The long slow decline of the American mid-range hotel chain
#46
Join Date: Feb 2007
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I'd assume someone could have put something in them (maybe hair remover in the shampoo ). It's irrelevant to me since I always travel with my own products (I have sensitive skin that doesn't always react well to random products found in a hotel room). I agree with the cheap locker room appearance. Then again, all of those little individual plastic bottles does seem terribly wasteful.
I was just happy that this happened after the Terminal 4 rearrangement and the lounge was airside instead of landside as it had been in the past, and I had already passed the TSA checkpoint. I wouldn't have been able to get past the checkpoint in the state I was in, because it would be impossible for the TSA clerk to check my appearance against my photo ID.
That being said, I'm going to look into SBS based on your evaluation - I didn't know anything about it.
Last edited by Carl Johnson; Jan 22, 2017 at 10:31 am
#47
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I was referring to Aloft. That's where I saw it in the Starwood portfolio. Aloft seems like it *wants* to be a hipster brand, although I don't know how successful it's been.
I just think of 4P as a dead brand. I hardly ever see them anymore, and when I do it's a tired old hotel that should probably be a Holiday Inn. Is there a region in the world where they're really building new hotels under the 4P brand?
I think I've stayed in exactly 1 in the past 10 years: by the PIT airport, a Category 1, when I had a very early flight out. It was OK...I think the toiletries were "normal" for a low-end hotel. Not the locker-room dispenser.
Totally agree with both ends of this statement!! I slogged through a couple Candlewood nights during one of those weird (but lucrative) "try all our brands" IHG promos. Absolutely brutal property in North Dallas. Not sure if I'll ever stay in one again...although I suppose if another promo is sitting there and 50k-75k points are hinging on it....maybe.
I just think of 4P as a dead brand. I hardly ever see them anymore, and when I do it's a tired old hotel that should probably be a Holiday Inn. Is there a region in the world where they're really building new hotels under the 4P brand?
I think I've stayed in exactly 1 in the past 10 years: by the PIT airport, a Category 1, when I had a very early flight out. It was OK...I think the toiletries were "normal" for a low-end hotel. Not the locker-room dispenser.
Totally agree with both ends of this statement!! I slogged through a couple Candlewood nights during one of those weird (but lucrative) "try all our brands" IHG promos. Absolutely brutal property in North Dallas. Not sure if I'll ever stay in one again...although I suppose if another promo is sitting there and 50k-75k points are hinging on it....maybe.
#48
Join Date: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,857
Although there are three different types of Ibises (Ibii). Ibis Budget (there are two in here the old Formule 1 and Etap) and Styles. I think Styles is a little below Courtyard. For instance they advertise that they have no in-room safe or air conditioning in some locales.
#49
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No air conditioning? That's not a hotel: that's camping.
Not that I don't enjoy camping. Or staying in an un-air-conditioned cabin from time to time provided it's north enough and/or otherwise cool enough. But it can't even be on the spectrum with Courtyard if the rooms don't have A/C.
Not that I don't enjoy camping. Or staying in an un-air-conditioned cabin from time to time provided it's north enough and/or otherwise cool enough. But it can't even be on the spectrum with Courtyard if the rooms don't have A/C.
#51
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My son is a commercial pilot who gets billeted in midrange properties all over the country, sometimes on the airport perimeter, sometimes in the city. He says no lodging brand is more loathed by him and his colleagues than Candlewood Suites.
#52
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#53
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I just don't want the locker-room dispensers unless I'm in an actual locker room.
#54
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I actually think what the US hospitality industry does best is mid-range (2.5 to 3*) chain concepts and properties. Full-boat Marriotts and Hiltons and Hyatts are more erratic, and disappoint me far more often, than HGIs, Courtyards, HI, HI Express, and Four Points. Even newish 2* concepts like Microtel, which I stumbled onto for the first time last year, deliver excellent value and amenity levels.
If you tour Europe and book yourself blind into a 2*-3* property you are playing roulette when it comes to cleanliness, amenities, food, service / courtesy, and value for money. The value prop and service promise is far more consistent and satisfactory in the US.
