Hotel Security

http://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-news/blue-black-white-gold-dressmaker-its-all-green-n314096

This made me question the security functionality of everyday hotels.  The London West Hollywood Hotel is obviously a big deal, so if it was this easy to make a $150k dress disappear from a room, it makes you wonder what else could have been lost.  I'm glad the CK dress was recovered; Nyong'o looks amazing in it.

LA Hotel Employee Wages

Here's a really interesting article about how the city of L.A. is fighting to increase hospitality employee wages:

http://articles.latimes.com/2014/feb/17/local/la-me-living-wage-20140218

While this may seem like a good thing, there are a lot of negative repercussions that could result from such an act being passed.  Something to think about as the wage wars rage on...

Charlotte vs. Denver Part II

Hey guys!

So last week I talked a little about how quickly these two destinations are becoming increasingly more popular.  This week I looked at some trends that the most successful (in terms of customer satisfaction) hotels of both cities have in common.  Based on Tripadvisor reviews, here's what I found:

 Charlotte's highest ranked hotel:  Homewood Suites by Hilton Charlotte Ballantyne Area, NC

Denver's highest ranked hotel:  Homewood Suites by Hilton Denver Downtown- Convention Center



Obviously there is one extremely noticeable similarity, but here it is just in case you didn't catch it- they are both Homewood Suites by Hilton.  Hmm.. interesting, you might think to yourself.  Could the brand Homewood Suites be the reason for the high reviews?  Absolutely, but it's not just that.

Homewood Suites (like every brand), as well as Hilton, has a unique company culture.  This means that no matter if you're staying at Homewood Suites Charlotte or Homewood Suites Denver, the employees have undergone the same training, the standards of cleanliness and are the same, guest services operates under the same terms, etc……… so… This probably has a large amount to do with the success of the two hotels.

However, in the name of the hotels alone there is one more noticeable similarity.  The location of the hotel is specified.  This is an important distinction that most hotels have to make to differentiate from competitors.  The most successful hotels are located in the center of the action.  Plain and simple.

Drum roll.  Finally, benefits benefits benefits!  Guests will ask the age-old question time and time again, "What else can I get for my money?"  This is a great thing.  Guests should be demanding!  The top hotels will always be the ones who actually answer this question.  In every raving review, there will be some mention of rewards points, resolved issues, or above-and-beyond service/ atmosphere.

To summarize the unspoken mantra of the top hotels in the fastest-growing cities, company culture, location, and benefits are the keys to success.

Charlotte vs. Denver Part I

Evening everybody!

I've been doing some digging, and have found several similarities and differences between the two rising tourist destinations (some more obvious than others).  First let's compare:

Charlotte, NC

Nestled among the lakes and the beautiful landscape of western North Carolina, Charlotte often ranks in the top three fastest growing cities each year.  Home of the NASCAR Hall of Fame, and the U.S. National Whitewater center, there are tons of fun and outdoorsy activities for tourists to explore!  However, it is Charlotte's growing financial district that really draws in the crowds.  As a result, a great majority of hotels sit alongside major highways (485, 85, and 77).  Most of the hotels generating a lot of tourist/ business traveller traffic are located nearest to the airports and offer the most affordable rates and group rates for business travelers.  Most fall under the umbrella of Marriott, Hilton, or Wyndham hotels.

Denver, CO

The capital of Colorado, Denver's nightlife hugs its rich wilderness destinations, making it a diverse and exciting place to visit.  Home of the Denver Zoo and lively skiing and shopping destinations, Denver (though ranking lower) is rising quickly on the fastest growing cities list.  Like Charlotte, Denver's more successful hotels fall along major highways (not necessarily near airports, though).  However, more of the successful hotels in Denver boast higher rates and are sometimes independently operated or boutique hotels.  This suggests that, in addition to higher levels of business traffic, there is a level of entertainment value for the tourists as well.

Next week, we'll take a look at very comparable hotels and examine the similarities between the two.