When it comes to hospitality, the Irish parliamentarian Maurice Healy put it best: “Keep your treasures for a night when those few who are nearest to your heart can gather round your table, free from care, with latchkeys in their pockets and no last train to catch.” In an effort to foster guest interaction and a sense of residential community, Staybridge Suites attempts to do that—with the introduction of a buffet design that capitalizes upon the tradition of a community table.

The transformation of Staybridge Suites’ public areas involves opening the wall between the buffet area and the great room and installing the Gathering Table—a bar-height, Silestone-topped island surrounded by stools. It is a three-sided design, with two seating sides and the longest side left open for guests who wish to stand. The room’s new plan and inclusion of the Gathering Table are intended to stimulate guest interaction during breakfast and the Sundowner evening reception. Pendant lighting and stone wall accents in the buffet area contribute to a cozy ambience. The Gathering Table design will be rolled out at more than 100 Staybridge Suites properties within the next several years.

Response to lifestyle trends was a big factor in introducing the Gathering Table concept. A 2007 Home Design Trends study conducted by the American Institute of Architects reported that 66 percent of firms indicated a greater consumer interest in more communal, open space in the home. The integration of the kitchen area into living space was also in very high demand. It was a logical extension to provide a kitchen-like island in the Staybridge Suites buffet redesign, where extendedstay guests can opt to dine or work in a convivial, communal setting. The Gathering Table design offers guests “permission” to engage at whatever social or business level they choose.

VP of Brand Management Robert Radomski says,“The Staybridge Suites Atlanta Perimeter East was the first property to feature the Gathering Table, and response from guests and staff alike has been positive. Guests comment that they enjoy the more relaxed atmosphere, and staffers love it. They appreciate anything that keeps guests socializing and happy. From a practical standpoint, the Gathering Table allows for better traffic patterns in the buffet area, with more adjacent counter space for beverage stations. Better access to beverage refills keeps congestion away from the food service area.”

Other elements of the design include additional bar-height tables in the great room, mounted televisions, and a community bulletin board with hotel activities and the Sundowner reception menu. The Sundowner reception is offered Tuesday through Thursday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and features complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks. Light hors d’oeuvres are the standard fare, and a special barbecue is featured on Wednesday evenings. A complimentary breakfast buffet is offered daily and features a hot entrée, cereal, oatmeal, breakfast breads and muffins, eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt, juice, sodas, and Wolfgang Puck coffees.

Staybridge Suites continues to enhance their upscale, all-suite properties with other unique home-away-from-home design features and amenities. Corporate initiatives such as Free Wireless Anywhere, the Just Like Home Theater, and the new Outdoor Living Room offer homey touches. These features encourage guests to circulate and spend more time in public areas.

Radomski adds, “We want to provide an environment where guests can mix, mingle, and socialize—where good times and memories prevail. Both the Gathering Table and the Outdoor Living Room create a more relaxed setting where guests can linger and enjoy dynamic group energy and networking opportunities.”

Nancy Fox is a frequent contributor to HOTEL F&B.