Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
OP should be aware that many current chain hotels are not your father's (or grandfather's) chain hotels. For instance, Starwood LC properties are unique, plus SPG partners with Design Hotels now. In addition, we could ask what the OP considers to be a chain. For example, what about Relais et Chateaux, Leading Hotels, Small Luxury Hotels, Romantik Hotels, paraders, chains like Peninsula and Raffles, or even the FHR and Virtuoso programs? Very few top hotels today are genuinely independent.
Unique chain hotels are not limited to the upper echelons. In many places lower- and mid tier independent hotels have joined franchised brands for the benefits they offer-- primarily in greatly increased profile among travelers. For example, a few months ago I traveled to Estes Park, CO outside of Rocky Mountain National Park. Many independent hotels I remember seeing on a visit years ago are now affiliated with brands such as Best Western and Quality Inn. I considered carefully a few still-independent properties before ultimately booking with a brand named property that seemed to offer better consistency in hard and soft product than the indies.