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Wisdom > Frankly

Why driver lounges in malls deserve a serious upgrade

From concrete boxes to comfort zones: Rethinking the driver lounge

A run down drivers lounge
Most driver lounges look rather miserable right now. IMAGE FROM CHATGPT

Most malls, resorts and similar venues usually have a dreary-looking room somewhere near their car park that they call a driver lounge. In most cases, it’s a bleak, windowless basement room with some metal bench seats, basic air-conditioning and—if you’re lucky—a TV. You could argue that it’s another example of a two-class society, where Sir and Madam are living it up in luxury upstairs, while their drivers are left to wait in a concrete box that deserves a lot of names but not “lounge.”

It would be an easy undertaking for billionaire mall owners to improve these facilities, and I think it’s about time they did. Let’s give them the benefit of the doubt that nobody has brought this to their attention until now, and help it along with three different lounge concepts—presented below, from basic improvements to proper VIP feeling. There’s also more to this than just being nice and treating people with a bit more respect: Drivers need to be well-rested and focused behind the wheel. Looking after them therefore makes sense. It also creates a differentiator for malls, an important point in a very competitive market.

Concept number one takes the horrible concrete box and spruces it up with some proper creature comforts. Cushioned seating, a charging station with multiple USB/Type-C ports, free Wi-Fi with actual good speed, a water dispenser (hot and cold), a small snack corner with healthier options (fruits, nuts, boiled eggs, and not just chips and instant noodles), and a clean CR nearby specifically for drivers. This is what every driver’s lounge in the country should look like as a minimum.

Drivers Lounge concept
It's not hard to improve these places. IMAGE FROM CHATGPT

Concept number two dials things up a notch and adds ergonomic recliner chairs (not quite massage chairs yet), a small canteen serving affordable hot meals with low-carb options, lockers for valuables, a TV lounge area with sports/news, a prayer/meditation nook, a small reading corner with newspapers and local magazines, and an outdoor waiting option with shade and fans (who says driver lounges have to be in the basement?).

Drivers Lounge
A well-rested driver is a safer driver. IMAGE FROM CHATGPT

The third and final concept presents a true flagship experience. Massage chairs, a nap pod or rest area with curtained cots, a basic health kiosk (blood pressure, weight, BMI), a barber/grooming station, shower rooms, a smoothie bar, and a partnered clinic for regular health screenings make this the VIP option. The health point can’t be stressed enough here. Most drivers are middle-aged males who spend a lot of time sitting down, and are therefore at greater risk of illness. Simple checkups and healthy food can make a world of a difference here.

Drivers Lounge
Even a full VIP setup would be easy to do for rich mall owners. IMAGE FROM CHATGPT

Am I serious about these concepts? Kind of. At least some basic upgrades are really overdue, as even posh malls provide only the most basic facilities for the many drivers who actually bring their customers there. Parking fees alone could easily pay for upgrading and operating nicer facilities, which in turn lead to happier, healthier and safer drivers. Looks like a win-win deal to me.



Frank Schuengel

Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring. He writes the aptly named ‘Frankly’ column.



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