Concierge Lounge rule?
 

Hi everyone:

I just got off the phone with one of my favorite Concierge Lounge attendants (im not the only guest who keeps in touch with her, she is that good!) and she told me that a fight occurred in the lounge this evening because this group of men had started up a business meeting in the lounge. One woman walked in and was annoyed by all the loud ruckous as this group turned off the TV that was in the lounge. So this begs the question: Does Marriott have a policy that GROUP meetings are not allowed during normal operating hours of the lounge or is it just a courtesy that all guest should follow and take a meeting elsewhere?

not sure about any policy, but in my not-so-humble opinion...if you want to have a meeting in the CL, then book a small meeting room and pay for that and the stuff you want....or hold the meeting in beween operating hours....

one would THINK people have common courtesy, the lounge isn't just for megtravels and her colleagues, but for all those paying for CL rooms, and those who are entitled to use it. what did the concierge do??? i don't think this ever happened when i was an associate, but if it did, it was only 2-3 people, they were quiet and didn't cause a commotion!

That was my first thought. What did the concierge say she did about it, and what did she say was Marriott's policy? If she didn't say, then call her back and ask as she would be a much better person to answer your question IMO. Oh and please share with us what she says. Thx

A CL host I spoke with recently told me that a meeting of 10 people was being held, and when she approached the group; found out only one person was even staying in the hotel! She couldn't believe it...and to give her credit, went and got a manager - who, as megtravels suggests, told the guest he would have to pay a "fee" for the access/food provided to those who were not guests.

Ranks right up there with cell phone users, guests visiting the lounge in their pajama's, unruly children, and those who bring a tote to load up on soda, water, and fruit. :td:

Let me throw this out here: This hotel is really behind the game in overall appearance and this includes the management team so I wasn't surprised when she told me this:

Gave her a ring back and she called the manager on duty and explained the situation. She was wanting permission to ask them to leave and utilize the lobby sitting areas and the manager did not agree with the concierge's suggestion. She returned to tell the woman who was annoyed by all of this and the woman promptly asked to speak to the manager. The manager came up to the lounge and upon his arrival the woman had managed to wedge herself in the middle of this group and got the TV remote and turned the TV on and jacked up the volume^^^
The manager was so taken aback that he profusely apologized to the group meeting people and moved them to a banquet room where tables were already set up and all that was well with the world returned to this lounge.
While the manager seemed to go the extra mile, he really didn't do much to remind the guests in the meeting that as a courtesy, the lounge shouldn't be used for the purpose they had intended.

I'll start by saying I've never had a meeting in a CL; never invited more than one person not in my room to the CL; and never (to the best of my recollection) brought a non guest to the CL

on that note>

My first comment was if she was such a good friend, why don't you get it right from the horses mouth? I mean you could have this conversation with her and not ask the question to her :confused:

Sounds like to me that everyone annoys you; I am curious as to how you people have these conversations with CL staff (not just this poster but posters in gen'l) about incidents that are not occuring while you are there? just curious thats all.

lets see lets go through your list >

cell phone users > good luck with that one.. its not likely that cell phones will be banned in CL's.. otoh, they may just shut the lounge down

pajamas > sheesh.. really.. that bothers you.. *shaking my head* > I could care less what others are wearing > I'm not there to look at them anyway > you would hate me > i just went to the Sheraton CL in my sweats to grab a drink and desert.. how dare I :rolleyes:

unruly kids > I can see unruly kids being a PITA but then again, I am not sure that we have the same tolerance or definition of unruly kids > I notice you dont say anything about adults who are just as obnoxious

the tote > again, if there is stuff left for me, I don't care what you take back to your room; why should I? once again, I'm not there to see what you are doing and if you want to bring it back to eat in your room, its none of my business.. if its a problem, the CL staff should address it.. if they don't and this still bothers you, there are other methods to file your complaint




So you are advocating throwing gas on the fire... this type of behaviour usually results in one type of result and that usually is not a good scene; sounds like the woman was as bad as the group of biz travelers.

So was it a "business meeting" or a "ruckous" [sic]?

It sounds like it was more a loud group of friends chatting about work that got on her nerves rather than an actual business meeting.

