Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Marriott's Policy

Last week I emailed Marriott Hotels and asked about the problem at the Charlotte Marriott City Center Hotel during the Forum for Firearms Education function last week. They replied this morning.
Dear Valued Guest,

Thank you for contacting Marriott. We appreciate the opportunity to provide you with information.

We would like to thank Grass Roots North Carolina/Forum for Firearms Education for its business at the Charlotte Marriott City Center hotel. During the group's stay, there was some confusion regarding the hotel's position on the carrying of firearms by the public. It has been the hotel's long-standing policy to not allow firearms by the public on the premises. In accordance with applicable law, this policy is posted in several locations around the hotel. The permanent notice at the hotel's entrance had been removed during a recent renovation and was replaced with temporary signage. This temporary posting was removed for a brief period of time, which may have led to guest uncertainty. We sincerely regret and apologize for any confusion or inconvenience this may have caused.

Marriott’s policy is to comply with all applicable laws and ordinances. We are a hospitality company that provides public accommodations and space for events and functions. We do this without regard to the lawful purpose or views of any specific group or organization. As always, the safety and security of our guests and associates is a top priority.
Regards,

Marriott Customer Care
To which I replied.
Sorry to hear that. You won't ever have to worry about me using a Marriott hotel again.

8 comments:

Flintlock Tom said...

It looks as if Marriott is already starting to feel the heat.

http://theguncounter.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=25&t=11986

We'll see how this develops.

Skipan Hour said...

Hey Mister... PawPaw? Am I allowed to call you that? I doubt I'm very important in your life. Please don't shoot me! Ahhh!

Ahem.

So yes, I think you as a person in general are pretty awesome. Never slow down: this Internet place is certainly a way to keep up with crap.

Termite said...

Marriott's rule doesn't apply to you, D, since you're a LEO.

Pawpaw said...

That's a trifling technicality, Termite. If they don't want my guns in their hotel, I'll be happy to oblige their property rights.

Termite said...

Pawpaw said...
That's a trifling technicality, Termite.



Ummmm.....I wasn't saying it in a negative way, just pointing out a fact.
I'd also like to point out that in Louisiana, Marriott can't ban guns from cars in their parking lot.

Eowyn said...

True Termite, but ...

I'm not a LEO, nor have I ever been. However, my closest friend lives on the other side of Texas. When I go to visit it's a two day drive. I must stop and sleep somewhere.

Past experience has proven that I am much happier sleeping with a pistol on the nightstand.

Hence, I am now happy to know in advance that I need never plan on staying at another Marriott.

Rivrdog said...

How does Mariott deal with pre-emption? Some states don't allow hotels to make the choice of being gun-free zones, but as far as I know, there are Mariott hotels in every state.

Mariott also holds the paper on some hotels that are not in it's chains, so how does the rule apply there?

Does Mariott prohibit local Law Enforcement Officers from carrying their sidearms into a hotel? They probably can't, so PawPaw, under the LEO Safety Act of '04, you have the same rights as local LEOs as long as you are working as a compensated cop full-time and are currently POST-certified on your firearm and Deadly force law.

Your LA POST should have policy on this by now, but if they don't, stir up a little action by talking to your local FOP steward.

BTW, over at Say Uncle blog, there has been plenty of talk on this subject since the NRA convention, and several posts with dozens of comments. The last I read over there, Marriott was not only feeling the heat, they were likely in the act of changing the very policy they just quoted you.

Anonymous said...

I just stumbled upon this blog, and realized it was posted a few years back. I work at a Marriott as a night auditor, in Texas, and I think it absurd to not allow guests (who have their chl)to have their protection. I would NEVER ask a guest if they had a gun. Being a female who travels, having protection is so important to me. If a hotel doesnt ask, Im not telling. Id rather be judged by 12 than carried by 6!