I saw that a provider mentioned on her Etiquitte section that guys were not to wait in the hotel lobby.  I would certainly adhere to any provider's request, but want to know if this is standard, if unstated, practice.  I have only done this a dozen times, but I have always casually waited in the lobby or the hotel bar in a manner that fits in, without it ever occuring to me that this might not be cool.  I am older and dress conservatively and conduct myself in a relaxed natural manner.  I can see obvious possible problems if guys had on pants hanging down, were talking loudly, profanely, etc.  

First of all, how would she know?  But mainly it's silly because if you're discreet you won't draw unwanted attention.  And if she has concerns she should book a hotel with a fairly busy lobby and several places for her customers to wait discreetly.  I've done this dozens of times and never had a problem.

Granted, one shouldn't make policy based on the rare, exceptional occurrence, but she' gotta do whatever gives her peace of mind. Any ladies care to chime in with stories of indiscreet gentlemen? Perhaps the one about the guy lost in the lobby with his big bouquet of flowers, yelling into the phone, "what was the room number? 312?! Ok, I already asked the front desk, but they said there was no Pussy Willow staying here!"

-- Modified on 3/17/2015 8:10:34 AM

Actually, dont ALL hotels, even (especially?) high end conservative one, derive an important part of their revenue from the business?  It seems to me that these places wouldn't want to go out of their way to unnecessarily inquire into the business of the many, many people who wait in the lobby for a wide variety of reasons.

Lmao.

Although you may feel you are being "discreet" while waiting, many in the hotel industry will tell you that they have been trained on what to look for when locating "johns," and men waiting "discreetly" in the lobby is one thing. Although they may not really know what you are there for or what you are doing, you will still be on their security cameras. And if they decide to follow you to her room, and notice a trend of other "discreet" men headed to the same room, you may compromise her location. So why not just respect her wishes and make her comfortable?

If the provider asks you to avoid waiting in the lobby, respect her and don't do it. I had one provider tell me that her hobbyist arrived an hour early and waited in the lobby. He told her this and she was worried it might draw attention.  So don't do it  

And let me just preface this by saying that hotel employees know what's up. They only give a shit if you're being obvious/inconsiderate.  

practice.  The only time I'll consider going into the lobby before I have the room number & OK to go up is if I know from past experience that it's a large spacious lobby and usually very busy, and even then usually only if it's too cold  out or pouring rain & there's no alternate place nearby to wait like a coffee shop.  
What the average person doesn't realize is that many hotel employees (desk clerks, doormen, porters, etc.) spend all day in that lobby and can easily spot odd behavior.  And in most establishments they are expected to be another set of eyes for the actual security guys, and often have had some training in what to look for.  So honor the request.

And she's an old hand who knows what she's doing, so I'm pretty sure some idiot with an earlier appointment screwed the pooch!

I definitely try to limit my times in hotels, but I luv it when:

Is being in the bar / coffee shop the same as being in the lobby? I guess it depends on some of the behaviors SexyJ (and others) have detailed.....

How many outcalls have I tried not to be a hooker in the lobby???  

Not really. That entire city smells like taint. Nice people, though.

Options include the Starbucks down the street, a park nearby, in front of the building next door, and your car (assuming you drive).  If the weather is really foul, you don't have a car, and can't find a place to hang out, find a men's room in the hotel and hang out in the stall.  

I wear this and BLEND IN everytime!!

1. Guys show up early because they don't want to be late. Tough to predict traffic and even public transportation in DC. How accommodating are providers when a guy shows up late because he didn't want to risk lurking?

First, to be clear I am not a trained detective or investigator!

I love reading your stuff, you are so funny! I don't know why any of us would want to hangout in the lobby anyway, just would cause more angst and paranoia for me...

My colleagues were delayed in picking me up. Big mid-level hotel, big city, and from 10 minutes to the top of the hour (4pm) to about 5 minutes afterwards, well....let me just say it was obvious (in some cases) who was visiting whom (i.e., incall v. outcall).

I can't imagine spending an hour in a hotel lobby.  Generally I"m there for less than 15 minutes.  Also, I know how to find places in the public spaces of the hotel that keep me out of prying eyes.  For example, the second floor of most hotels has meeting rooms, offices and business centers.  Perfect for discreet lurking.
And I"m certainly not going to stick around the hotel after the session.
Being discreet isn't that hard.
PS: I"ve never had a single provider instruct me not to use the lobby

I'm sure the front desk clerks could really care less. Its the security personnel that you should worry about. Those would be the guys that you DON'T see. Be careful out there

Sometimes it blows my mind that some men can not use enough common sense to realize that you standing there in the lobby or "sitting in the chair reading a newspaper" does not make you invisible and you aren't fooling anyone. It ticks me off to no end when someone tells me they're "in the lobby" just like the idiots that can't find the room and go "ask the front desk" where the room is.  

