Who Keeps Saying #1 Hotel in New York????

I would like to know who is making that judgement .......and how the hotel could possibly be touting that. I had the displeasure of staying at The Surrey Hotel the other day. We used to stay there very often..........at least 3 days a month........for years. And we camped there for two weeks during the Hurricane Sandy debacle. But after years we needed a break, like everything else. We stayed there about three months ago and my husband commented that the place was run down and I agreed, but it is in such a great location and our dogs love the park. It really is in a great location sitting on the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street. That is where it stops. Well, I made my reservation for one night as my son and and I had something to do until late, and then I had to be back in the city early the next morning. We arrived. Checked in. We had time to drop our bags in the room and get a great dinner before we had to be at our appointment. We arrived to no doorman on duty at 5pm. We had to take our own bags to the room. Not terrible. Just made a note......not correct though. We checked in. There was a fool at the front desk. They have so much turnover in their help that no one ever knows who you are because THEY are always new. (When I made the reservation I asked why they tax amount was so great. They told me that there was a $40.16 Residence fee. I asked what that was for for. They told me it was for the use of the WIFI and the gym. I said I do not want use of either. They told me it was not optional. So the room rate was actually $40 plus 18% tax higher than quoted.) The keys look like credit cards and they have to be inserted in a slot to allow the elevator to rise to the desired floor. “It’s not working” said another guest......”you have to jiggle it”. We got to the room. We dropped our bags. My gut said NO. My watch said GO. So, we washed our hands and we left for the evening. I returned alone at 10:45pm. My son had gone out. Again no doorman. I was under the impression that was one of the services of the hotel. I used nothing else (not even their products). I could not get the elevator to work. I should have taken that guest’s name and number to get me to my room. I went to the front desk. Poof......a doorman had arrived. I told them about the elevator and he came with me. He said “They are temperamental and they need to be fixed”. THIS is the #1 Hotel in NY????????????? Heaven help us. Sidebar. Last April friends of mine were coming from London and they wanted a hotel suggestion. I suggested The Surrey uptown and Crosby Street Hotel downtown. I told them I preferred Crosby but Surrey had a marvelous location. END OF STORY.... They took a 2 bedroom suite. They moved out the next day. I was terribly embarrassed. I fought to get them a refund and I won. Well, here is when I really begin. I turned the lights on. The room was disgusting. It was facing an air shaft but I was closing the drapes anyway, which turn down did not do. (They also did not leave waters or slippers.) But why give a guest a room facing an air shaft if the hotel was only 60% full, if that. Especially a very repeat guest. The room was ratty looking. The light switches were filthy. The towels were threadbare. The sheets were rough. The mattresses needed replacing. (I tried my son’s bed also.) The carpet was dirty looking. The furniture was chipped and worn. There was no shower, only a tub which looked gross. Good thing I showered before I came into the city. The toilet did not flush properly. There was an awful grinding noise coming from the wall behind the desk or next to the bathroom. I put my sound machine on and I said I would give it 10 minutes. It was the same 10 minutes I gave the porter (who knew me!) to bring the slippers and the waters. I would not get undressed and step on that carpet without slippers. And to boot, the room was a handicapped room. BUT WHY WAS IT SO DISGUSTING?! And why didn’t I move out you ask? I was tired. I figured my son would come back tired and it would just be a hassle. I used the time to read. I choose sleep and left the hotel at 9:30am.....and yes, that is early for me. Let’s talk about management. There was a GM who was at The Surrey for years. She was a firebrand and EVERYTHING was done right. She was also very visible. She left years ago to go to the new Bulgari Hotel midtown west. Then The Surrey had another GM. Before I had time to put his number in my contacts, he was gone. Now there is another GM and I think he should be given the boot. In all of my stays there and all the contact I have had with him, I have never once met him. While making the reservation they asked what I would like in the room. I said. “Save the champagne. I won’t drink it. But please make sure there is plenty of water.” I got neither.

PS They sent me the bill via email. The Residence fee was on it and it included the mini bar and waters (which of course, no one mentioned to me) and morning coffee in the lobby (of which there was none) and the WIFI and the gym etc. I called the front desk. In typical Surrey style, they sent the call elsewhere and I had to leave a message. Then I had to send an email. Ultimately, the fee was refunded, but then they did bill me $9.54..........maybe for waters?????!!!!!!! Right hand. Left hand.