Originally Posted by
khabah
- Kill AC and fold its properties into Marriott or Le Méridien; I see a lot of similarities in design between AC and LM [especially in their liberal use of pattern and shades of grey] and it'll give LM a grand return to its homeland on the Old Continent
"AC Hotels by Marriott" is a long-term joint venture between the Spanish hotel group AC Hotels and Marriott International, Inc. It's a growth brand from Europe (Spain), now rolling out in the United States. It's certainly not a brand that Marriott would want to kill.
"AC Hotels by Marriott" is in the select service tier, not the full-service tier. Marriott calls it "an upper-moderate tier lifestyle hotel brand for the design conscious traveler." Think of it as the more stylish cousin of Courtyard by Marriott.
Just because there are some decorating similarities between some AC Hotels properties and some Le Méridien properties does not mean those brands represent the same category of hotels.
Originally Posted by
khabah
EXTENDED-STAY
- Many, many Marriott brands running around in here; I'd like to see some consolidation among brands [i.e. Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Springhill Suites and Towneplace Suites get folded into one major brand - a nouveau Residence Inn if you will]
- Keep Element - it provides a unique edge over Marriott's more staid extended-stay offerings with its environmental/green approach and overall design aesthetic
Residence Inn, Fairfield Inn, Springhill Suites, and Towneplace Suites are well-established brands with distinct market positions. Identifying Fairfield Inn and Springhill Suites as "extended stay" suggests a complete misunderstanding of what these brands are.