But definitely don't be hanging around in the lobby constantly checking your phone. It's common sense I thougt that guys know not to do that.  

It would be EXTREMELY helpful if more providers gave directions to the elevator if it's not immediately obvious when you walk in the front door ("Past the front desk to the right; take 2 rights and you'll see it on the left...", etc...

I tend to wait in the car. Once in a while when I'm in DC, if I park far away I would wait at a nearby bookstore or Starbucks, or even the hotel lobby.

Even if the elevators are a straight shot from the main entrance, I'll still say "elevators are straight ahead once you come in the main door, about 20ft past the front desk." I'd rather be overly detailed than risk a client walking around like he has no idea where he's going.  

Parked the car, walked into the lobby, found the coffee shop.  Sat down, asked the counter guy for a diet coke.  "Diet coke" he says, raising one eyebrow and giving me the fish eye?  Yes please, I sez.  OK pal, none of MY business, and he gives me the coke but then he like in a sly kind of manner slithers over to the land line and makes a call and sez "Mike, we need to do inventory." Just like that.  I'm no idiot, I know what "do inventory" means.  Less than five minutes later, I'm not exaggerating, a private dick walks in and sits cross wise so he's staring right at my profile.  I know he's a dick because he's got a walrus mustache and he's bald with thick glasses.  He plays games with me.  Doesn't say a word.  Just "looks" at the menu which was an obvious cover up for staring straight past it at me.  So I go into high gear and play it cool.  Act nonchalant.  I call the counter guy over and I say "That was a great diet coke. You mix the syrup yourself? Doesn't taste like that pre-canned stuff. This is a great shop."  The counter guy senses that I am hip to what's going down and he just says "thanks" and walks away.  So he sends some kind of signal to the private dick, that I'm onto them.  The dick waits to make his move, he knows this isn't going to be like shooting fish in a barrel. Just then my phone rings (1812 Overture ringtone) with a text from the lady with her room number, says come on up.  So I pulled a fast one.

I'm on foot (from Metro for instance) I won't go in the place until I have the room number.

It seems fine to stay in lobby, especially bar, if it is large. Obviously dont hang out in a comfort inn lobby if lower grade is your thing.

Mllions of people come and go into hotels every day, many many are alone, and many are on the phone.
If you act normal and don't call attention to yourself, no one will pay attention to you.

--Several comments.  First, it really depends on the hotel.  To me, one quality that makes a hotel good for hobbying is a big, crowded lobby. So, providers, look for those!  

Good points!

According to S.H.I.T. (Society of Hookers In the Trade) Practice Guideline #69, "door shall be left unlocked so that Monger can enter discretely".

I like when providers do that, at least wait at the door.

When hotels are involved, I agree that blending in is crucial, both in how you dress and act. If I should arrive in the vicinity of the call early, I will walk around the area.  Maybe browse in some shops, get a cold bottled drink or water. If I use the phone, it is always outside in the street, never  in the hotel if possible. In a couple of hotels the conference facilities are often empty and deserted and I have made calls rarely in these situations. Another thing I will do if I am early is to locate the elevators in advance. I enter using a  side door, casually walk around becoming familiar with the ground floor layout and then quietly leave. When  I enter the main lobby door, I act like I am staying there, like I belong, even interacting with the front staff and walking directly to the elevators with no hesitation. In other words, I  play the role as fully as possible. Once in the elevator, I make sure my phone is turned off. It stays off until I am outside and away from the building after the call.  Never had any problems whatsoever in many years.

soooo much easier.

Sadly though, maybe only 1 in 20 follow that rule... Wish more ladies did.

This thread really opened up some great discussion. We ought to create a list of guidelines.  

Had that happen this winter. Cold out there, waitin' for the lady.

I wouldn't worry too much about the cleaning ladies working through the rooms. They have their hands full just trying to beat the clock to finish each floor on their shifts.

Some hotels offer cash bonuses to housekeeping/maintenance staff for reporting unsavory activity to management.  

I am a vendor to the hotel industry -- going on 15 years now.  At the risk of repeating other points made already, couple of things to keep in mind