Hilton HHonors - Is this common - food/drink rules? (Hilton Athens lounge)

When I stay at Marriotts or Hiltons I usually go to the lounge and grab some sodas/water and some cake and bring them back to my room.

I see people hanging out in the lounge, or eat their dinner there, etc...I never got that, I rather hang out in my room in my boxers, its more comfortable.

Anyway, I was at the Hilton Athens last week for vacation and 2 things happened that was strange. (Im a diamond at Hilton)

1. I was drinking a soda and it was half empty and I started to go to my room, I was stopped by the attendant and told that all food/drinks must be consumed in the lounge only.

2. The lounge provides sandwiches, salad, and 2 hot appetizers every night...but I bought some dinner outside, and brought it into the lounge to eat (and get some free soda), and I was told that no outside food was allowed in the lounge!

I dont understand the second one.
So they rather I eat THEIR food? If anything, by bringing in outside food Im saving them money, since Im not eating theirs.

Are these two scenarios common?

Ive never had this happen before, and I see people eating outside food in lounges all the time.

I have seen this in written form at a number of places, but never seen it enforced. I agree it sounds weird and #1 is easier to understand than #2. Curious to hear if other Hilton enforce this as well.

Sometimes they prevent outside food from coming in so other guest are not subject to offensive smells of some ethnic foods which can permiate the room. Some guest may prefer to eat in the lounge instead of taking the food to the room because they don't want the smell of dirty dishes, etc.

They may want to prevent taking of food out of the lounge so it will keep down on waste.

I agree with you, it is stupid.

Preventing an open container from being taken out of the lounge is silly but not uncommon IME- Hiltons and other chains. Obviously they want to prevent wholesale exporting of refreshments- and a bright line is the easiest way to do this. I would say you are far more likely to get away with it if it is last call- at/near closing time.

Prohibiting outside food from being brought in- I must say I agree with this- unfortunately due to the potential abuse I could foresee with DYKWIAs using the lounge as their private dining room. :rolleyes:

I don't think #1 is stupid at all. I remember a discussion on this somewhere on FT where people reported seeing families in the lounge stuffing their backpacks full of provisions for the day. (It was California, not Athens, and may not have been Hilton.) This rule ensures that you're well-fed while enjoying the lounge, but that they're not supplying you with free food the rest of the day. Hilton's lounges in Europe are wonderful compared to their US counterparts. If they want to manage the cost by preventing guests from taking food outside rather than reducing the offerings to chips, dip and beer like their US counterparts, it's OK with me.

As for outside food- could be that in addition to the reasons others have posted, they don't want their lounge attendants having to clean up all the paper and styro coffee cups, plastic bags, pizza containers and whatever else guests bring in from outside and leave there.

1. I was drinking a soda and it was half empty and I started to go to my room, I was stopped by the attendant and told that all food/drinks must be consumed in the lounge only.


Hilton CPH did this to me as well.

I thought these were the rules everywhere. Not a bad thing imo. What you were trying to do is in no way unreasonable. But the reality is there are probably more people who would abuse things by loading up plates of food to take to friends or co-workers who don't have lounge access, or abusing lounge privileges by trying to take 6 beers back to their room.

So the rule is there for a reason, and the lounge is meant as an place to go for a drink or snack, not so much as a carry-out. And for people desiring a meal in their room, room service is there for a reason too. ;)

Both rules make perfect sense. Not enforcing a person walking away with half a can of soda is like a slippery slope, eventually resulting in wholesale exporting of food (which many of us have witnessed during various stays).

the reason most places that serve food won't let you bring in outside food is because of local health department regulations.

I like both rules. I hate the idea of people taking out drinks and food to feed their full hockey team not staying on executive floor and I hate the idea of people taking in smelly pizzas to avoid having to pay extra for their drinks. You would not take you smelly pizza bought outside to a restaurant, so why should you do it in a lounge?

Every hotel and airport lounge I have been in has a sign that states (paraphrasing) 'Food/drink is not to be removed'. Granted, not all attendants enforce the rule consistently.

I have no doubt you are familiar with the policy.

However, you shouldn't act surprised when the policy is properly enforced.

Every hotel and airport lounge I have been in has a sign that states (paraphrasing) 'Food/drink is not to be removed'. Granted, not all attendants enforce the rule consistently.

I have no doubt you are familiar with the policy.

However, you shouldn't act surprised when the policy is properly enforced.

Actually I am NOT familiar with that policy.
I have never seen that sign before, and I see people taking food to go all the time. (especially at breakfast)
In fact a lot of the lounges even have takeaway containers that you can use.

Actually I am NOT familiar with that policy.
I have never seen that sign before, and I see people taking food to go all the time. (especially at breakfast)
In fact a lot of the lounges even have takeaway containers that you can use.


I have seen "take away" containers for coffee in the morning (i.e. paper cups). But apart from that the rule in all the lounges I have used both here and outside the US is eat or consume in the lounge. You don't expect Hilton to condone guests loading up on food and beverage and hauling it off. I personally would applaud a "lounge dragon" who enforces the rule. I'm not talking about the .50 cent bottle of water here. I have seen guests haul off half a dozen bottles of beer and snacks. The lounge is not your personal larder to be raided. If it is treated that way don't complain when the offerings diminish or at the extreme the lounge benefit be eliminated all together, as it already has in many US Hiltons.

