If lounges during weekends are indeed closed for all FS marriotts (or even just Renaissance) it would greatly alter where I stay on weekends big time.. I would shift to SHS, RI's, FI's or even other chains in a heartbeat..

this thread has made me realize that I have to call for all weekend travel though to see that the things I want and have been previously been offered will still be offered prior to booking

I am looking into this. I am not aware of any mandate by Marriott corporate to close lounges. However, it could be that the ownership companies for these hotels are making certain cost saving mandates. This could also be why the hotel associates have said, “corporate.” This is not my final answer just a possibility as I see things from where I stand. I will do some more digging and give a more concrete answer when I have one.

Ira

That is all we can ask. Thank you, Ira.

The only thing I can find that is "mandated" by Marriott (at least to franchisees) is to maintain minimum standards for concierge lounges in 2009.

However, the minimum standard for concierge lounges doesn't include Saturday hours or Sunday morning/afternoon hours.

There are supposed to be dry snacks and sodas available whenever unattended.

Thanks Ira. Will look forward to your further report.

Very sad to hear that of the LAX Ren (Montura). I love that place. Looks like the Sheraton will get my biz for weekend stays at LAX.

I'd like to get this validated by others first (Ren LAX) but if it is true.. i'll be right behind you BL to the Sheraton Gateway.. but seriously.. i want to hear it from others on the Ren

what the MC said does make sense; if one large franchisee is doing this.. then yeah to the employees that would be corporate for them..

Completely agree! I'll ask the concierge at another property I stay at often what she knows as well and report back.

Add my note of thanks to Ira for looking into this.

I find all of this a bit ironic from the standpoint of my own business, where both my company and our competitors are doing and offering MORE for our best customers to keep them in the fold during tough times. We all prefer keeping our per-item revenue and offering added value instead of the alternative of lowering our prices and providing less benefit.

We're working as hard as we can to give our customers more reasons to keep doing business with us....not less.

I was lucky this past weekend the CL was opened on Saturday morning at the Renn in LB, CA

I'm glad that Marriott Conceirge is looking into this but it seems that the sky is falling mentality is quite premature. It seems more than likely that some hotels are closing their lounges because of cost savings and one should remember -- CLs are NOT mandated to be open on weekends. That some are closing now is not surprising, the only thing that is, is that so many still remained open on weekends up to this date.

but they include the CL opening hours in the room details when you book. now i may be a bit slow but if it says it's open at the weekend i'd expect to be able to use it.

mandate or not, I select hotels based on CL availability; if they close, I don't go there plain and simple.. so for you its not an issue.. for me it is

True, but what's especially irritating in what is reported in this thread and several similar ones is not necessarily that some properties are cutting back, but that they are (apparently) dishonestly explaining the cutbacks as based on Marriott mandated policy.

As noted by some posters, it may be shortsighted to cut back on benefits in tough economic times. Such cutbacks serve to blur the line of customer perception of different brands of properties. And once a customer is lost, he/she may be gone forever. For some folks, in these tough economic times, looking at Hampton Inn or numerous others, free breakfast, free internet, and free newspapers start to add up, especially when concierge lounges start cutting back on hours and offerings.

I'm not sure the customer is lost forever but in order to get me back you have to give me more than you were giving me originally (pre-cutback) to get me back so it will still cost you more.. and that doesn't even include the lost business while I was gone