought it would be nice to have some appetizers and a drink at the bar in the lobby, after I ordered a security officer came up to me and said hats were not allowed in the bar after 7pm. I had never been in this bar so I had no idea of a dress code at it was 7:15 so I wasn't really formally dressed for an evening just yet because I had spent the day on the beach. I am an executive at my company, I am usually always dressed well but that day I had board shorts a t shirt and a hat. I explained to security I was simply going to pay for my drinks and go upstairs when he left onto the bar, put his arm down and said "it's simlple mate you can either take it off or I'll do it for you" I was so taken back; I'm staying in a 5 star hotel and never expected to be threatened physically by a member of their staff. I immediately responded with that's not the way to talk to people, I approached the reception and asked for the GM... The GM was not on so an assistant manager was the acting duty manager. As I'm explaining to the Asst Manager I was so distraught by the school yard bully approach of a corporate prestigious hotel that the manager himself could tell it wasn't appropriate what there security had done. I look over at the bar area near the hotel lobby and the security is standing outside with a smirk on his face staring me down followed by putting his hands up in a threatening gesture. I asked the manager if he felt that tactic was appropriate given the situation and he agreed it was wrong and offered me free drink ticket. The last thing on my mind was having a drink inside the bar where the own staff seem to be out of control. Aside from many other things I felt were very lacking in this hotel that was enough for me to want to leave, I wouldn't recommend this hotel to my enemies.