I was at a bar tonight. I was trying to have a conversation with a friend and there was a loud group of folks nearby so I had a hard time hearing him. It was a public place so I got over it...

PJ's, I don't have a problem with. Same goes for sweats or someone coming in after the gym to grab water. But some people take it too far and feel like it's their home. Like the old guy at the Sheraton CL who walks in without any shoes or socks with ridiculously long toe nails. . . I think the "shirt, shoes" rule should at least apply.

I just returned from a stay at the SAT Northwest Marriott. On _every_ table in the CL was a card that stated "Concierge Lounge Etiquette". Among the rules: No business meetings, limit cell phone use and no atheletic wear. Sounds like they have encountered some rowdy crowds. ;)

Ditto
 

What he said.

cl manners
 

i will second the thought about the cell phone, i have a cell phone, but i do not use it in a lounge, and i do not use it on the plane, or at the movies, or while having dinner, this just annoys the heck out of me. why can't someone go 1 hour without the phone, and why do i have to be subject to their conversations?

if cell phone usage is allowed while planes are flying, i think that there will be major,major arguments onboard the planes.

and in an enclosed place, such as a bus, room where having dinner, etc..,etc.., why does one need to have the cell phone on?

A couple weeks ago in DFW a very nice gentleman who had very obviously finished running 20+ miles came in and sat down for a drink and dessert in the lounge.

It was gross. At least change clothes, man...

So, did this woman not have her own room she could watch TV in?

I dunno. Just seems like some people look for things to complain about. :(

As a woman who travels solo for business frequently, I have NO desire to hang out in the CL. I go in, grab some waters and snacks, and retire to my room.

I agree here, I mean, the health code should apply somewhere LOL.. no shoes, no shirt, no service.. I'm not sure why the long toe nails are an issue any more than someone who just got a pedicure but the overall point stands.. if you can't meet the healthcode requirements you don't belong where there is food

its not the cell phone conversations that bother me, its those that think everyone should hear how important they are; if you chat in a normal voice, its no different than two people talking together and it doesn't bother me (cell); you can't always control when someone calls you; most people are courteous on their phones in the CL's I go to..

speaking of.. time to head up to the CL now for b/f.. in my sweats, but i'll have shoes on to cover the long toe nails :p

Agreed and agreed.

Maybe I'm showing my age, but I'm not quite sure when it became acceptable to show nasty, hairy toes in public. Recently, a 40+YO man sat down next to me on a plane, slipped his flip-flop off, and had a field day picking his toes for the duration of the flight. (I'm 40+YO man and couldn't imagine subjecting anyone to this.) The flight attendant kept staring at his feet every time he walked by, but my seatmate didn't have a clue that this was gross.

As for cell phones - I'm not sure why people don't walk to a corner when they need to speak on a phone.

Finally, sweats/pjs in the lounge - case by case there. If your pajamas have an open fly and you're commando, stay in your room. Most of the people I've seen in sweats/pjs in the CL are more tastfully dressed than some of the people I've seen who stop quickly on their way out to a work appointment!

Same could be said for 2 or 3 people talking loudly, or loud kids. I agree with TrojanHorse on this, it is not the cell phone use, it is the manner in which the cell phone is used. They should really make a rule against loud behavior as that would cover a multitude of situations.

Absolutely. As I frequently travel for business alone, I don't understand how my conversation on a mobile phone is any worse than a table of people (or just 2!) chatting. I am sure that I am much more quiet in nearly all cases. That said, I don't know why some people feel the need to use the phone in every place, including the bathroom. However, in almost all situations where people are generally talking and social, I see no reason to limit mobile phone use. If you are with other people, THEY are the ones who should be offended that you ignore them and start talking on the phone... the people in the next table/area/seat shouldn't be concerned!

As mentioned previously, the volume is what is important, not the medium used.

Likewise, I'm not sure why anyone would care what I wear in the CL, other than that it is not indecent. I'll agree to no shoes, no shirt, etc, though if any woman can wear sandals, I don't see why I wouldn't be afforded the same courtesy.

I agree.

I disagree.

My earlier post on cell phone usage in the lounge.

