The extended-stay segment might be considered a unique animal, but its performance begs to be considered the king of the jungle. Understand why and understand who the leaders are who are driving the trends.
Hey, it isn't all about refurbishing the hotel lobby and placing a touch-screen in there. Millennial guests demand great customer service from staff, and they will quickly sour on a hotel if the staff isn't up to par.
Blackstone had the resources and stomach to stick with its instincts, relying on data, and bought up distressed properties to great advantage during the recession. It is not a company to bet against.
The five-star hotels may be glamorous and prestigious, but the Hampton Inns and the Extended Stay Americas may generated more profits, and the latter is rapidly gaining favor among travelers.
IHG, Marriott, and Best Western have upgraded suites to fit business travelers’ needs in recent years, but touting the ‘suite’ name won’t mean higher profits until corporate travel picks back up.
Best Western keeps talking about how it’s meeting customers’ need by renovating existing hotels as extended-stays, but the funds needs to do so may hurt the company before it helps it.