My love of hotels began at Phil’s Inn in Sandusky, Ohio, which housed the five-member Mayock clan during our annual trips to Catawba Island each August. The now-defunct property (it’s long since converted to a Super 8), had everything my 7-year-old self could want:
- a vending machine stocked with Skittles;
- rollaway cots so I wouldn’t have to share a bed with my brother or sister; and
- (for some rooms) fortuitous abutment to a McDonald’s drive-through lane in the lot next door, which allowed for ample people-watching before bedtime.
My father cited slightly different criteria when asked why we booked there religiously: “We chose it because it was relatively new and affordable (and) the location was great,” he said via email.
Oh, and “it had the best view of the McDonald’s drive-through.”
(I guess what they say is true. The fruit does not fall far from the tree.)
But most of all, my dad liked it because we three kids liked it.
It’s funny how your priorities change when you have kids. What used to matter in a hotel booking (e.g. thread counts on the room’s one king-sized bed, distance from noisy elevators and public spaces, proximity to bars and nightlife) no longer does. Instead you focus on extra sleeping space and activities to keep the little ones entertained.
Some hoteliers accommodate those latter needs. Others don’t. And that’s the way it should be. The best way to disappoint some guests is to try to be all things to all of them.
Who best meets the needs of family travelers? A recent article from Parents magazine lends some insight. The publication ranked the 10 best hotel chains for families across two price points: “budget” and “mid-range.”
Within the budget bucket, Marriott International’s Residence Inn brand earned the No. 1 spot, followed by Hyatt Place, SpringHill Suites, Hilton Garden Inn and Wingate by Wyndham.
Embassy Suites by Hilton earned top honors in the mid-range segment, followed by Loews Hotels & Resorts, Omni Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt House and Sheraton Hotels & Resorts.
More interesting to me than the brands was what made them stand out. I culled the list and pulled out five of the more prominent attributes. They are:
1. Extra space
Residence Inn earned accolades for it spacious guestrooms, which are approximately 20% larger than others in the category. Even nicer for parents is the two-room suite design, which means parents can close their bedroom door at night while the little ones watch Nickelodeon from the pull-out sleeper sofa.
2. Free breakfast
The value inherent in a free meal is obvious. Not as conspicuous to non-parents is the built-in fun factor. Kids don’t partake in buffets very often; being able to pick their own food for a change can prove exhilarating.
There’s a certain degree of eye-catching spectacle as well. Don’t roll your eyes. The next time you stay at an Embassy Suites, look for the captivated tykes crowded around the omelet station. They may as well be watching a three-ring circus.
3. Microwaves and mini fridges
The cost of meals eaten out can quickly escalate. That’s why free meals (see above) are so valued. So, too, are the mini fridges and microwaves to store and prepare must-have items brought from home or acquired from local grocery stores, such as milk, juice boxes and snacks.
4. Activities for kids
Movie nights, pools and playrooms—anything to keep children distracted for more than 20 minutes provides welcome respite for weary parents. Various Omni hotels offer lawn games, s’mores pits, tire swings and kids’ explorer clubs. The Loews in San Diego features a “Farm School” that allows families to help care for animals and grow vegetables at a local organic farm.
The activities you feature need not be this ambitious. Embassy Suites, for instance, has napkins with games on them (e.g. tic-tac-toe or word search) to keep children engaged while their parents enjoy a complimentary cocktail during the evening reception.
5. Affordability
“You can’t beat the price for a standard room,” Parents magazine says of Wingate by Wyndham. At less than $100 per night in most locations (and a free breakfast to boot), a stay at the brand doesn’t break the bank.
Those are just five common attributes. There are others, to be sure. And feel free to share your own in the comments section below.
I’ve got one to get things rolling: McDonald’s drive-throughs. I dare you to find a better place for people-watching.
Now on to the usual goodies …
What’s making me happy this week?
One of my favorite shirts, lost and then found. During a stay at the Hyatt Place Nashville Northeast in July, I left behind one of my favorite button-down shirts. I didn’t realize this oversight until the following month, when, after searching weeks in the laundry and closet, I remembered having hung it in my guestroom closet. “It’s likely too late,” I thought dejectedly.
Fast forward to last week when I returned to that same hotel and asked, on a whim, if my shirt was still lingering in the lost-and-found. Voilà! It was indeed.
I’m not alone in my forgetfulness. Clothing is the most often forgotten item, cited by 42% of guests surveyed by G6 Hospitality. Rounding out the list:
- Toiletries (42%)
- Electronic devices/chargers (40%)
- Jewelry, including watches (15%)
- Underwear (13%)
- Hair styling tools (13%)
Stat of the week
$75,000: The cost, per night, of the world’s most expensive hotel suite at the Mark Hotel in New York City, according to Business Insider. The rate is 50% higher than the previous record holder: the Four Seasons Hotel New York’s $50,000-per-night Ty Warner Penthouse.
Quote of the week
“We used to say the budget is the window to the operator’s soul. Through a budget you can see where (operators) intend to go and, more importantly, how they plan on getting there.”
—Kristie Dickinson, senior VP for asset manager CHMWarnick, on the importance of budgeting in “Asset managers tackle budget pain points.”
It’s that time of year again, folks. If you haven’t started your budget process for 2016, you’re already behind the 8-ball.
Reader comment of the week
“Not only the requirements by the brands, but also due to the influx of upscale hotel development owners are having to pump more money into their brands to stay competitive. Businesses would not spend a dollar on capex if they did not have to. Unfortunately, at this point in the lodging cycle, limited occupancy and ADR will probably be gained by the refurbishments. Instead operators will intend to not lose market share to new construction hotels.”
—Reader “asdf1234” after reading “Brand standards drive record CapEx spending.”
Email Patrick Mayock or find him on Twitter.
The opinions expressed in this column do not necessarily reflect the opinions of Hotel News Now or its parent company, STR and its affiliated companies. Bloggers published on this site are given the freedom to express views that may be controversial, but our goal is to provoke thought and constructive discussion within our reader community. Please feel free to comment or contact an editor with any questions or concerns.