It’s Saturday night at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe’s Lone Eagle Grille in Incline Village and the room is throbbing with people of all varieties: tourists, conference attendees, and wedding partygoers. Mingled amongst the array is a special breed of Tahoe animal — the ‘local.’
One reason locals come to the Hyatt is because of its residents discount program, which was devised a few years back by former General Manager Mark Pardue. Pardue, who recently relocated to New York City’s largest Hyatt, realized a healthy resort can’t ignore its community and solely rely on tourism.
Initially, a 10 to 15 percent discount on all food, beverage, and services (excluding alcohol and retail shop purchases) was offered seasonally to those living in Incline Village, Kings Beach, and Washoe County. Today, the program, which is honored Sunday through Thursday, offers a 25 percent discount year-round. The program also includes half-off wine by the glass from 4 to 6 p.m., Sunday through Wednesday. To receive the discount, a local only has to present their driver’s license or Incline Village resident card.
On any given Saturday night you can find a familiar and friendly crowd of locals that congregate in the Lone Eagle Grille Lounge and around the famous fire pit. There’s plenty of hand shaking, back slapping, air kissing, and catching up. Ask any of the waitresses and chances are they can name 50 percent of the locals seated in the cozy lounge.
‘I consider many of the locals my friends, especially since they’ve made my work far more enjoyable,’ said waitress Mary Kleingartner, who’s been working at the Hyatt for seven years. ‘Locals are the lifeblood of the community and here.’
But as much as the Hyatt has deemed the program a success, many locals don’t even know it exists.
For newcomers Gerry and Diane Wendel, getting acquainted with the neighborhood was at first a little intimidating. But when they were recognized as ‘locals’ at the Hyatt, they started to feel like they were part of the community.
‘It’s a little like ‘Cheers,’’ Diane said, ‘where everybody knows your name.’
Even though former staffers inaugurated the locals program, new faces plan on continuing and expanding its success. Hyatt General Manager Fred Findlen, from Chesapeake Bay, Md., has recently filled Pardue’s shoes. Cecilia Cuff is the Lone Eagle general manager. Both intend to keep the program going.
