I have been to Alibi several times in the past 6 months. On Saturday, May 17, I visited the hotel to attend a party at Alibi; my friend was hosting a party in the back room of the bar, and she had submitted the guest list names several days in advance.
I arrived with my guest around 10 PM. There was a very long line outside which I had seen on my previous visits. What had changed this time was that they now screen *everyone* coming through the front door. You can hear the rather pompous, cold young gentleman ask elderly couples, "Where are you going, can I help you?" while the couples replies, "We're guests," after which, they are given the go-ahead.
I went up to this gatekeeper and informed him that my guest and I had our names on the list for my friend's party and we would like to enter the hotel. At the same time, some other young man was begging and pleading to just be let into the bar. This man was not taking "no" for an answer, so the gatekeeper pointed to his right, and told my guest and I "go stand over there and wait to be helped."
So I dutifully abided by his instructions, where I waited for several minutes. As he, nor anyone else, ever came back up to me to check my name off the list he was holding in his hand, I went back up to him, where he gave me the same speech as he was giving everyone else, "Where are you going, can I help you?"
I informed him that I had *just* spoken with him and that I was waiting for him to check my name and my guest's name off the list so that I could enter Alibi. He reluctantly checked his list and allowed us to walk past him, into the hotel. We then went to the door of Alibi, where our names were checked once again.
I would not have even minded the door screening procedure, if they had not directed my guest and I like cattle to a "waiting area" with other adults to be helped. It was humiliating. I have worked in high-volume hotels that have housed high-traffic bars, and never before have I seen a process that so obviously makes the distinction between "admissible" and "non-admissible" guests.
Most hotels pride themselves that many people just like to take a look around at the lobby, the decorations, and even use the restrooms. The Liberty Hotel has likely forgone the goal of being a welcoming establishment, to mitigate a high-traffic situation. Unfortunately, it has the side-effect of creating a caste system at the door, without a gatekeeper that has the candor and professionalism to keep it running smoothly.
I would like to add that I used to be a manager at the #2 Trip Advisor hotel in Boston. I have also been a manager at Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, and independent luxury hotels. Though I no longer work in the industry, I feel as though my experience managing hotels leads me to have reasonable expectations for a suitable guest experience. This experience was embarrassing and I would not want to have to experience if I were to stay in the hotel, to explain myself each time I wish to enter the hotel.
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.