Comments on JD Power 2010 North America Midscale Limited Service Hotel Brand Ratings

Midscale Limited Service is the largest segment of the major chain hotel market. The workhorse brands of Holiday Inn Express, Hampton Inn and Fairfield Inn are representative of the “midscale without food and beverage†hotel segment with rooms that typically offer free internet and a basic continental breakfast of rolls, coffee, juice, and boxed cereals. Rates are typically from $60 to $100 per night; although you will find rates can go a bit higher in some locations. 

This is the segment of hotels where loyalty points can be high value redemptions. There are a couple of large chains in this hotel market segment like La Quinta, AmericInn, and Drury that only have one big midscale limited service hotel brand. I need to create some hotel loyalty program reviews for these chains.

Source: JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study press release

JD Power Mid-Scale Limited Service Hotel Market Segment Report

Some time has passed since I stayed in a midscale limited service hotel. I really do not make many trips where I can’t find a higher market segment hotel at a good price. Two years ago when traveling up the west coast from California to Vancouver, British Columbia, I was able to break up my Starwood Hotel stays separated by 800 miles or highway between San Francisco and Portland with Interstate 5 freeway layovers at Holiday Inn Express hotels in Yreka, California and Ashland, Oregon for just 5,000 points per night on PointBreaks Awards. I purchased 10,000 points from Priority Club for $125. The award nights cut the $125 per night rate at these two hotels by half. Keep in mind Priority Club PointBreaks awards when taking a trip to some out of the way places and seeking a hotel night for under $65. Holiday Inn Express is the most widespread midscale limited service brand in the U.S. 

The highest JD Power consumer rating of five circles only goes to one Midscale Limited Service brand – Drury Inn & Suites. Here is a hotel brand I am not familiar with at all since the 120 Drury Hotels do not extend to the west coast. The last time I did a roadtrip through middle America was 1996. Next time I drive I-70 across Kansas and Missouri I’ll be on the lookout for a Drury Hotel or perhaps on my trip to Chicago in October I will find a Drury Hotel. Drury Gold Key Club is the hotel loyalty program. I will need to look into this program to determine the value of points.

Drury Hotels map link:

 

Mid-Scale Limited Service Hotel Brands Ordered by Number of North America Hotels

Holiday Inn Express (IHG Priority Club) = 1,874 hotels in the Americas (June 30, 2010); 2,000+ hotels globally. Holiday Inn Express Directory. This brand grows at the rate of a new opening every one or two days with over 400 more HI Express hotels currently in the Americas growth pipeline. Holiday Inn Express is positioned to outgrow Best Western in the USA as the largest domestic hotel brand over the next couple of years.

Hampton Inn (Hilton HHonors) = about 1,700 hotels.  Hampton Inn locations.

Comfort Inn (Choice Privileges) = 1,446 domestic hotels (June 30, 2010) ; 2,000+ hotels globally. Comfort Inn locations.

La Quinta (La Quinta Returns) = 750+hotels in U.S. and Mexico. La Quinta Returns has free nights in six tier levels of hotels from 6,000 to 24,000 points. La Quinta Hotel Directory.

Fairfield Inn (Marriott Rewards) = 641 hotels. Fairfield Inn locations downloadable directory. 

Comfort Suites (Choice Privileges) = 621 hotels domestic (June 30, 2010). Comfort Suites Hotel Directory.

Country Inn & Suites (Carlson Hotels Goldpoints Plus) = 500+ hotels; almost all in North America. Country Inn & Suites Directory (August 2010 pdf)

Sleep Inn (Choice Privileges) = 392 hotels. Choice Hotel Directory.

Springhill Suites (Marriott Rewards) = 267 hotels (June 30, 2010). SpringHill Suites locations. 

Baymont Inn & Suites (Wyndham Rewards) = 244 Hotels in U.S. and Canada. Baymont Inn locations. 

AmericInn (AmericInn Easy Rewards) = 215 hotels in 22 states. This is another brand primarily located in middle America. Hotel locations.

 Source: http://www.americinn.com/Home

Wingate (Wyndham Rewards) = 150 hotels.  Hotel locations.

Drury Inn (Drury Gold Key Club) around 120 hotels. Great brand for Kansas travel. Drury Inn & Suites locations.

Ramada Limited ( Wyndham Rewards).  I was unable to locate the number of properties between Ramada Limited and Ramada full service (restaurant) among the 920 properties in 47 countries. Most Ramada Hotels (about 800) are in the U.S.

Over the next month I will try to develop some overview posts for La Quinta, AmericInn and Drury Hotels loyalty programs.

Links to Related Loyalty Traveler commentary for different hotel market segments covered in JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Satisfaction Index:

Overview JD Power 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study (Aug 10)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Luxury Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 11)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Upscale Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 11)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Midscale Full Service Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 13)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Economy/Budget Hotel Satisfaction ratings (Aug 16)

Comments on JD Power 2010 Extended Stay Hotel Satisfaction Index (Aug 17)