Oomis: I’m not aware that there is any dearth of singles events. There are tons of them. And they aren’t all expensive, although some are somewhat obnoxiously expensive.
But more to the point–what is the big maala of singles events over shadchanim? Because you met them once before you asked them out? I’ve been to a singles event. All the guys want to go out with the pretty girl.
To answer your questions re hotel lounges.
1. IS there no secular music playing(I thought that was a no-no for the more right-wing among us). Some have music. I don’t recall it being worse than starbucks. Often it is classical.
2. no smoking. It is illegal to smoke in hotel lounges anywhere I’ve gone on a date (never been to Abu Dhabi). And many yeshivish guys smoke themselves.
3. no non-Jewish people on dates there who are drinking alcoholic beverages and possibly acting even just a little bit in ways that could make frum people feel uncomfortable? I literally cannot recall ever seeing that in a hotel lounge on a date. I have seen that in other places in the world, sometimes on dates, but I cannot recall it ever on a date.
The airport: Also has music, also doesn’t have smoking, also has couples doing what couples do, and has drinking in fact (in larger quantities than hotel lounges)–and is a very nonclassy place to take a date.
Do your sons a favor and tell them to go to the Waldorf Astoria and sit on the couches near the flower bouquet, instead of going to the airport and sitting on a bench in arrivals. If you’re not sure, why don’t you go to the Waldorf one night, sit on the couches, and see for yourself. The flowers are very pretty–I think they get new ones every day.