5 Big Takeaways for Hoteliers From This Year’s J.D. Power Hotel Guest Satisfaction Rankings

This year’s annual J.D. Power rankings for North American Hotel Guest Satisfaction are out and even though guest satisfaction with hotels in Canada, the U.S., and Mexico has reached a record high in 2016, it’s doubtful that we’ll see the same results next year. “My personal prediction is that, probably, next year, we might see a decline in guest satisfaction,” Rick Garlick, global travel and hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power, said. Garlick said that free hotel perks like Wi-Fi, breakfast, and upgraded room amenities have boosted guest satisfaction in the past few years, but “they are no longer new and interesting.” He said, “Guests are asking, ‘what have you done for me lately?’ But at most price points, hotels have already done as much as they can do in terms of updating their product. So now they need to find ways to offer additional value to their guests.” J.D. Power’s 2016 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, conducted between J