Originally Posted by
fairviewroad
Interesting. I've never chosen a Super 8 or a Days Inn based on its * rating but I guess they have to think about how they are listed on online travel portals. I'm not convinced the presence or absence of an in-room safe would really make a difference with the star rating but I don't actually know how that works, TBH.
I've skimmed through AAA's checklist of requirements for each diamond level. Numerous additional items are required at each level above the previous. Most of them are nit-picky things that few travelers use or care about most of the time. I certainly don't walk into a hotel room and say, "Ooh, look, an in-room safe! I've really moved up in the world."