Originally Posted by
hockeyinsider
That's interesting because it would mean that Marriott is putting Delta a notch because its flagship Marriott brand. Pre-Marriott's acquisition, I always thought Delta was comparable to an average Marriott, at least the couple of times I stayed at a Delta hotel in Toronto and Sault Sainte Marie.
Wouldn't Four Points by Sheraton be more analogous to DoubleTree with Courtyard on par with the Hilton Garden Inn?
"Delta Hotels" is a full-service 4-star brand, like Marriott, DoubleTree, and Sheraton.
"Four Points by Sheraton" is a limited-service (or "select service") 3-star brand, like Courtyard and Hilton Garden Inn.
Marriott International promotes the Delta Hotels brand to hotel developers as offering "a lean and flexible operating model with a clean and refreshing design." This seems to mean more variability, and renovations that can be less costly.
But that should not mean a bad hotel or a run-down hotel. There won't be an M Club Lounge, as at Marriott Hotels that adhere to current specifications, but Rewards Gold and Platinum guests still get the lounge/breakfast benefit (unlike at Courtyard).
There are plenty of older Marriott Hotels that don't meet the brand specifications of a new-build Marriott, but that are maintained to standards that allow them to remain under the Marriott Hotels banner.
This thread is about the Delta Hotels Racine property. The hotel opened in 1982 as a Sheraton. It was reflagged as the Racine Marriott in 1992. According to reviews in recent years, the property was in dire need of a renovation. Apparently, it no longer met the requirements to remain a Marriott Hotel, even a "grandfathered" Marriott Hotel.
The Racine Marriott changed hands in late 2015. Around the beginning of 2016, it took on a temporary name — Racine Architect Hotel & Conference Center. News accounts said the new owner would renovate the property. It would go under the Delta Hotels banner.
Reviews this summer (2017) indicate the hotel is now getting a serious renovation, which is supposed to be finished some time in August.