For Louis Sailer, General Manager, The Leela Palace New Delhi, one of the major reasons why travellers prefer club lounges is “for the personalised 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 travellers, 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 travellers through ambiance, convenience, comfort and personalised amenities.”
A business traveller’s home away from home
Hotel club lounges are widely preferred among business travellers as it is their one-stop shop for everything. “Club lounges 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, 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 traveller 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.”
F&B outlets at the hotel do not provide the kind of privacy a corporate client requires and the ambient sounds from neighbouring tables just add to the disturbance. Therefore, discerning guests especially corporate travellers, today, prefer club lounges over the widespread dining options.
“Corporate leaders are looking for a mix of multi-purpose spaces that transcend the traditional meeting or conference rooms at the city’s most exclusive addresses. They prefer a more social space combined with luxurious amenities and bespoke services for networking with their business partners. Hence, the industry has witnessed a surge in the need for high-end luxury spaces in the form of private clubs,” adds Haksar.
Besides, guests can indulge in a plethora of unique dining experiences at club lounges. A case in point is the Resident’s Lounge at The Oberoi, Mumbai that offers single estate coffees, artisanal teas, gourmet cookies and a dedicated à la carte snacks menu available throughout the day. Complementing this is the special cocktail hour every evening for enjoying premium spirits with hot and cold canapés.
An evolving concept
The demand for hotel lounges is on the rise in India — guests are ready to shell out more money to seek exclusive and sophisticated services. This, in turn, has led to hotel brands revamping their club lounge experience into a more refined and user-centric programme. Expressing her views on this changing concept, Aneesha Ratra, Director, Equus, The St. Regis Mumbai said, “As clubs shift away from many of the formalities of club life, they are also establishing new features that add value for long-standing members and attract potential members.”
“Club lounges today aim at appealing to the sensibilities of young discerning business heads or entrepreneurs who value their time and have an eye for luxury. Whether it’s encouraging them to view a sport/game over a big screen at the club or simply work out in between meetings, the clubs aim at providing maximum support to its members to help balance an integrated work-life setup,” adds Ratra.
The inclusion of health and wellbeing in hotel lounge services is the latest trend in the market. The lounges are bringing in the aspect of wellness, with gym, yoga and other wellness facilities for guests to participate in.
Offering packaged deals with club lounge access is also on the rise — Sofitel Mumbai BKC offers a Club Room package that comes with several perks, which one can avail at the Club Millésime lounge.
Equus at The St. Regis Mumbai also offers varied and customised packages where members can conduct their meetings overpower breakfasts or bento box lunches specially curated based on the guest preference.
Today, a huge emphasis is also given on the overall décor and set up of the lounge. Hitesh Sangwan, Director Food & Beverage, The Leela Ambience Gurugram says, “Lounges are not limited to happy hours, cocktail evenings, breakfast sessions, etc, it is an exclusive venue offering sleek couches, selection of books, gourmet hors d’oeuvres, private concierge services etc. Lounges are not only limited to business travellers but are also catering to the families and leisure travellers with bespoke services.”
Our favourite hotel lounges in India
ITC Maurya, New Delhi: ITC Club Privé
Guests using the ITC One, The Towers category rooms and suites have exclusive access to the ITC Club Privé lounge. World-class meeting and boardrooms, interesting gourmet offerings, bars with fine spirit collection, butler service, private dining space, travel assistance and concierge service are available at the ITC Club Privé lounge. In addition to this, ITC Club Privé opens early and stays open late, thereby making it a convenient option for business travelers. itchotels.in
JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar: Executive Lounge
Guests booking the concierge category rooms and suites along with Bonvoy Platinum, Titanium and Ambassador Elite guests have access to the Executive Lounge. Spread across the 17th and 18th floors, this opulent space comes with three meeting rooms complemented by secretarial services and administrative support. Along with a myriad of corporate amenities, this JW Marriott Mumbai Sahar lounge has a separate pantry area with self-serve beverage stations. End your day with refreshing cocktails and mocktails during cocktail hours from 5:30pm – 9:30pm. marriott.com
Shangri-La’s – Eros Hotel, New Delhi: Horizon Club Lounge
Sip on your favourite cocktail while enjoying spectacular views of the city and iconic landmarks including India Gate and Rashtrapati Bhavan from the Horizon Club lounge at Shangri- La’s – Eros Hotel, New Delhi. The lounge is available to those staying in Horizon Club rooms and suites. The Horizon Club experience includes perks such as quick bites, late check-out until 4 pm, private check-in/out, use of meeting room facilities for two hours per day, suit pressing and shoe shine service. However, the highlight is a dedicated club concierge who takes care of your travel arrangements and business meet planning. shangri-la.com
Sofitel Mumbai BKC: Club Millésime
Located on the top-most floor of the hotel, the Club Millésime lounge at Sofitel Mumbai BKC is inspired by the Art de Vivre. The lounge is operational 24 hours and offers personalised checkin and check out (at the lounge), complimentary food services; access to club meeting room for one hour per day and butler service for packing and unpacking. Guests can also avail the So Fit (In-house health club) and L’oh pool. sofitel-mumbai-bkc.com
The Oberoi, Mumbai: The Resident’s Lounge
The Resident’s Lounge at the Oberoi, Mumbai has been designed keeping in mind the “needs of the discerning business traveller.” Guests staying in the Ocean Premier rooms and all suites have complementary access to the lounge. The lounge features a rich gold palette, wood wall panels and elegant rugs; and is perfect to host informal business discussions. Specially curated menus are available and there is a selection of books and journals is available for those who wish to take a break from their work. oberoihotels.com
The Leela Mumbai: Royal Club Lounge
The plush Royal Club Lounge is located on the 8th floor of The Leela Mumbai. Guests booking the Royal Club rooms have access to the lounge that offers a selection of international food and beverages for breakfast, mid-day meals, high tea, happy hours and nightcaps. At The Leela Mumbai, guests have 24-hour access to the Royal Club Lounge. theleela.com
The St. Regis Mumbai: Equus
Located on level 36 of The St. Regis Mumbai, Equus overlooks the stunning Mumbai skyline. Along with an all-day access to the lounge and meeting room, this member only elite club offers exclusive value add-ons wherein members can avail wellness facilities on level
10 housing the state-of-the-art gym and swimming pool. Several credits, savings and benefits on dining in the hotel are also available as an Equus member. marriott.com
