Originally Posted by
pinniped
I too find it interesting when "brand inversion" occurs...the rates at the limited-service brands jump higher than the full-service brand. I've seen it most with Marriott but also some with Hilton.
I always just chalked it up to very localized demand. I see it most on the weekends, perhaps because a smaller number of roadtrippers can fill a Fairfield Inn whereas a large Marriott is much more empty. I have always thought of FI as a "by the freeway" brand (like Hampton Inn) and associate it with roadtrippers, mainly leisure travelers.
I favor hotels with free breakfast no matter whether I'm traveling solo or with family, whether for work or pleasure. It just irritates me to spend money on breakfast or wifi, even if it's the client's money.
you are correct it's typically localized - thinking back to the old Detroit airport there use to be the Romulus Marriott, Airport Courtyard, Airport Fairfield Inn and another Marriott inside the old terminal...on weekends the hotel inside the terminal was the most expensive followed by the Fairfield Inn because of that hotel's demand....the Romulus Marriott was the least expensive.....it's also interesting to see the demand each brand commands naturally, speaking of Hilton brands Hampton is their powerhouse brand - in a typical location it will kick every other Hilton brand's butt (in terms of demand) and because of that increased demand the pricing might make a few folks scratch their head (of course all of this is my personal opinion - I have had some folks within the industry feel Hampton isn't as strong as it really is)