Valet Parking - Venues

Venues

As described above, several different types of venues offer valet parking. These include:

• Single Event: These Valets are usually hired for just the evening and have assigned roles for efficiency. Parking may be at an off site location that can handle many cars, and can range from a dirt field to a multi-story parking lot. It might also be in the streets near the pickup location. At a wedding the cars may be stacked in order, respecting the hierarchy of importance of the visitors. For instance, at a Middle Eastern oil company executive party the vehicles might be stacked in the order of the importance of the executives of the company.
• Restaurant or Bar location: In this setting, parking is usually in the establishment's own lot, but may also be a blocked-off section of a nearby parking house or multilayer lot. Often a dozen spots in front will be reserved for the big spenders or frequent visitors. When the restaurant is not busy, the nicest, most unusual or newest vehicles will be parked in front of the restaurant. This can be a sales and marketing stipulation. Restaurants trying to attract tourists may park rental vehicles or common vehicles in front. Expensive restaurants looking to attract less frugal customers may park expensive cars in front, including those of the restaurant employees or owners.
• Bar or crowded urban setting: Here, space is a premium, yet the cars on the street may have a huge bearing on the clientele inside.
• Hotel location: Hotels can have all types mentioned above. Lots, multi-layer lots, parking houses, hydraulic structures, parking in front, parking in back, shuttles for car owners, shuttles for valets and more. The biggest difference between hotels and other types is the cost. Hotels usually charge double or more for valet parking when compared to bars, restaurants and major events. Usually this is because of a captive market and the need for overnight parking.
• Airports: In the United Kingdom, companies such as Holiday Extras have offered valet parking at airports. The service is also offered when parking at an airport hotel.
• Casinos: The major casinos in the U.S., particularly those in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and most larger Native American casinos provide either free or low cost valet parking.
• Malls: Major shopping centres with high traffic volume often result in full parking facilities. Some malls offer valets (with fees) to park the vehicle at a temporary location or a reserved lot. Keys are given to the valet and a ticket is issued to the driver. Upon the return of patron, the valet will drive the vehicle back to the valet booth. Temporary mall parking valets may be found during major holiday periods, like Christmas.