After a long day of being with a client in a location far from home, sometimes there is nothing like repairing to the executive lounge of a hotel at which you are staying as a guest, partaking in some of the snack offerings and imbibing in a few drinks — and perhaps catching a game on the large flat-screen television, using the computer and printer, admiring the view of the sunset outside the balcony, or reading a magazine — before heading off to your room to relax for the evening…
No, Hilton is Not Closing Its Executive Lounges Systemwide — But…
…so when trying to use an executive lounge at the Hilton Atlanta Airport recently — only to find that it was closed and locked — FlyerTalk member cfariss claims to have been told by an agent at the front desk that “Hilton was phasing out Executive Lounges chain wide and they were ‘focusing on new business’.”
That concern was quickly addressed by HonorsRepresentative, who is the official company representative of Hilton on FlyerTalk: “There are no plans at the Hilton Honors level to remove Executive Lounges from our hotels. We know the lounges are an important benefit to our members and help to ensure we deliver the best experience possible. Any changes at the property level would be an individual hotel decision.”
If you enjoy using executive lounges whenever staying at Hilton hotel or resort properties, that is good news — which really means nothing if management at individual properties decide to eliminate the executive lounge anyway.
Other members of FlyerTalk have reported on other hotel properties under the Hilton brand with executive lounges which have been closed recently. For example, FlyerTalk member markko reported that “The Hilton Tucson East just underwent a renovation, and when it reopened recently the lounge was gone, replaced by guest rooms.”
Adding guest rooms may likely mean an additional source of revenue — unless use of an executive lounge is important to a potential guest of the hotel, who may ultimately decide to stay elsewhere. Other economic decisions can come into play with the decision of closing an executive lounge — including paying a member of the staff to keep food and beverages in supply for guests, which requires funding.
Some executive lounges can be lavishly appointed and provide enough food to comprise a meal — especially ones in Asia and Europe. FlyerTalk member arlflyer opined that “The different in quality of lounges more likely comes from expected standards, level of competition, and cultural norms, especially with respect to the service culture in some regions.” FlyerTalk member eponymous_coward posited that “A chain that has much lower presence outside the US has to work harder to get non-US business (and frankly Hilton has a much larger footprint of non-limited service hotels outside the US as opposed to inside the US).”
However, other executive lounges can be small, crowded, dimly lit, and offer few choices in terms of snacks and drinks — or, as FlyerTalk member mnredfox asked, “Seriously, chips, soda, and pretzels?”
FlyerTalk member Athena53 once was in what she calls “the worst excuse for a Hilton lounge” which clearly “was a regular room that they attempted to set up as a lounge. No open bar, pitiful snacks, and people were practically sitting on top of each other.” FlyerTalk member jrx loves the lounge concept, “but I wouldn’t lament Hilton closing tired, crappy lounges.” That is one of the things which causes FlyerTalk member StayingHomeIsBetter to wonder if there is no such thing as a brand standard. “Seriously, why can we not have reasonable expectations of what we are going to find when we arrive at a Hilton property?”
Summary
Even if it is a poor excuse for a lounge, I am usually thankful that one is even open at a hotel or resort property where I am staying as a guest. I realize that a hotel property is not required to offer an executive lounge; so even a snack or drink is appreciated by me. Every little bit helps, as far as I am concerned…
…and then again, I have been to executive lounges in which I was the only guest, with one or two members of the staff tending to every whim. That other extreme can tend to make me feel a little uncomfortable, as I generally prefer not to be the center of attention.
On the other hand, a brand standard for executive lounges would be helpful — even if only to satisfy the expectations of guests — as simply booking a reservation at a hotel or resort property which is part of a brand that is known to offer the executive lounge experience does not guarantee that you will have one.
I would like to know your thoughts and experience pertaining to executive lounges. For example, what do you prefer or enjoy most about experiencing an executive lounge? Are they an important part of your decision as to which hotel or resort property to book your reservation? Should the lounge experience adhere to minimum standards by a lodging brand?
All photographs ©2014, ©2015 and ©2017 by Brian Cohen.
