Originally Posted by
CIT85
High hotel occupancy rates in recent years have allowed all hotels to charge significantly higher rates than previous years without any change in level of service. This is especially true in major cities such as Washington, DC, New York, Los Angeles, Boston, etc. The posts on NY Starwood properties do not make me want to visit NY anytime soon. Supply and demand alone has driven the room rates upward. Service improvements are not necessary to keep the rooms full at the exhorbitant rates, so a lot of hotels have not bothered to change the level of service. High rates plus low level of service (low cost) equals high profit margins.
Until the hotels have to really compete for business, I don't see this getting any better. The only thing we can do is to give our business to hotels that offer service and value and stay away from the ones like the IC Boston you just described. This problem is most acute in the US. OTOH, just think about what you can get for $400 in Asia.
I agree with you to an extent. However, $400 is probably the nightly going rate in Manhattan, NOT Boston. The hotel going rate for BOS right now is about mid $200's for a 4 star hotel. It will lower to $150's when the harsh winter hits New England. Actually, when I was looking around for this particular stay, Sheraton had a rate of $199, Westin Copley Place $209, and Westin Waterfront $199.
Now, Fairmont and Four Season's have an ongoing rate about $450's here in Boston (and that is the price range of many St Regis and Luxury Collection). IC charges the same rate. Therefore, for a hotel who charges the same rate as those other giants who are known for their exceptional service, IC is at the very bottom.
Don't worry, I will be giving my business back to Starwood. If I ever decide to throw $400 a night for a luxury hotel, I'll throw it towards St Regis, LC, Fairmont or Four Seasons