Tag: Hilton

Pros and Cons: My Favorite Hotel Brands for Travel

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When I am not working, one of my favorite things to do is to travel around and explore new places that interest me. Along the way, I have documented my travels and experiences on some of my trips. I always stay at branded hotels, and it’s often the same brand or within the same company. Depending on the duration of my trip, budget, and needs during my trip, the hotel I choose will vary. Below, I have listed my top favorite hotel brands I stay at and the pros and cons of each. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

Home2 Suites by Hilton:

By Far my favorite Hilton brand without a doubt. Home2 Suites is an all suite extended stay hotel brand featuring larger rooms with kitchenettes, living spaces and larger bathrooms. The brand was created to complement the existing extended stay Hilton brand Homewood Suites and to compete with TownePlace Suites by Marriott and Candlewood Suites by IGH.

While I haven’t featured this specific brand on the blog , my previous stays include the following locations:

  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Richmond Short Pump
  • Home2 Suites by Hilton Taylor Detroit

Pros:

  • Larger rooms than a traditional hotel at an affordable price. Most often cheaper than other select service hotels or full service hotels with smaller rooms.
  • Curtain divider in the room makes it easy to section off the room so someone can watch tv or read a book while someone else is sleeping without disturbing them.
  • Super functional kitchenette with microwave, dishwasher as well as dinnerware.
  • Larger bathroom offers larger vanities and shower stalls making getting ready in the mornings and at night a breeze.
  • Extremely comfortable beds, linens and pillows. I hate hotel pillows! But not at Home2! They are some of the most comfortable pillows out there.
  • Home2 Suites hotels are new build hotels meaning they are built from the ground up and aren’t existing hotels converted or renovated into Home2 Suites. This means most locations are newer which means a more comfortable stay. 

Cons:

  • Limited breakfast selection. This sort of makes sense since the rooms have kitchenettes most guests cook their own meals in their rooms. However, despite the smaller breakfast selection, the food is very fantastic. 
  • While the locations are new builds, this often means it is harder to find a location in some areas since there are not a lot of Home2 Suites in some areas since this is a newer brand. However, as time goes on more Home2 locations are being built in certain areas and it is getting easier to find one. (Note this may not apply to cities or large tourist areas).
  • With larger rooms and more amenities in the room, sometimes may come with a higher price tag. While this may not be true for every location, it may be possible in some markets where there are a lot of hotels or not many extended stay hotels.

Tru by Hilton

When I think of top hotel brands, Tru definitely has to be up there! Tru is a select service brand that focuses on minimal yet detailed oriented and meaningful design and experiences. At Tru, you get all the essentials in a perfect balance of form and function. With tons of storage, plenty of spaces to charge your devices, a mobile desk, and our big, bright bathrooms, everything you need is in easy reach. Tru really is a very detail oriented brand taking into account the smallest of details to make the overall stay better.

While I haven’t featured this specific brand on the blog , my previous stays include the following locations:

  • Tru by Hilton Lancaster East
  • Tru by Hilton Denver (PA)
  • Tru by Hilton Roanoke Hollins

Pros:

  • One thing I love about Tru is each location has unique touches and nods to the area and community it is located in. This gives it less of a cookie cutter feel despite being a franchised hotel.
  • I can’t talk about Tru without mentioning the amazing breakfast! Tru provides a large selection of hot foods, baked goods and of course the main star, pancakes! A full pancake topping bar and cool pancake machine are the true highlights of the mornings.
  • Considering the rooms are smaller yet more detail oriented, the bathrooms are very spacious and offer plenty of hooks to hang towels on. Finally a hotel brand got this detail right! I’m so tired of hotels forgetting about hanging towels or clothes up while you are getting ready. 
  • Blackout curtains are mounted inside the window frame meaning there is no annoying gap on either side of the curtains. This really makes a huge difference in making the room dark for sleeping no matter the time of day.
  • I love the lobby design! The lobby offers plenty of seating, places to get some work done and even some games like foosball and pool to pass the time.
  • Tru hotels are new build hotels meaning they are built from the ground up and aren’t existing hotels converted or renovated into a Tru. This means most locations are newer which means a more comfortable stay.
  • Yet another thing Tru remembered is putting in an automatic night light in the bathroom so you can see as you walk to the bathroom in the middle of the night! Anyone else tired of tripping or bashing their legs into furniture? I know I sure am! Thank you Tru! Someone finally also got this detail right!

Cons:

  • Keep in mind these rooms are smaller and don’t offer coffee makers, microwaves or have large walk in closets. There is more focus on the small details and essentials.
  • I personally wish there was more lighting instead of just having one desk lamp, and overhead lighting above the beds. While I like the lights over the bed, I wish there was a way to turn off only one side without turning off the whole thing.
  • Be aware there are not many room types at Tru. Tru focuses mainly on rooms with one king size bed or two queens as well as accessible rooms. If you are looking for a suite or larger room, this may not be the brand for you.

Hampton by Hilton

Wow! Noticing a pattern here with Hilton? They are really on a roll here! I definitely couldn’t make this list and not include Hampton. 

Hampton is a midscale hotel designed to compete against other limited service brands like Fairfield Inn by Marriott, Holiday Inn Express, and Comfort Inn/Comfort Suites. As of December 2019, Hampton by Hilton includes 2,544 hotels in 30 countries and territories with 266,933 rooms, including 72 that are managed with 10,061 rooms and 2,472 that are franchised with 256,872 rooms. 