The etiquette signs are a great idea and I have seen them in a few lounges. I wish they were in more.

In the end, this is a discussion of acceptable manners and decorum. It also is symptomatic of the ever-growing battle between deference and self-importance. Finding common ground seems unlikely.

Well if you agree with Sophiegirl then its obvious you disagree with me LOL

You've got to be kidding me. TVs are put in the lounges for people to watch. Not for window dressing. Some of us who are in rooms 300 days a year want to be in a larger "room" occasionally, and that "room" might be the lounge. If you turn off the TV, I will promptly turn it back on, and if you touch it again, the Manager will be speaking with you. If you want to be in a room without a TV on, why don't you go to your own room? She had every right to have the TV on. Period. Or would you suggest a sign in the CL that says, "TV may be only used with the unanimous consent of all in the lounge, otherwise it must remain off"?

How about if Lady Godiva walked into the CL sans horse ? I might be able to put up with that. :cool:

But yeah, there does exist a fuzzy line between a hotel guest relaxing and popping into the CL a bit askew, and someone who's slovenly or pushing the bubble.

Barry

I'm with you but I hope that you are not one of the clowns who walks in to an occupied lounge and proceeds to change the channel from CNN or the nightly news to a rerun of "Two and a Half Men."

If you want to change the channel, first ask if anyone minds.

OP suggested that the woman was annoyed by the group's general noisiness, along with their apparent turning off the TV to ensure that it would not interfere with their meeting. As described, their conduct was inappopriate.

I'd be purturbed by a loud group hijacking the TV I was watching, too. Marriott has made their preferences implicitly known that at appropriate times of the day, the TV should be on. I also suggest that when there are meaningful sized groups, there will typically be a few "freeloaders" who are not CL eligible or even hotel guests involved.

Isn't there either a stated or 'unspoken' # of folk you can bring w/ you into the lounge? I think I've read that at a # of properties worldwide, both for Marriott & other chains. Some say 'x' are allowed in; after that there is a charge of 'y'.

If all of the folk in the 'meeting' were at the hotel & on exec lounge, then just politely asking them to keep their voices down either personally or via the lounge staff should be sufficient. If only one is at the hotel & the rest aren't, then hey, get ready for a charge for additional guests to your room (at least IMO).

If it wasn't a meeting, but a 'ruckous', then again a simple polite could you keep it down should do the trick. The other day I had brought 3 extra folk (one of whom booked the hotel down the street vs mine by mistake; if he had been at mine he would have had access on his own) to show them the property & the lounge. We sat there for about 15 minutes & chatted, but were animated in conversation for a few minutes (you know FTers LOL). One noticed a couple of guests looking at us, which implied to us our voices were a bit louder, so we quieted down immediately.

While I might bring a cell w/ me into the exec lounge, I usually try to keep my voice quieter than I would if I was in a regular conversation - because I've noticed that it seems to be the norm when someone is on a cell for them to raise the level of their voices (as also noticed in airline clubs, on airplanes, at Starbucks, etc, etc). And I'll put the ringer on vibrate.

And hey, if you want an example of rude, one of the 3 people (who I originally didn't know would be joining us until the last minute & who shall remain nameless to protect the guilty) got to my hotel before the other 2 & I did, asked for me at the front desk/didn't see me in the lobby, and instead of waiting in the lobby like anyone else or calling/texting me (he had my cell #) went up to the exec lounge without my knowledge or permission, said he was MrSkiAdcock :eek: & proceeded to use the internet terminal. I found out by accident from one of the other 2 with me because he didn't text me, he texted him to say he was in the lounge. I was furious! :mad: And when we got to the lounge had a pretty heated conversation with him outside (not in the lounge), telling him his behavior was completely inappropriate. His response: I didn't think there was anything wrong with it & I didn't know how to reach you. Me, yes it was inappropriate & since you called me on my cell a couple of hours ago to ask where someone else was staying, you knew how to reach me - and it's not like you texted me to tell me you were in the lounge. You texted the other person & he mentioned it to me. Well there was some other verbiage; I'll spare you the details, but for the Americans in the crowd, 'ripped him a new one' basically covers it.

