Classification of hotel bars

In a large hotel there are several kinds of bars:

The lobby bar: This convenient meeting place was popularized when Conrad Hilton wanted to generate revenue out of his vast hotel lobby. Lobby bars, when well managed, are a good source of income.

The restaurant bar: Traditionally, this bar is away from the hubbub of the lobby and offers a holding area for the hotel's signature restaurant.

The service bar: In some of the very large hotels, restaurants and room service have a separate backstage bar. Otherwise, both the restau­rant and room service are serviced by one of the regular beverage outlets, such as the restaurant bar.

The catering and banquet bar: This bar is used specifically to service all the catering and banquet needs of the hotel. These bars can stretch any operator to the limit. Frequently, several cash bars must be set up at a variety of locations; if cash wines are involved with dinner, it becomes a race to get the wine to the guest before the meal, preferably before the appetizer. Because of the difficulties involved in servicing a large number of guests, most hotels encourage inclusive wine and beverage functions in which the guests pay a little more for tickets that include a predetermined amount of beverage service. Banquet bars require careful inventory con­trol. The bottles should be checked immediately after the function, and, if the bar is very busy, the bar manager should pull the money just before the bar closes. The breakdown of function bars should be done on the spot if possible to help prevent pilferage.

The banquet bar needs to stock not only large quantities of the popu­lar wines, spirits, and beers but also a selection of premium spirits and after-dinner liqueurs. These are used in the ballroom and private dining rooms in particular.

The pool bars: Pool bars are popular at resort hotels where guests can enjoy a variety of exotic cocktails poolside. Resort hotels that cater to conventions often put on theme parties one night of the convention to allow delegates to kick back. Popular themes that are catered around the pool might be a Hawaiian luau, a Caribbean reggae night, Mexican fiesta, or country and western events. Left to the imagination, one could con­ceive of a number of theme events.

Minibars: Minibars are small, refrigerated bars in guest rooms. They offer the convenience of having beverages available at all times. For secu­rity, they have a separate key, which may be either included in the room key envelope at check-in or withheld according to the guest's preference. Minibars are typically checked and replenished on a daily basis. Charges for items used are automatically added to the guest folio.

Night clubs: Some hotels offer guests evening entertainment and dancing. Whether formal or informal, these food and beverage outlets offer a full beverage service. Live entertainment is very expensive. Many hotels are switching to operations with a DJ or where the bar itself is the entertainment (e.g., sports bar). Directors of food and beverage are now negotiating more with live bands, offering them a base pay (below union scale) and a percentage of a cover charge.

                                                                                          

Sports bars: Sports bars have become popular in hotels. Almost every­one identifies with a sporting theme, which makes for a relaxed atmos­phere that complements contemporary lifestyles. Many sports bars have a variety of games such as pool, football, bar basketball, and so on, which, together with satellite-televised sporting events, contribute to the atmos­phere [1, 176-177].

Vocabulary notes

hubbub                                                    суматоха, суета, «мельтешня»

backstage                                                 зд. не предназначенный для клиентов,                                                                 для служебного пользования, букв.                                                                       закулисный

to stretch (smb.) to the limit                     требовать(от кого-либо) приложения всех                                                          его сил и больших затрат времени

appetizer                                                   закуска, подаваемая перед обедом, то, что                                                           возбуждает аппетит

cash                                                     наличные                                         

cash bar                                               бар, где расчет с клиентом производится на                                                        месте, за наличный (в отличие от минибара                                                        в номере)

cash wine                                                 вино, подаваемое за отдельную плату (чаще за                                                              наличные деньги), т.е. не входящее в стоимость                                                             обеда, в отличие от «inclusive wine», см. выше

inclusive wine                                          вино, стоимость которого входит в стоимость                                                                обеда, в отличие от «cash wine», см. выше

predetermined                                         заранее определенный, предвари­тельно оговоренный

careful inventory control                       зд. тщательный учет всего, подан­ного на стол                                                                  участникам банкета или посетителям бара

to pull themoney                                    зд. изымать наличность из кассы

breakdown                                              зд. анализ работы, разбор деятель­ности

on the spot                                               зд. тут же; на месте; «не отходя от кассы»

spirit                                                         зд. спиртной напиток

premium                                                  зд. высший сорт; отличное качест­во

after- dinner liqueur                                ликер (как правило, весьма изы­сканный), подаваемый                                                      в неболь­ших количествах после обеда или ужина

ballroom                                                  танцевальный зал

to kick back                                             разг. расслабляться, раскрепощать­ся, снимать                                                                  напряжение

Luau                                                        «Луау» — стиль музыки, сопрово­ждающейся                                                                    завываниями, харак­терный для коренных жителей Га­                                                       вайских островов (50-го штата США)

Reggae                                                     «Рэгги» — стиль музыки, возник­ший в 1960-х гг. на                                                         Ямайке. Ком­позиции носят социально-политический                                                        характер и сопрово­ждаются характерными музыкаль­                                                       ными звуками низкой тональности.

events                                                       зд. праздничные мероприятия

theme                                                       зд. тематическая направленность (вечера,                                                              торжества и т.п.); тема

live entertain­ ment                                    сцены с реальными (доел, живы­ми), т.е.                                                                специально приглашен­ными актерами

to withhold                                              зд. не давать; «придерживать»; не показывать в                                                                 течение некоторого времени

outlet                                                        место отпуска (напитков, продук­тов); торговая точка

preference                                               зд. желание; предпочтение; выбор

to replenish                                              пополнять

folio                                                          зд. счет за проживание

pool                                                          1) пул (разновидность игры на бильярде);  

                                                                  2) плавательный бас­сейн (= swimming pool)

pool bar                                                   бар рядом с плавательным бассей­ном

live band                                                  оркестр с реальными музыканта­ми-исполнителями                                                       (не фонограм­ма); досл, живая музыка

to satellite- televise                                    передавать по спутниковому теле­видению

to contribute to (smth.)                            содействовать (чему - либо)

  union                                                                   зд. профсоюз

to complement                                         зд. соответствовать, характеризо­вать

sporting event                                          спортивное мероприятие (матч, соревнование и                                                                      т.п.)