Darn. Looked like a nice 5 night redemption (for the price of 2) over a shabbos and right next to The Shul.
It's difficult nowadays to find newer/newly renovated hotels that aren't fully or close to fully automated which provides difficulty on shabbos.
Although a great hotel will know how to accommodate any guest. Last year I spoke to some security staff at the Fontainebleau and they told me that they are often requested to open the doors to the rooms of Jewish guests. In fact, they will wait for you at your room before letting you (they of course will take elevator while you take the stairs.) In fact, one of the guards told me that they have an internal code they report over the radio, that while it represents an official code, the security staff have dubbed it unofficially the Sabbath code as it is predominantly only used when they open doors for the Jewish guests. I taught that guard to tell the Jewish guests that he is a good shabbos goy. He told me the following week that he offered a Jewish guest on shabbos to open their door and they were hesitant, then he told them that he is a good shabbos goy and they accepted the offer, he said they laughed that he knew the phrase but were really appreciative and took him up on the offer.
In fact, some staff are even more knowledgeable and helpful than that. One front desk clerk refused to open the door for us on shabbos because he was Jewish and knew that he/we would be violating Jewish law if he opened the door for us.
All in all, considering the crowd in that area, I'm sure it's only a matter of time before the staff at the St. Regis help find Jewish workarounds to help out for shabbos.
