“Mastering the Art of Blending in and Utilizing Facilities as a Non-Guest in Hotel Lobbies: A View from the Wing at Radisson Hotels with Diamond Status”

I frequently find myself in hotel lobbies, even though I’m not a guest. No one has ever confronted me about it.

In the past, Radisson hotels had a program known as “Our World, Your Lounge”. This allowed elite members of their loyalty program to enjoy free coffee, tea, or hot chocolate for two, and use free Wi-Fi at any of their hotels. However, this was only applicable to their properties in Europe, Middle East, and Africa and was discontinued in 2011 with the launch of the Radisson Rewards program.

I’ve never encountered any issues when grabbing a water from the lobby fridge at the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York. It’s a convenient central location for meetings.

There are those who, like an Honors Diamond member, feel at ease stopping by any Hilton to use the lobby restroom and get a takeaway coffee. It’s undoubtedly cleaner than the average gas station or rest stop restroom.

If you appear to fit in and are comfortable, you’re unlikely to be noticed. As a middle-aged professional white male, I don’t stand out. Even if a hotel realizes I’m not a guest (which they usually don’t), they’re likely not to care.

But is this ethical? Is there a distinction between using the restroom and taking a coffee while not being a guest, or using the lobby lounge chairs to meet someone? Does it make a difference if it’s a hotel where I’ve stayed numerous times, like the Andaz 5th Avenue in New York (even if I’m not staying that night), compared to a hotel where I’ve never stayed?

You can also use the pool and resort facilities even when you’re not a guest – either with permission (by purchasing access without booking a room) or on a sneak-in basis.

Some readers do this at upscale apartment complexes as well. These places have pools and many visitors, and may also have guest parking. Once you’ve been somewhere once, you gain the confidence to return, knowing your way around and blending in.

Source: viewfromthewing.com

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