Newest Coffee Hangout
The new hot spot for a coffee break today is not a coffee shop, it’s a local hotel lobby!
In fact, a growing number of freelance workers say they no longer spend hours a day hanging out at Starbucks, because their new first choice for freeloading is a hotel lobby. Why?
Well, just like coffee shops, most hotel lobbies offer free Wi-Fi, cozy chairs, and outlets to plug in your laptop. But unlike coffee shops, hotel lobbies tend to have better bathrooms, and access to better food. In fact, depending on where you go, you might find a roaming wait staff that lets you order meals any time of day, and refills your coffee for free! Also, many people say the lobby environment is better than a coffee shop, because it’s usually less crowded.
But that may be changing, because believe it or not, the hotel industry encourages the lobby freeloading trend. That’s the word from Steve King, an industry consultant who says an active hotel lobby sends the message that the hotel is successful and high quality, which often translates into higher occupancy rates.
Plus, lobby guests provide a new way for hotels to make money during off-peak, weekday hours.
Think about it: The more time you spend hanging out in the lobby, the more likely you are to grab a drink, visit the lobby shops, or stay for dinner.
But before you take over your local hotel lobby, know this: Expert say hotel managers do reserve the right to kick you out if you don’t represent the “image” the hotel is trying to convey. And just like in a coffee shop, seats are first-come-first serve, meaning a bathroom break gives others the right to steal your spot!
In fact, a growing number of freelance workers say they no longer spend hours a day hanging out at Starbucks, because their new first choice for freeloading is a hotel lobby. Why?
Well, just like coffee shops, most hotel lobbies offer free Wi-Fi, cozy chairs, and outlets to plug in your laptop. But unlike coffee shops, hotel lobbies tend to have better bathrooms, and access to better food. In fact, depending on where you go, you might find a roaming wait staff that lets you order meals any time of day, and refills your coffee for free! Also, many people say the lobby environment is better than a coffee shop, because it’s usually less crowded.
But that may be changing, because believe it or not, the hotel industry encourages the lobby freeloading trend. That’s the word from Steve King, an industry consultant who says an active hotel lobby sends the message that the hotel is successful and high quality, which often translates into higher occupancy rates.
Plus, lobby guests provide a new way for hotels to make money during off-peak, weekday hours.
Think about it: The more time you spend hanging out in the lobby, the more likely you are to grab a drink, visit the lobby shops, or stay for dinner.
But before you take over your local hotel lobby, know this: Expert say hotel managers do reserve the right to kick you out if you don’t represent the “image” the hotel is trying to convey. And just like in a coffee shop, seats are first-come-first serve, meaning a bathroom break gives others the right to steal your spot!
