Lounging in the Hotel Lounge

Be it an investment idea or a high profile deal, business travellers prefer to do it in the hotel lounge. No wonder the hotels are now laying emphasis on the overall décor of this space. In this period of maintaining social distance, lounges are becoming popular not only with business travelers but even with people who are visiting hotels for what has recently come to be known as staycations. Places where they do their office work. Today the connotation WFH has come to mean Work From Hotel instead of Work From Home. The result is that today the hotel lounge offers sleek couches gourmet hors d’oeuvres, etc. The young discerning business heads or entrepreneurs resorting to WFH have an eye for luxury. Ashok Malkani finds that lounges are not only limited to business travelers but are also catering to the families and leisure travellers preferring personalized services

- Ashok Malkani

The corporate guest in a hotel today does not merely book a hotel room to sleep. He also looks at other amenities that will make his stay a pleasant and memorable experience. And one of the important amenities is a lounge!

Lounges in hotels have, over the years, gained popularity and today have become an essential segment of the property. Globally, lounges play a key role in helping luxury, as well as other category hotels, maintain high room occupancy and strengthen customer loyalty. They serve as the most utilitarian option for business travellers, as all their needs are conveniently met in one location.

A place to relax and work, the lounge also makes for a great change in scenery from stuffy boardrooms and meeting rooms. One can reserve a quiet place to work or simply to refresh, relax and leave the stress behind for a little while. Travellers also prefer lounges for personalized services as well as tailor made food and beverage choices.

Today, lounges are preferred over F&B outlets, which do not provide the kind of privacy a corporate client requires. Discerning guests, particularly corporate travelers, prefer club lounges over other dining options.

Shilpi Khanna, Director of Rooms, JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar, states that a club lounge is essential to make the guest’s stay a memorable one. However, she adds that at their hotel only platinum and above guests have access to the lounge.