What to expect from hotel executive lounges

AYALA’S Seda Hotel in Nuvali recently opened its club lounge. It offers an unobstructed view of Mount Makiling and other sights.

Not all club lounges are equally comparable.  There are hotels that never seem to run out of food treats and provide guests with the proper attention while there are others in need of renovation and improvement.

In one instance at an old five star hotel in Pasay City, a lounge attendant even asked a guest if he could switch the TV program so he wouldn’t miss his favorite local evening show.

Of course, most big hotels hope to attract successful executives to their private areas that usually come with the more expensive room packages.  These  include exclusive amenities such as the use of the club room and unlimited food choices at certain times of the day.

Following are a few details to consider before booking a room with club room access:

Unlimited food and drinks

Lunch and dinner are usually not included in the club lounge buffet offering.  However, typical meal times are afternoon snack (merienda), cocktails, and breakfast.  The food fare is usually light but since it is offered as a buffet, some guests skip dinner altogether.

Food quality is a major reason why guests decide to pay more for club room access.  While it may not be possible to determine the hotel menu beforehand, getting feedback from other guests who have stayed previously could help.

Coffee and tea are available all day.  In certain hotels, a well-stocked chiller with other beverage choices may also be offered.

Wifi connectivity and computer access

In some hotels, wifi already comes free throughout the whole premises.  However, a computer may also be provided at the club lounge for guests.  Before booking a room with club room access, find out if the wifi connection and computer access are part of the package.

Otherwise, the club room is also an excellent place to bring a laptop to finish some work.

Game room access

CLUB lounges offer light meals and more privacy for the busy executive and his/her family.

Some lounges also provide a small library, board games for children, and a few digital games.  Certain hotels do not make these amenities available to regular hotel guests.

However, there is one hotel that recently launched a complete game room that includes a pool table, computer access, and the latest digital games such as xbox, wii u, and playstations.

Seda Hotel in Nuvali has made computer and game room access universal to all hotel guests and they don’t require club lounge registration.  The hotel appears to be setting a trend in providing more advanced child-friendly hotel facilities.

Child rate policy

Some lounges may include for free children below 12 years old.  Other hotels impose a child rate for food service.  It is good to check these policies before checking in to avoid any miscommunication.

Late check-out privileges

With club room access, guests are given more leeway when requesting for late check-out.  For example, one hotel specifically informs the guests that they can request for a 3 p.m. check-out.

In conclusion, well managed club lounges may offer good value for money, especially during promotional seasons. For many executives, logistical arrangements are taken care of and these free up a lot of time to do other stuff.  For other hotel guests, these allow for more organized family times.