Hyatt Club Lounge Now Requires Reservations
It’s no secret that hotel club lounges have been inching closer to chaos due to overcrowding. But here’s a nifty little twist from a hotel that’s tackling the problem head-on…
Hyatt Regency Irvine’s New Tactic for Lounge Access
The good folks at a certain online source have uncovered an intriguing development over at the Hyatt Regency Irvine. The hotel has been sending out some rather peculiar emails to its lucky guests who can access the Regency Club. What exactly are they saying in these emails, you ask?
Attention, dear guests (yes, that includes your adorable offspring): To waltz into our breakfast or dinner service at the club, an OpenTable reservation is your golden ticket.
Fancy securing a seat? Kindly click on the magic link below to reserve your table:
[link]
- Got a party spilling beyond 5 folks or multiple rooms? Split ’em up – separate reservations are the way to go.
- Enjoy your spot for 45 minutes, with a generous 10-minute grace period adorning it.
- Bring your laid-back self, but leave your soggy swimwear at bay. To ensure everyone’s bliss, we’d appreciate you dining in shoes and shirts.
Don’t get too excited about the link above; it’s not something you’ll find just by googling away your afternoon. These private OpenTable reservation links are a well-guarded secret, it appears.
So, what’s the hotel thinking? It seems they’ve taken the bold step of issuing 45-minute dining windows during peak breakfast and dinner times – a novel way to keep the crowd under control.
This move appears to be a first for the industry, at least on this side of the globe. Now, does this mean those without a reservation will be turned away at the door? Or will they just be left waiting while the reservation-holders bask in the exclusivity?
I’m aware that there’s a trend in some Asian hotels where lounge access is curtailed during evening rush hours, with reservations becoming a necessity. But this remains untrodden territory for the U.S., and the use of OpenTable for such tasks? Honestly, it’s a revelation.
The Club Lounge Conundrum
Club lounges in hotels are facing a dilemma akin to airport lounges – it’s all about the crowd, really. Airports have turned theirs into credit card playgrounds or profit centers – constantly evolving to line their pockets. In contrast, hotel lounges are financial burdens for individual hotels, even if they are steady stars for loyalty programs.
Stateside, many hotels are still wary about reopening their lounges after the pandemic wiped the slate clean, simply because the dollars just don’t add up. Even those who are brave enough are seeing crowds, stretching the concept of value until it all but snaps.
The Takeaway
At the forefront of innovation, Hyatt Regency Irvine is relying on OpenTable to keep club lounge access more civilized by demanding reservations. It’s not a constant feature but rather one that springs to life when hustle and bustle are anticipated.
It’s a relatively clever approach to quell the chaotic lounge scenes, and frankly, it’s the first of its kind that I’ve come across.
So, what are your thoughts on this OpenTable reservation system at the Hyatt Regency Irvine? Do you think it’ll be a trendsetter, or just a quirky blip on the radar?
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