I think the manager in the case of the meeting/tv lady blew it & the concierge staff was correct. I also agree re: asking before just changing channels.

BTW - this hotel did have a dress code where they requested 'smart casual'. SC for the Yanks is not the same as for the UK/European folk, based on the attire I saw while there for a few days. :D

FWIW - while I don't always hang out in the exec lounge (sometimes it depends on how nice it is), there are many times where I've gone to one to read a magazine, relax, just get out of my hotel room.

Cheers.

I'm typing this from my room (jr. suite, thank you for the upgrade!) at the Ren LAX Montura. The lounge here has the rules posted right outside the door... including the right to charge $80 per person that is NOT a hotel guest entitled to use the lounge (that said, I haven't seen them checking).

I do not feel bad about taking a small bottle of water back to my room this evening: housekeeping disposed of a 3/4 full (much larger) bottle of water that I left in the room today intending to drink tonight. Yer nuts if you think I'm going to pay $4.50 for the bottle of Fiji water in the room after I had a perfectly good bottle of water I obtained from outside the hotel yesterday.

The rules also require decent dress (ignored - see the folks come up from the gym) and no loud cellphone conversations.

I'm not disagreeing here but I quote this post only b/c it made me think of the person from the pool (unfortunately for my viewing tastes, these are not people who should be in bikini's or speedo's to begin with :D LOL) in their swim suit with a towel at most even if to just get a soft drink.. shoot most PJ's cover more than the pool people or the gym people wear

again, if its a health code violation, don't do it.. if you wouldn't wear it with your mom in tow, thats probably a good hint too



or gasp even worse SOCCER

Interesting take, i'll be here next week (no weekends for me any more though)

Is that the sign on the stand just outside the door.. the $80 is definitely new (in the last say month) as that was not there the last time I looked; as the above poster stated, i've never seen it checked.. EVER

no kidding on the water; they took a half bottle diet pepsi from my room one day when cleaning; i'm not going to worry about taking water/drinks from the lounge; plus i prefer to eat/drink in my room.

as for the dress code; they have never enforced that one in my 8 year history at this place.

Don't know about policy, but our group had recently thought of having our meeting in the lounge but decided to book a small meeting room instead.

:D I'm just LOL'ing at this because I know what kind of a mess I am after doing a 20. Usually I want salt and carbs...one of those Marriott lounge desserts would NOT do the trick. And I'm so far beyond gross that the idea of being around any nonrunners prior to a shower is incomprehensible.

More typically, I will go out and run 6-8 miles after work if I'm in a good running city. In those cases, I might duck into the lounge to grab a bottle of water, but I don't stay around long.

On the number of guests allowed. The legal number is 1 guest per Gold/Plat Elite member. If someone is sharing your room then that person counts as the one guest.

Some hotels enforce, other do not. Sydney Marriott does enforce and that allows for full service, drinks, etc. They maintain list of eligible people and check off when you come in (with just one guest). If someone brings more than one guest - (I once say someone trying to bring in 8 guests), they will need to leave.

If you just checked into the hotel, and your key works, but not on the list, they will call down for verification.

Others should do the same.

Oh, and my $0.02 on business meetings: it's a bit of a fine line, but if you need quiet or privacy, you should definitely take it elsewhere.

I've had many trips where I'll gather with my colleagues in the lounge and we'll talk about our upcoming meetings. Sometimes we might even pull out a laptop and modify a presentation or whatever. We'd kind of meeting, working, prepping, whatever you want to call it. If we had to, we could do it at a Starbucks. We'd never book a formal meeting room for it.

But (a) we're all guests and mostly Marriott Golds/Plats, we aren't sneaking people into the lounge and (b) we are generally a quiet bunch and don't impose on others trying to grab their breakfast.

There's just a common-sense factor if you ask me. Our group is usually 3-5 people so we can gather and talk without creating a ruckus. If we were 10-12 people, then we'd need to find another way to do it.

LOL, I've never been confused with a clown. And I don't even remember the last time I changed a CL TV channel. I agree with your point, though, because I have seen people walk in the lounge and proceed to change the TV channel without even asking those already present if they were watching the program that was on. If you travel enough, like most of us have, you'll see all types.

