Originally Posted by
EuropeanPete
I’m a bit surprised to see Delta make its way over to the UK. I wonder why Marriott felt none of its more mainstream brands would make sense. I’ve never stayed in a Delta hotel in North America, but the hardware doesn’t look like a particularly good fit either.
Delta has basically become a conversion brand for reflagging existing properties. But, some of these British properties are probably a better fit for the Autograph Collection. Hotels like the The Midland in Manchester, The Queens in Leeds, Mottram Hall and Crewe Hall in Cheshire, Slaley Hall in Northumberland, and Dunston Hall in Norwich all strike me as way too nice and upscale for Delta.
On the other hand, I've long thought that Marriott could rapidly expand by getting a good number of the country house hotels affiliated with Luxury Collection, Autograph Collection or Tribute Portfolio. I really like that that Britain has this whole category of mostly independent hotels that we just don't have in North America. I've stayed at quite a few country house hotels, some of which are quite regal. Others not so much. There are even quite a few decent inns above pubs that could probably qualify for Tribute Portfolio.
I get that Marriott's Marriott brand has some rather unique U.K. properties that aren't an ideal fit for the brand, but those were legacy acquisitions and I thought the brand standards for new properties were meant to be tighter and more consistent moving forward.
Originally Posted by
davidw70
This document is a great find. However, I don't think we should count on all the properties becoming Delta given the statutory name of two hotels already converted to Doubletree is also Delta. Hopefully a good few will join Marriott.
Good point, but why would they add "Delta" into the name if they didn't intend for it to be reflagged?