IME, this is indeed very common in Club Lounges (Marriott, Starwood, Hilton) in Europe.

If it is treated that way don't complain when the offerings diminish or at the extreme the lounge benefit be eliminated all together, as it already has in many US Hiltons.

+1.

Actually I am NOT familiar with that policy.
I have never seen that sign before, and I see people taking food to go all the time. (especially at breakfast)
In fact a lot of the lounges even have takeaway containers that you can use.

Actually I've seen it in nearly every EL I've been to. They usually don't say anything if you take a can of soda. But anything more, yes. I do agree w/the policy. Many times I've come into the El and found things to be stripped. Can't imagine what it would look like if they allowed people to carry food out.

I've seen people really load up dishes (usually 2 or 3) and attempt to walk out with them. Thankfully they were stopped. What's appalling is frequently these people argue with the attendants! Just plain rude!

I've NEVER seen takeaway containers! The EL is not a carry out shop!

I´ve seen similar signage at nearly every hotel and airport lounge I´ve been in also. Just finished a stay at the Berlin Hilton, and there was a sign near the entry with nearly identical verbiage.

I'll have to pay more attention next time.

I've never noticed the signs so I never knew it was an issue (taking food out)

As for the takeaway containers, Im not saying they are right out in the open.
But I've been in a few lounges where I've asked the clerk if they had containers (so I can take breakfast to work) and they always pulled out those styrofoam containers for me to use.

At the Hilton Dubai Jumeirah, no food or drink out of the lounge is strictly enforced. For that matter, the one time I went to one of their refrigerators to grab a can of Bitter Lemon to drink, the staff practically demanded to take the can from me and serve it in a glass! OTOH, Hilton ATL Airport never seems to mind taking cans of soda back to the room.

Agreed. As others have said, some of us have witnessed numbers of (usually children "under supervision" removing provisions, and for one, I'd not be interested in seeing someone bring in their durian or "old" kimchi for consumption to a lounge.

If we can't spend the time in the lounge to consume what we are getting, maybe it's time to visit a convenience store. ;) Seriously, some properties are more flexible, but most I'm aware of do not allow guests to remove drinks and food.

I like both rules. I hate the idea of people taking out drinks and food to feed their full hockey team not staying on executive floor and I hate the idea of people taking in smelly pizzas to avoid having to pay extra for their drinks. You would not take you smelly pizza bought outside to a restaurant, so why should you do it in a lounge?

I don't mind this rule at all as I think it ensures that the executive lounge feature remains at properties and is not such a drain that hotels instead choose to not offer them. I have seen a couple of exceptions--paper cups/lids provide for coffee to be taken from the lounge (much appreciated) and a (non-Hilton) Disney concierge lounge actually encouraging lounge patrons to take water to have for use in the parks.

A few days ago when checking in at the Hilton Budapest they gave me a letter with the lounge opening hours, facilities,... and it mentioned "please do not take food out of the lounge".
One night, on my way back to the room I grabbed a banana and asked the staff if it was OK to take it, and the lady said "of course, no problem".
I imagine that if you take plates full of food + drinks, it is very different but for 1/2 soda I am surprised they said anything.

I also like the rule as it keeps the lounges reasonably stocked. I've experienced food/drink shortages when I come in on the back end of the services.

This is a general rule at pretty much every chain that I know of that has executive lounges, Hilton's, Sheratons, Hyatts, etc. Enforcement is another matter, and even at lounges where they enforce strictly, if I have asked no one has ever objected to my son taking his drink with him back to the room. I also know of some lounges that do not care so much if you grab a breakfast item or two to take with you, but will be incredibly strict with night time food(s).

Hello FTers,

Actually I think the "no outside food allowed" makes sense. Let's suppose I buy something at McDonalds..... Well, I have a choice to eat it at McDonalds, I have a choice to eat outside of McDonalds, I have a choice to eat in my room.

Whereas staff has gone through a lot of trouble to order the food, cook the food, prepare the food, present the food, have the necessary plates and utensils ready for the clients to enjoy the food....and the club lounge would be the only "restaurant" for the clients to enjoy this food.

Can you imagine if you walked into the club lounge ready for breakfast and the lounge is full of people with their McBreakfasts! Take it outside, people!

So.... I think the "no outside food" allowed makes sense.

Your opinions may vary.

David

I like both rules. I hate the idea of people taking out drinks and food to feed their full hockey team not staying on executive floor and I hate the idea of people taking in smelly pizzas to avoid having to pay extra for their drinks. You would not take you smelly pizza bought outside to a restaurant, so why should you do it in a lounge?

Could not agree more, nicely said.
Now I wish those rules, especially the first one, were firmly enforced!

Wow,

I learn new things every day. I pretty much always hit the lounge upon arrival - grab 2 diet cokes and once in a while a snack (chips?) and head straight to my room - to relax and unwind for a minute or two...

I've seen the signs...just never thought they applied to anyone, anytime, anywhere.

Keep the faith,

Pakse