Originally Posted by
MSPeconomist
To me, often the hotel is an important part of the travel experience. Nevertheless, the 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.
While I hate cookie cutter consistency, in some parts of the world brand standards can be reassuring, especially regarding cleanliness, safety, and food hygiene. Front desk staff are more likely to speak English and you have recourse to the chain if problems arise that cannot be resolved locally. It's also convenient to book through a chain website and get a standardized confirmation with standard terms for cancellations etc. clearly stated.
I don't go out of my way to collect hotel points, but they can be useful, especially when you're facing high rates for your travel dates. However, I greatly value top tier elite treatment at hotels, including suite upgrades, guaranteed late check out, lounge access, and sometimes free breakfast. For this reason, I increasingly seek out unique chain properties such as those in SPG's LC rather than first checking what's available through FHR or LHW.
I agree there are some exceptions like Relais et Chateaux. However, they are exceptions, not the rule and 'the exceptions prove the rule' as the saying goes. As a
general rule I don't think there is anything inconsistent in my original point that having tunnel vision about chasing chain hotel 'loyalty points' is not necessarily the travellers best choice all the time.
On a side not regarding cancellation terms MSPeconomist, today those standard terms tend to vary from 24 hours advance cancellation to totally non-cancelable, non-refundable third party bookings. I recently booked 2 hotels in 2 different countries. Both independent hotels. One wanted 24 hour advance notice of a cancellation and the other wanted non-refundable cancellation terms for a 'special package price'. Typical of what you find today. In both cases I refused the terms and told them I would only book with a 6pm on arrival day cancellation term. Both were 7 night bookings.
In your Father and Grandfather's day MSPeconomist, that was the standard terms unless you asked for a 'guaranteed late arrival' in which case you agreed to them charging you for one night if you were a 'no show' and only in that case would you then give them a credit card number to 'hold your reservation.' Those are the terms I still adhere to. Both of the hotels immediately agreed to my terms. One reception clerk even suggested, 'oh, that was a mistake, of course you can cancel without penalty Mr. X'. It is also interesting to note that neither asked me for a credit card number. I did volunteer it to one of them as it is likely I will arrive after 6pm. 'Standard terms' are simply a guideline, not a law.
The real question is why have 'standard cancellation terms' changed.
https://skift.com/2017/08/16/hotel-c...-more-to-come/
They've changed because the customers today don't behave as your Father and Grandfather did MSPeconomist. They make multiple bookings and then cancel them as their plans change and/or they no show. The same as they do with flights. This may suit today's traveller but it plays havoc with the hotel and airline's management of their inventory. As a result, the hotel has to put in cancellation terms to combat those factors. The people get what the people deserve, as always.
Imagine if every hotel today still adhered to the 6pm on day of arrival as a standard policy. No credit card info required and no penalty for just not showing up! As the Hilton CEO said in the link above, "but just because customers, many of them, ultimately have been trained to do multiple bookings and do things that have created a scenario where cancellations have, in some markets, skyrocketed. They’ve got, they’ve gone way up.”
While I understand why the chains have changed their policies and do not blame them for doing so at all, I do not wish to change my policies. If I tried to tell a Hilton Hotel receptionist on the phone (I always book by phone direct with the hotel) what my terms would be for booking, how far do you think I would get? It is highly unlikely the receptionist would even have the authority to accept my terms if s/he wanted to. With an independent hotel however, that is quite different.
So when you write, "It's also convenient to book through a chain website and get a standardized confirmation with standard terms for cancellations etc. clearly stated", you may see that as a plus but I see it as a minus.