Using a variable as a package setting within a class

I have defined a new class. Within this class, I am calling on the hyperref package, and I set the following options:

\RequirePackage{hyperref}\hypersetup {  pdfauthor={...},  pdfsubject={...},  pdftitle={...},}

Now, I have defined certain variables within this class (which I can call with \variablename{}). However, if I use these within this package, as part of the option settings, then this fails (undefined control sequence). Am I not using the right syntax?

\RequirePackage{hyperref}\hypersetup {  pdfauthor={\variablename{}},  pdfsubject={\variablename{}},  pdftitle={\variablename{}},}

I've read these questions (variable-name \newcommand with parameters within another \newcommand and Defining a newcommand, with variable name, inside another newcommand), but they are about newcommands... this is rather a regular package (hyperref) that I'm including, so I'm hoping it does not need to be this complicated)...