I think they start to phase out much earlier. After 1pm or 2pm, I'd say your chances of encountering the kind of crowd you describe drop off sharply. The disadvantage, however, is that mid-to-late afternoons can be an overall quiet time in hotels when it's hard to blend in.

Housekeeping...

lol...sorry to hear about your experience.

Well, I travel frequently and usually use hotels as my incall. I rarely ever worry about scheduling my appointments around the housekeeping schedule. The schedules differ from hotel to hotel and depending on the size of the hotel and floor I stay on.

In the past I've tried to check in to my hotel room before the regular 3 p.m. check-in time. When I've requested to check in earlier...I am usually told that the rooms have not been serviced. From time to time there are exceptions and I am allowed to check in as early as 1 p.m. Again, it's different for every hotel.

I also worry about the housekeeping team seeing me walk in and out of my room. One thing I do when I'm coming out of my room is to dress in business attire. Also keep in mind that many travelers are on business. Sometimes they attend conferences, meetings, etc at the hotel.

As far as housekeeping is concerned, you are staying in that room and headed to a meeting.

Hope this helps.

Luxury hotels offer 24/7 housekeeping.
Standard hotels do not offer 24/7 housekeeping.
Either way, when they've cleaned all the rooms that were booked the previous evening is when housekeeping disappears.
Mornings and through lunch are not good as they start cleaning at an insane hour in the morning.
....had a funny pic of you outside that slowwwww elevator...lmao, sorry thats hilarious (been there too)
Luxury hotels tend to be more invisible...my fav!

Mid-week is the busiest therefore more rooms to clean whch means you'll be hanging out with housekeeping, again.
Fridays are slow for all Hotels (except vacation/beach hotels in the summer)....best day to go in Ninja style...Kisses

And they will be busy until check-in time (3 - 4 pm), and probably later.  Best way to avoid this is to book appointments in the evening or in the morning before check-out time, although I've seen them active then as well.  They may not be active in the immediate area where her room is, but you have no way to know going in.   I've dealt with this issue as well, and have found the noise they make (doors slamming, vacuum cleaners running, etc.) is distracting enough to sometimes detract from the overall atmosphere.  Another reason why I prefer to play in the evening.

Even in the big, luxury hotels there are so many rooms to clean they will knock, clean where they can, then work their way back, so it might not happen until 3 or 4, so what CD says is true.  I had a situation a few months ago in a really upscale hotel near the UN.  I called the agency from the lobby, was given the room # and told to go up.  I got off the elevator, and the cleaning staff were knocking on the door to the room and going in.  No one was inside.  The gal had gone out and lied to the agency about where she was.  I did an about-face into the elevator, went to the lobby and called the agency.  They were stunned, called the girl and then told me I could go up.  The cleaning service was still in the room.  No girl in sight.  Back to the lobby and called again.  As I was talking to the agency, a girl who looked like the one I'd booked walked through the lobby, clearly talking to the agency.  I told them "she just walked past."  They said, "sorry, your time won't start until you're up there."  "No shit," I thought.  Finally, I went up and we were alone at last.
But it gets worse (and has nothing to do with hotel room cleaning).  After I shower, she goes into the bathroom.  She must have tried to shave her legs because I can see blood running down her calf.  I'm already pissed, but now my dick is now retracting into my pelvis.  I point out the blood and she rushes back to the bathroom.  I get the envelope, put on my clothes and say, "I don't think this is a good idea."  She says, "I hope you won't write a bad review."  "No," I say.  But I did speak with the agency, who gave me a credit.  I hope this is the worst experience I have.

I couldn't believe it. I was with this great bodacious provider, she was in my room and we was warming up really good, after the BJ, I was getting into it good. Then, around 10PM, a hotel staff knocked on my door. I was like, WTF!!!!! Who the hell could this be? I froze, I didn't know who it was, and the provider was getting nervous as hell. Then, I didn't answer, and the fucking dude opened my room with the spare key!! The provider blocked him and said "Noo", then that dude said, "Oh, Sorry". Lucky for my I used the chain locks, otherwise that dude would have went straight in.

I was like WTF!!!, this is the first time this shit has ever happened to me. Provider thought I was trying to set her up, but we talked about it, and confirmed that it was a hotel staff cause he was wearing a damn uniform. Anyways, luckily for me we finished our session, but it was a strange session. Lesson learned, always use the chain lock in addition to the door lock!!!

I later went down at the lobby and complained. The staff said that he thought no1 was in that room. No1 was in that room?!! R u freaking kidding me? I just exploded and let all of my frustration out on that staff member. Hot damn!!

Anyways, most maids will stay at certain times, I've seen maids around 6 or 7 PM, and some as early as 8 and 9 AM. It depends on where you stay, and their schedule I guess.

High end hotels usually have a housekeeper onsite 24/7.

Most hotels cleaning starts early 8 or 9 am taking care of the rooms of guests who are staying another night. trying to squeeze you in while your out at breakfast or any other time your out. They will leave you alone if you have the do not disturb out but they will keep coming back all day to get the room done. Then at the check out time they go hot and heavy on the rooms that vacated trying to get them ready for check in time and then back to the list of rooms they missed so they can go home.
I have scheduled an all day appointment with a provider in a hotel. I just had her arrive early so by the start of cleaning we were going out to breakfast and the room was empty for cleaning. Then we were ok for the rest of the day. Yes we ran into cleaning staff coming and going from our room, but so do the other guests and since we were the only ones coming and going into that room no problem.
Now seeing a traveling girl who is staying in the same hotel for several days can look funny to cleaning staff with different gentlemen on different days during the day, but that would be tempered with they probably are too busy to pay attention to the guests comings and goings except if they are waiting to clean it. In that situation I make sure the lady is aware I am on the way up so a quick light knock and I am in. On leaving unless I am in a huge hotel I head for the stairs no waiting for an elevator. In a huge hotel your also less likely to stand out to the staff anyway.
Maybe it has come from all the work traveling I used to do for 12 years, but after all that time in hotels I got used to the idea that when I was in a hotel for a week I belonged there and my comings and goings at any time of the day was my business. That has carried over and I have no problem getting in that mind set and walking right past hotel staff just like I was any other guest of the hotel. Cleaning staff are more interested in the state of your room when they have to clean it. Being excessively messy, having only one guest on there occupancy list but enough wet towels laying around for 5 or 6. These are more likely to get someone noticed then leaving a room and waiting for an elevator.

First, cleaning/housekeeping staff don't care and don't  pay attention to you unless you happen to wear a funny costume, look odd or do something stupid to attract attention. Second, you are 1 of N guests in the hotel that day, third, they don't remember you unless you did something to attract attention.

It really depends on the  Hotel  The Ritz  and Four seasons  staff starts at 8am until 5pm then turndown service is around 6pm until as late as 8pm ...A good provider can always call ahead  to room service housekeeping and request just what time she wants the room cleaned or turned down  if the DND sign  is posted  they will not bother you  with mini bar service  ect.....I always request a corner room away from the elevators  hope this helps