I don't know if I had a string of bad luck, or if its a trend, but the last 3 Hampton Inns I have stayed at have been dirty. I remember first choosing Hamptons in the 90's because they were more consistent than some of the other chains. Always within my company's budget, where I needed to be, and simple and clean.

Then they started moving up market, but I found them still even nicer, and usually very clean.

During Covid, the rooms always smelled so fresh and clean.

Now, the rates are high, but the last 3 I stayed at were dumpy. Dirty showers, dirty toilets, broken furniture, stained carpets, etc. The rooms smelled musty and sour. The one last night was pretty clean, but the AC wasn't keeping up with the temp. The fan was feeble. I pulled out the filters and the change was immediate. They hadn't been cleaned in so long, they were blocking air flow. Breakfast items are skimpy and often items are missing. Two nights ago, I used the microwave in the snack area and it was filthy and covered with exploded food inside.

Meanwhile, they all have signs explaining that housekeeping is every 5 nights only. The one I stayed at in Syracuse appeared to have people staying for long stays as they worked on a construction contract or something.

I think this housekeeping change is causing them to cut back on housekeeping staff, and they are taking a lot of shortcuts. Lets face it, if someone is staying long term and you are only cleaning the room every 5 days, its not getting clean. And nothing is getting deep cleaned.

Interestingly, all the hotels were sold out. But I don't think of Hampton as the gold standard for clean limited stay hotels anymore.

Is anyone else seeing the same thing? Did I just get unlucky three stays in a row? I stayed at an Embassy Suites that was pretty clean, except for weird stains on the ac vents. And the Hilton Garden I stayed at was really clean (although the breakfast was pretty limited).