Reimagining India's Hotel Lounges

We look at how business hotels in India are enhancing their lounge spaces and going beyond just offering exclusivity

- Sanchita Nambiar

For Louis Sailer, General Manager, The Leela Palace New Delhi, one of the major reasons why travelers prefer club lounges is “for the personalized services, tailor-made food, and beverage choices and the fact that it’s tucked away from the hustle and bustle of regular restaurants.”

Apart from being a haven for privacy-seeking corporate travelers, lounges, today, play a key role in helping luxury hotels maintain a high room occupancy and strengthen customer loyalty. Parmeet Singh Nayar, General Manager – Shangri-La’s - Eros Hotel, New Delhi says, “Lounges are away for a hotel to reinforce its brand amongst modern travelers through ambiance, convenience, comfort, and personalized amenities.”

A BUSINESS TRAVELLER’S HOME AWAY FROM HOME

Hotel club lounges are widely preferred among business travelers as it is their one-stop shop for everything. “Club lounges serve as the most utilitarian option for business travelers, as all their needs are conveniently met in one location. A place to relax and work, they also make 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. Complimentary amenities like premium alcohol and food options only serve as an added bonus,” says Sameer Sud, General Manager, The Leela Mumbai that houses the Royal Club Lounge, an ideal space for a business traveler looking to have sophisticated experience in the financial capital of India.

CLUB LOUNGE OVER F&B OUTLETS

As Dipak Haksar, Chief Executive of ITC Hotels & WelcomHotels puts it, “Luxury is all about providing exclusivity.”