Ase Gúrate
Google
I am compelled to share this disturbing experience at the Mercer Hotel Sevilla to warn other travelers about the shocking lack of basic human decency displayed by their staff.
What Happened:
On July 31st at approximately 2:00 PM, during extreme heat (45°C/113°F), I witnessed a medical emergency unfold outside the hotel. An American tourist - a well-dressed, polite woman - collapsed from heat exhaustion on the sidewalk directly in front of the hotel. Her elderly mother and adult daughter approached the front desk, security, and bar staff seeking basic humanitarian assistance: shade and a place to recover.
The Staff Response Was Appalling:
• Multiple staff members (front desk, security, two bartenders) categorically refused to provide any assistance
• When I, as a paying guest, asked them to show basic human compassion, they remained callous and dismissive
• When the recovered woman later returned to request staff names to report the incident to management, the situation escalated to verbal abuse
The Verbal Abuse:
The staff’s behavior crossed every line of professional conduct:
• Mocked the family openly with fake sympathy (“fake babes” when asked for help)
• Made cruel personal attacks about the woman’s appearance
• Used demeaning language that I won’t repeat in full
• Laughed at a family in genuine distress
• Lied about management availability
• Attempted to physically remove the woman while she was simply asking for accountability
My Response:
This treatment was so disgraceful that I immediately changed hotels. I could not continue supporting an establishment that treats people - especially those in medical distress - with such cruelty.
To Management:
If you’re reading this, your staff provided fake names, so I cannot identify the specific individuals. However, this occurred at 2:00 PM on July 31st and involved your front desk, security, and bar staff. This reflects catastrophically on your brand and basic human values.
To Fellow Travelers:
Sevilla has many beautiful, well-located hotels with staff who understand basic hospitality and human decency. The Mercer’s superficial luxury renovation cannot mask the poverty of character displayed by their employees. Choose literally anywhere else and enjoy the genuine warmth that Sevilla and its people are actually known for.
Bottom Line:
A hotel that refuses to help someone experiencing heat stroke on their doorstep, then verbally abuses them for asking for basic human decency, deserves no one’s business. Completely inexcusable.