Well, I checked into the Overland Park, KS Marriott well after midnight yesterday and was handed a piece of paper saying that the CL was closed from 12/12/08 through 1/18/09 !!!!

You may recall that I stay here often around year end and named it in an above post as an example of a hotel that closes its CL frequently - but I never saw a solid month plus!

BUT, as explained by the FD, Gold and PLT's are given access to a restaurant buffet breakfast in the morning, and appetizer in the PM - no coupons needed, they would maintain lists.

AND, the CL would remain open with the refrigerator stocked with soda and water. I got all excited that maybe some one had taken our suggestions seriously. So I went to bed happy.

Hoping for some water in the AM, I want to the CL & found the card key active. The refrigerator held exactly 3 diet Pepsi's and everything else was under lock and key. I imagine we could hang here if wanted.

The breakfast buffet was impressive, certainly a better selection and quantity of fruit and other stuff than normally in the CL. And take out trays were gladly given as opposed to my last stay here (a battle ensued in the CL). I did have to sign and tip for the full amount of the buffet but hopefully it will be adjusted later.

I doubt I'll be back early enough to enjoy the appetizer and test the water availability but I appreciate the effort shown so far.

Not every property has decided to go the cost cutting route. I had a one night stay at the Fairfax Marriott at Fair Oaks this past Sunday night. I arrived at 8:50 pm and went to the lounge. It was open, with the usual dessert (cookies and brownies) and some appetizers (chicken) left from earlier in the evening, along with a bit of cheese and crackers. The fruit bowl by the front TV was about half full, and the fridge had a decent amount of soda, bottled water, and carbonated water.

This property used to be rather strict about serving times. It was my first stay here in a while, and I noticed that they actually upgraded the breakfast a bit. Instant oatmeal was replaced with a large container of hot oatmeal. Bottled juices, fresh fruit, yogurt, bread & bagels, and hard boiled eggs are still available as before. They did not take the breakfast away as fast as in my prior stays (you could get food until about 9:20 am, they usually shut down a bit after 9 am).

As an added bonus, this property has expanded its free internet for all Marriott Reward members (previously only platinum members) for wireless internet in the room. They have also expanded the free internet in the public areas to include the business center (along with the restaurant and lobby as before).

Closed CL
 

I stayed at the Atlanta Airport Ren on Thanksgiving weekend. CL closed on Sunday night and Monday morning. I had to insist on a breakfast coupon Monday morning at the front desk and I then had to sign my name to a ledger acknowledging the coupns reciept.

Uh oh....
 

We are staying there one night for a 12 hour layover on a flight from Barbados back home (SMF). The night will be Saturday night so I suspect we'll have to do the same thing. I hope not though....I hate having to do that. Why do I have to put up some sort of a battle to get these things? Hopefully it will be worked out by then. We don't get in until 8:30 - 9:00 p.m., but it would be nice to have a decent breakfast in the a.m. before we catch our 2nd flight home.

Dawn

The hotel has no obligation to provide lounge access on weekends so your battle is pretty well settled.

Ren Pittsburgh's lounge was closed the entire week of July 4th last year.

Just to update. I thought I've seen it all but this morning takes the cake! After being treated to the restaurant buffet Tues and Wed, this morning we were informed that nothing "hot" was being provided today or tomorrow due to low occupancy!!! There was certainly enough "cold" stuff but my buddy had gotten used to the eggs and bacon.

As for lounge access and water/soda, that was a myth or misstatement as they took this week to re-carpet the lounge so its completely off limits. Never back at a decent time to test the appetizer deal as the restaurants seem shut down well before 10pm.

FS Downtown PHL downtown Marriott's CL closed the first part of Decmber. They also didn't offer the breakfast buffet because of low capacity the waitstaff said. We ordered off the menu which was fine with me since I don't like buffets anyway.

Bobette

Final installment in beating this dead horse.

Tried ordering room service about 10:15 pm Thursday night after an Office Christmas party. Didn't really want to drive out. Room service hours also curtailed due to "low occupancy."

Also looked at my bill. I was charged 3.15 per day for the buffet, apparently the charge between cold & hot even though I didn't partake in hot. Of course, none of this explained at any time.

So I think the moral to all this is buyer beware at these times. Even what is promised can't be relied upon. That is all.

Good grief. As I stay at this hotel a few different times a year, I'll try to remember to ask ahead, and ensure that the breakfast is explicitly described!

thanks for the report!

I just checked out today after a 2 night stay here and to say "low occupancy" is almost an understatement. There were not more than 10 cars in the lot and I only ran into another guest once in the two days. CL room had no robe, mouthwash or shower gel....you would think with such low occupancy they would make some effort to stock the rooms with the appropriate items....but then again the housekeeping staff was hiding out in the lounge for several hours one day so I guess I shouldn't be surprised.

Funny, had the same thing too last week. No in room bottle water either. Once I got double lotions but no conditioner (they look similar). I left a note asking for mouthwash and got doubles of everything the next day. Hate doing that...

Amsterdam Marriott had their CL closed for the week of Christmas even though the hotel was at 90% capacity. Your key could open the lounge, but there was no service. Just a fridge with water and Pepsi. That's it. Everytime I went into the lounge, it was packed full of Golds, Plats, and others that paid for Executive Floor/Concierge Lounge.

Phoenix Airport Marriott lounge closed for 2 weeks over the holidays. I was there on 12/28. Had I known the lounge was closed, I would have stayed elsewhere. Atleast they gave us - full breakfast buffet coupon.

I will now call all hotels in advance to check on lounge status.

Had friends (Platinum) in town who recently stayed at the Fair Oaks Marriott. The CL lounge was closed for the Holidays Dec 20 - Jan. 4. They received coupons for free breakfast in the restaurant and free appetizers as well for the length of their stay. BUT, while they were "upgraded" to the concierge level, the room they were staying in had no bottled water, no robes, no mouthwash. When they called down to inquire about the usual amenities, they were told, "When the lounge is closed the regular concierge level amenities are discontinued as well. Water is available through the vending machines. We are currently out of robes and mouthwash, but there may be some available for purchase in the gift shop."

They also put a high school basketball team on the concierge level. So it was anything but quiet.

RIP....