Originally Posted by
moulder3
I freely admit that the quality of both hotels was sub-par...however it's the LOCATION that makes those hotels desirable!!! The 4pts Hyannis had the BEST location of any hotel on that part of Cape Cod (the end of Main St. & next to the big outdoor venue). As much as I bashed the hotel for being sub-par in room quality (it DEFINITELY needed renovation!) I've had a lot of great trips there.
Same with the Sheraton in Portland, ME. Again, the hotel needed MAJOR renovation, but it was in a great area...and (even more importantly) was the only *wood in the greater Portland market.
It sounds to me like the ownership of these properties didn't want to spend the $$ to live up to brand standards. If this guess is correct, then one of 3 things happened:
(a) *wood issued a "Product Improvement Plan" - a detailed list of requirements for bringing the hotel back into compliance with standards - and the ownership didn't implement it (i.e., the owner defaulted on the franchise agreement), so *wood declared a default and cancelled the franchise;
(b) the franchise term was ending, and the ownership chose not to renew; or
(c) the owner paid to get an early termination of the agreement w/*wood.
In any case, the new flag (Wyndham) probably lent the owner enough money to cover the transition costs, some cosmetic work, and the reflagging of the hotel, so it can be neglected under a new flag.
If it's really a great location, and the market can support a high mid-range product, someone will eventually spend the $$ on the site. If not, a downward spiral of quality...