These stands mandate that cabbies form a single-file line in designated locations near the hotels' loading zones. These lineups are off-limits to town cars. They are allowed at hotels only to drop off passengers or pick up guests who arranged rides in advance through the doorman or front desk. For many town-car operators, though, the temptation to hawk their services has proven too great. Town cars are notorious for blocking hotel loading zones in attempts to lure departing hotel guests.
Some hotels report town-car drivers loitering inside the lobby, soliciting unassuming guests.
So even though hotel managers have been known to ban certain drivers, for the most part they put up with the loitering town cars in the name of pleasing their guests. In most cases drivers broker deals with doormen, giving them about 35 percent of each fare. According to industry insiders, the main culprits of town-car abuse are doormen at the 5th Avenue Suites and The Governor Hotel. Scott McMichael, guest services manager at 5th Avenue, acknowledges that his hotel uses town cars for about 60 percent of its guests' transit needs. McMichael insists that all rides are arranged in advance.