Bill Marriott (of Marriott Hotels) wrote a blog post last week, “Weathering Turbulent Times” in which he states “business outside of North America is terrific – and that’s where over 60% of our new full-service hotels will be built.” I frequently see articles about large international contracts for new hotels in India, China, and Russia. Several reports have come out about hotels relying on their international sectors to maintain profitability. Hotel rates rising 20-40% year-to-year in India and the Middle East over the past few years has made these locations some of the most expensive in the world for lodging.
I wanted a chart to track the proportion of international properties in each hotel chain. My experience has been the most consistent upgrades occur when staying at international hotels as a high elite member of a hotel loyalty program. The best value for free room stays using points also tends to be for international properties. And now it looks like the growth of the major hotel loyalty program member hotels will be outside the USA for the next few years.
So how are different hotel companies positioned in their international portfolio?
This is really an important consideration in choosing your hotel loyalty program if you want to travel the world and take advantage of your frequent guest opportunities for free stays in expensive places.
USA Hotels and International Hotels (percentage of total hotels) in major hotel corporations:
Best Western 2,400 hotels in USA, 1,800 international (43% international)
Starwood Hotels 520 hotels in USA; 340 international (40% international)
Carlson Hotels 700 hotels in USA; 250 international (36% international)
Hyatt Hotels 320 hotels in USA; 120 international (27% international)
InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) 3,100 hotels in USA, 900 international (23%)
Choice Hotels 4,770 hotels in USA, 830 international (15% international)
Hilton Hotels Corporation 2,600 hotels in USA; 400 international (13% international)
Marriott Hotels Corporation 2,600 hotels in USA; 400 international (13% international)
Wyndham Hotels 6,130 hotels in USA, 370 international (6% international)
(While Wyndham Hotels has the lowest percentage of hotels in international locations, the company also operates the profitable time share RCI and a rental system in Europe which generates most company revenue and has strong international component. These vacation rentals are not included in hotel properties.)
Hilton and Marriott have big plans for abroad. Hyatt and Starwood look well-positioned for expansion. Best Western is a program that will benefit you in a multitude of places with 1,800 hotels outside the USA.
Source data for hotel numbers, geographic locations, and hotel brands:
Best Western: 4,200 hotels (1,805 hotels outside North America or 43% international)
2,395 North America
1,312 Europe
75 Asia/Middle East
265 Australia/New Zealand/South Pacific
43 South/Central America
6 Africa
Choice Hotels: 5,600 + hotels (830 outside North America) 14.8%
Choice Hotels International Properties: (Source from December 2007, page 30)
Canada 273 Hotels
Mexico 17
Central America 13
Brazil 48
Europe 441
India 25
Australia/New Zealand 261
China 2
Japan 42
832 hotels outside North America
1,100+ international hotels
Choice Hotels by Brand
549 Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites
378 Quality Inns
118 Clarion
16 Sleep Inn
Hilton Hotels Corporation: 3,000 hotels (about 400 international properties)
13.3% international
Hilton Hotels By Brand
Hilton 505 hotels
Conrad 15
Doubletree 189
Embassy Suites 190
Hampton Inn 1,511 (99% of Hampton Inns are in USA)
Hilton Garden Inn 362
Homewood Suites 223
Waldorf=Astoria 5
Hyatt Hotels 435 hotels, 117 international hotels) 27% international
USA 318 hotels
Canada 4 hotels
Mexico 6 hotels
Asia 52 hotels
Europe 28 hotels
South America 4 hotels
Caribbbean 3 hotels
Australia/New Zealand 9 hotels
Africa/Middle East 11 hotels
Summerfield Suites, 30 hotels in USA
Hyatt Place, 111 hotels in USA)
InterContinental Hotels Group – 4,000+ hotels (About 900 international hotels)
22.5% international
InterContinental Hotels 153 properties (USA 21, Canada 3, Mexico 10)
Americas 52 hotels
Europe, Middle East, Africa 64 hotels
Asia Pacific 37 hotels
Crowne Plaza 308 hotels
Americas 176 hotels
Europe, Middle East, Africa 76 hotels
Asia Pacific 56 hotels
Holiday Inn 1,369 hotels
Americas 946 hotels
Europe, Middle East, Africa 328 hotels
Asia Pacific 95 hotels
Hotel Indigo 14 hotels
Americas 14 hotels
Europe, Middle East, Africa 1 hotel (opening London Summer 2008)
Holiday Inn Express 1,819 hotels
Americas 1,619 hotels
Europe, Middle East, Africa 188 hotels
Asia Pacific 12 hotels
Staybridge Suites 130 hotels
Americas 130 hotels
Candlewood Suites 169 hotels
Americas 169 hotels
Marriott Hotels Corporation
3,000 Hotels (400 international hotels) (13.3%)
Marriott Hotels , 521 hotels = 343 USA, 178 International
JW Marriott, 39 hotels = 16 USA, 23 International
Renaissance Hotels, 143 hotels = 75 USA, 68 international
Courtyard by Marriott, 770 hotels = 697 USA, 73 international
Residence Inn by Marriott, 547 hotels = 529 USA, 18 international
Fairfield Inn, 535 hotels = 527 USA, 8 international
TownePlace Suites, 145 hotels in USA
SpringHill Suites, 187 hotels = 186 USA, 1 international
Ritz-Carlton Hotels 68 hotels = 36 USA, 32 international
Starwood Hotels, 860 Hotels
600 North America, 260 international hotels (30%)
USA 517
Canada 51 hotels
Mexico 23 hotels
Caribbean 9 hotels
South America 36 hotels
Europe 74 hotels
Africa 40 hotels
Middle East 58 hotels
Asia Pacific 151 open (36 hotels scheduled to open in next 18 months)
Wyndham Hotels, Howard Johnson and Ramada are primary international chains.
6,550 franchised hotels (About 370 international hotels, 6% of total hotels)
Europe 212 hotels
Middle East 13 hotels
Africa 10 hotels
Asia Pacific 133 hotels
