An event-planning company is facing online backlash after several people were burned at a Halloween party at the Burrard Hotel in Vancouver, according to partygoers.
White Rock resident Cody Langston is looking for answers after he was burned by lights at the 1,000-person “Halloween Social at the Burrard Hotel,” thrown by Xsocial Series Saturday night.
“I was standing on one of the upper levels and they had professional, big, black metal lights protruding into the walking area of the balcony,” Langston said.
Langston said the lights burned his arm in three places.
“It blistered up and I asked an employee where first aid was and the person wasn’t sure and told me to ask someone downstairs. I thought that was pretty bad. At that point they were ending the event early,” Langston said.
Langston warned others on the balcony and saw several people get burned.
“I saw one girl’s costume melt when she walked past,” he said.
After the party, Langston and hundreds of others posted on the event’s Facebook page.
“How many other people got severe second degree burns from all of the poorly placed lighting on the railings around the rooms?! Two of my friends did and countless others holding bandages on their arms at 7-11 after the party,” Kyle M Solly said in a Facebook post.
Other event-goers complained of hour-long line-ups to get in, an understaffed bar, portable toilets instead of real washroom facilities and demanded their money back.
“I appreciate the effort but don’t appreciate being ripped off and falsely advertised. I think Xsocial Series owes all the guests a refund-especially the burn victims,” Paige Elizabeth H said in a Facebook post.
Others said they had a great time at the party.
Langston said he tried to contact event planners by phone and online, but didn’t get a response.
“Give me my money back for the tickets I paid for. I’m a full time student,” Langston said, adding that ticket prices ranged from $60 to $120 dollars.
Xsocial Series posted a statement on their Facebook page Tuesday to address the complaints.
“Our first event proved to be a rewarding and challenging experience to organize and execute. As such, the feedback, both positive and negative, is immensely valuable and we hope to build and improve on this at our next event,” the statement said.
The Burrard Hotel did not return requests for comment from Global News.
Xsocial Series said they have met with police, the insurance company, the venue, organizers and talked with guests and will issue another statement regarding the complaints.
Vancouver police said that they monitored the event and while there were organizational and line-up issues, partiers were well-behaved.
UPDATE: The Facebook event page has since been deleted.
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