Interview: La Quinta’s CEO on Giving Guests What They Want

Editor’s Note: This interview is part of Skift's CEO interview series. This particular series is with hospitality CEOs talking about the Future of the Guest Experience and the evolving expectations and demands of hotel guests. Check out all the interviews as they come out here. Also, enjoy the previous series on the Future of Travel Booking, with online travel CEOs. La Quinta Inns & Suites has had a busy year. After raising $650 million in its initial U.S. share sale in April, the hotel brand rolled out new products that allow guests to select their arrival time and receive a text when their room is ready, introduced a new prototype that incorporates smart design and smaller spaces, and refocused its marketing efforts to attract business travelers. La Quinta’s few-frills business model is also becoming increasingly attractive to U.S. lodging investors who are drawn to the lower operating costs and high returns at select-service brands. La Quinta CEO Wayne Goldber