I'm not sure this is true.. before I get into this I had to laugh at the "legal" number :rolleyes: and I guess you get arrested if you try to bring in two guests.. I guess our lawmakers are now moving into making club lounge laws LOL.. moving right along, I think it goes property by property.. if there are two registered guests in a room; I don't believe that counts against the guest limit in general.

i have seen properties call down when I've just checked in and bee lined it right for the lounge and I'm not on their list. one thing that surprises me is that they can't look this stuff up on the computer themself

Maybe it's just the VOLUME of the call....I don't care if people are on the phone, just keep the volume down...i don't want to hear how much your deal just earned you.....

some people CAN keep it down....i saw someone on a phone the other day...had i not actually seen the phone, i wouldn't have known he was talking on it..........

Remember when we were all kids, our parents used to say "inside voices???"

Sheesh I'm telling my kids that every day now :eek:

There are a lot of times I can't go 1hour without using my phone. I'm not super important (just pretty important :)) but a big part of my work is very time specific, so waiting an hour is out of the question if something comes up. Our business is all over the world, so I might have to take a call I didn't plan on at 2pm then another at 4:30pm then another at 8pm then another at 3am, etc. I have no control or ability to plan.

I do, however, agree with your first point. I am not capable of talking in a loud voice on my phone around other people. I can't talk in an airline lounge, on a plane, in a CL, in a hotel lobby, on a train, or anywhere where people can hear me. I do, therefore, consider it quite rude when people who are capable of having conversations others can hear choose to do so and do so in a loud loud way. When I have a call during dinner I normally adjorn outside, even in cold weather. My date tends not to care for that, but it is much less rude that blabbing away IMHO.

Of course my dislike of hearing other people's conversations pales in comparison to my dislike of people who talk on speaker. I just want to drop my laptop bag on these people and scream, "... IS WRONG WITH YOU!!?!?!?!?!".

Yeah, aesthetics are a really difficult thing to pin down ( & unwise to argue about ), but universals do exist such as a speedo on the wrong person. It's like pornography - you know it when you see it ;)

I had an experience at the Marriott Playa Andaluza resort where one of our bags did not initially make it to Spain with us & I had almost nothing to wear the first two days ( we learn after this trip to divide your things between bags). It was October & finding a bathing suit in a local store proved a difficult undertaking. I could find lots of speedos for @$19 but no regular trunks. I finally found a pair which cost $65. There was not way I was wearing a speedo as I know my wife would never let me forget it.


Now this is a common sense guide to conduct. But I think it increasingly falls on generationally indifferent ears.

As an aside, I'm surprised at how vehement feelings are about lounge TV sacrilage. I myself am a more solitude-minded person. I travel to get away from talking heads ( and folks who speak from other parts of their anatomy :eek: ). As in all public situations, one has to cede some portion of their individuality. But I detest a loud TV and see it no differently than someone yacking loudly on a mobile. I'm thankful for MP3 players which allow one to zone out apart from the ranting masses.

Barry

Honestly, I've never seen a rule about additional people in the lounge. I always assumed none were allowed.

My general assumption has always been that the lounge is for the member and the legal occupants of his/her room. Is there any actual rule?

Not a Marriott wide rule TTBOMK. The reason I say that is have received letters at RCC and Sydney Harbour Marriott, both of which said I was allowed one guest.

Lounge tangent: The Sydney Harbour Marriott letter also said all food and drink were to be consumed in the lounge. They did object when I attempted to take a bottle of water (just one) back to my room and would not allow it. The same letter said children were not allowed in the lounge after 5, but when asked why they were selectively enforcing their rules they could not provide a valid reason why they allowed children in the lounge. And the lounge was packed every evening, and since I don't drink alcohol and travel alone, those were two reasons why I wanted to take the water back to my room. FWIW, they did allow many people to take coffee out of the lounge. I don't understand the difference. My solution about the water was to drink what I wanted and then they could throw away what I didn't want at the time. I ended up using more bottles of water than I would have if they had allowed me to take it back to my room. I kind of annoyed me, but didn't ruin my trip as you can tell since this stay was back in December and if it had, I would have posted about it previously.