Everybody has their preferences for holiday accommodation. If you ask five people what they look for in a hotel, you're likely to get five different answers. Maybe more! One of the fiercest debates is about hotel ownership. Do people prefer chain locations or independent hotels? There's a pretty even divide. So what are the arguments for each, and where do your opinions fall?
Cost
When you're looking at like-for-like accommodation, independent hotels are likely to be more expensive than chains. Of course, this is a generalisation, and will not always hold true. It just tends to be the case, largely because chain brands can even out some of their costs across all locations, and subsidise less busy locations with the profits from busier areas. By contrast, independent owners can only rely on their own turnover to cover their costs. However, most of the time it's not a stark difference. Independent hotels still have to compete for your business, after all.
Aesthetics
One of the reasons chain hotels work is because they take a proven concept and roll it out across several locations. This is all well and good, but it does mean that every single hotel isn't decorated and designed with individual care. Compare this to an independent hotel, which makes all its own decor decisions and purchases all its own furnishings. Sure, they're both operating under budgets, but the strings on a corporate account are notoriously tight, and there's likely to be little wiggle room. Equally, chains are designed to appeal to as many guests as possible, so their decor needs to be quite bland. As such, you're likely to find a much more interesting look and feel in an independent hotel. Again, it's a generalisation, but it often holds true.
Service
If you're visiting an independent hotel, you won't necessarily be served by the owner, but you will almost certainly be served by somebody the owner personally hired. They're likely to feel well-connected to the business and to care very much about the customer experience. In a chain, it's the luck of the draw. The staff you meet may be full of sunshine and light and deeply care about your stay, or they might just be there to get paid. We've all been there — but if you're looking for exceptional customer service, the advantage is definitely with the independents.
Naturally, strengths and weaknesses will vary between hotels regardless of their ownership, but it helps to have an idea what you might expect when you're booking a room in each type. Whether your holiday calls for paying more for a luxury, unique feeling or paying less for something functional and easy, it's good to know where to look.
Share27 July 2018
If you are planning a holiday or a business trip, you will need to find a hotel. However, staying in any old hotel could really ruin your trip. For example, if the noise levels are too high, you may not be able to get a good night of sleep. When looking for your dream hotel, it pays to know what to look out for. I didn't have a clue about how to find a dream hotel. However, all of that changed when I was introduced to a man who books hotels for VIPs. He gave me lots of useful information which I would like to share with you.