If you tour Europe and book yourself blind into a 2*-3* property you are playing roulette when it comes to cleanliness, amenities, food, service / courtesy, and value for money. The value prop and service promise is far more consistent and satisfactory in the US.
#55
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On a 3-day stay, I'll reuse the bottles and soaps I started using on Day 1 until they're gone. I don't need them to take the old ones away if they're still usable, and can sometimes go a whole stay with just one little bottle of shampoo. (Although some of them are *really* small...just 1-2 shower's worth.)
I just don't want the locker-room dispensers unless I'm in an actual locker room.
#56
Join Date: Jun 2016
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I LOVED the cinnamon scented shampoo that HIE used to have. I'd actually stay there instead of other hotels just for that reason and bribe the housekeepers for a few extra bottles to take home. Sadly, they don't use it anymore...I miss smelling like a cinnabon all day
#57
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Rather timely this!
I travel every couple of months to the same office and pretty much have my pick of the hotels, there's just a be sensible policy ^ All within a few hundred yards there's a Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn.
The first four or five times I stayed at the Hampton Inn, it's a pretty decent one as Hamptons go and price was always cheapest, the HGI which would be my preferred choice but was always double and more of the HI and doesn't fit in with the "be sensible" policy. Last time I stayed at a Homewood Suites which was cheapest and am currently staying on this trip at the Hilton Garden Inn. When I booked it was way cheap. I've not stayed at HGIs in a while but always found them to be rather decent regardless of where in the US they've been (AK, NY, VA, SC etc. etc.) so I was rather looking forward to the upgrade over the Hampton/Homewood. This one seems a bit meh...the bathroom is smaller than the Hampton with the same amenities and a smaller bathtub and the room is very similar too. Sure it has room service and a bar and a slightly better breakfast but there's not much in it...
I travel every couple of months to the same office and pretty much have my pick of the hotels, there's just a be sensible policy ^ All within a few hundred yards there's a Hampton Inn, Homewood Suites and Hilton Garden Inn.
The first four or five times I stayed at the Hampton Inn, it's a pretty decent one as Hamptons go and price was always cheapest, the HGI which would be my preferred choice but was always double and more of the HI and doesn't fit in with the "be sensible" policy. Last time I stayed at a Homewood Suites which was cheapest and am currently staying on this trip at the Hilton Garden Inn. When I booked it was way cheap. I've not stayed at HGIs in a while but always found them to be rather decent regardless of where in the US they've been (AK, NY, VA, SC etc. etc.) so I was rather looking forward to the upgrade over the Hampton/Homewood. This one seems a bit meh...the bathroom is smaller than the Hampton with the same amenities and a smaller bathtub and the room is very similar too. Sure it has room service and a bar and a slightly better breakfast but there's not much in it...
#58
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I like all three of those Hilton brands (assuming it's a reasonably new Hampton Inn). HGI would usually be my top choice, as the bar/restaurant at least give it a "real hotel" feel (kind of) as opposed to the roadtripping feel of the Hampton Inn. Homewoods are great for trips with family...
All of these are good examples of brands that vastly improved upon what existed in those locations prior to them.
All of these are good examples of brands that vastly improved upon what existed in those locations prior to them.
#60
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 9,740
I like all three of those Hilton brands (assuming it's a reasonably new Hampton Inn). HGI would usually be my top choice, as the bar/restaurant at least give it a "real hotel" feel (kind of) as opposed to the roadtripping feel of the Hampton Inn. Homewoods are great for trips with family...
All of these are good examples of brands that vastly improved upon what existed in those locations prior to them.
All of these are good examples of brands that vastly improved upon what existed in those locations prior to them.
What Hilton needs to do is combine the Hampton bed with the HGI breakfast and they'd have a knock-out product.
Even better, combine the Hampton bed, the HGI breakfast, and the Homewood Suites kitchenette--that would likely be a great deal for HH Gold/Diamond members.