In my latest post, I reported and commented on the new prototype Hampton Inn has that is about to be rolled out. In some aspects I was a little more tough on the chain since I love it so much. One of those reasons has to do with the service alone. I find that along with many other Hilton hotels, the service is unparalleled. That paired with excellent designed and modern rooms makes for a perfect stay.

A quick fun fact before we jump into our pros and cons, did you know the Hampton Inn chain was originally started by Holiday Inn? It wasn’t until 1999 that many Hilton chains like Hampton Inn, Embassy Suites, and Homewood Suites would join Hilton under a massive $3.7 billion dollar purchase. Could you imagine how different the hotel industry would have turned out if that purchase never happened?

I previously featured this brand on the blog many times in the Touristician Reviews series. Previous stays include the following locations:

Pros:

  • Very easy to find a location especially when traveling on a major highway. You could legitimately take a rock and hit several Hampton hotels. (Although I wouldn’t recommend doing so while driving. Not only is that dangerous, it is also very illegal). 
  • Extremely consistent service and rooms. There are not as many locations left that are old or run down. Additionally, the service is always impeccable and never fails to deliver. 
  • While some hotels don’t provide microwaves anymore, Hampton Inn is one of the few out there that still does. 
  • Plenty of room for storage in spacious closets, dressers and cabinets. Perfect for families with lots of luggage.
  • The perfect place for anyone traveling for business, vloggers, or college students who need to get work done. Large desk areas with desk lamps, and amble outlets provide the perfect place to work as well as relax.
  • Extremely spacious bathrooms offer oversized backlit mirrors, ample counter space, plenty of storage for liens, as well as plenty of towel racks/hooks. I always loved how Hampton over stocks the liens in the bathrooms and doesn’t put them over the toilet. (I always hate when hotels have a small towel bar and lien storage above the toilet. It is honestly disgusting). 

Cons:

  • While I personally have not had this happen to me, Hampton is supposedly more noisy compared to other chains. However, I personally never had an issue with this at Hampton as I tend to stay in newer or renovated locations.
  • Inconsistent bathroom design across the brand. To be honest this is to be expected with a long established chain with several thousand locations. However, I notice there are more inconsistencies with this brand than other Hilton brands. For example there are a lot of different layouts, shower designs (walk in, shower doors, bathtub combo, etc).
    • I’d suggest you do your research before picking a Hampton location. If there are multiple locations, pick the most updated and higher rated location.
  • Take note because there are so many Hampton Inn locations, there may be multiple locations within the same town or city you are staying in often only minutes apart. This may confuse your travel plans. Make sure you really research and know exactly what location you are booking and going to.

Holiday Inn Express by IHG

Built upon the spirit of the original Holiday Inn chain, Holiday Inn Express was created in 1990 aimed to revolutionize select service travel for the newer generations. Compared to a full service Holiday Inn, the Express variation focuses on limited service with no on site restaurants, room service or ballrooms. Instead Holiday Inn Express features free breakfast each morning, fitness and pool facilities, and higher end more detailed rooms. 

The brand aims to provide a perfect balance between offering a place to get work done yet offering a relaxing environment to recharge your batteries with a restful night’s sleep. As of 2021, the brand hit a milestone during its 30th anniversary year opening its 3,000th location. 

I previously featured this brand on the blog many times in the Touristician Reviews series. Previous stays include the following locations:

  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lancaster – Mount Joy
  • Holiday Inn Express & Suites Lancaster East – Strasburg (Not featured on the blog)
  • Holiday Inn Express Baltimore at the Stadiums (Not featured on the blog)
  • Holiday Inn Express Atlantic City W Pleasantville (Not featured on the blog)

Previously I used to say this was my favorite hotel brand ever. However, this brand is starting to lose its place as one of my favorites. Last few times I have stayed there were many issues and inconsistencies some of which keep happening over and over again. The last time I stayed was the straw that broke the camel’s back. However, I did still decide to include this on my last as I did enjoy a majority of my stays before these issues and am hoping that maybe next stay will be better. 

Pros:

  • Very detailed oriented rooms include embroidered pillowcases to help mark the firmness of each pillow, reading lights over the headboards, and ample storage space.
  • Rooms do include a microwave which is a huge plus since most hotels do not offer this in rooms anymore. (From observation, it appears to be an industry wide trend).
  • Spacious bathrooms with plenty of lien storage, backlit mirrors and plenty of counter space to get ready in the morning.
  • Perfect balance between business and leisure. Rooms offer large work spaces while the hotels themselves offer business centers and meeting spaces all while keeping focus on leisure. Even if you’re not traveling for business, you’ll find this isn’t a turn off. 
  • Most locations offer king size suites that feature larger living spaces, a small kitchenette area and larger bathroom. This is a huge plus since some select service brands don’t offer suites.
  • Good service at the properties and very responsive customer service from the brand.
    • Honestly nothing to rave about. It isn’t horrible yet isn’t over the top amazing. I would say Hilton does a much better job with service and pulls out all the stops everytime and consistently. 
  • Easy to use mobile app allows for mobile check in to be a breeze. I actually did this before and it was so easy and well worth it. All I had to do when I got to the hotel was pick up my keys. I do wish there was a digital key option for the rooms on the app, but that isn’t a huge deal.

Cons:

  • Extremely inconsistent and poorer quality breakfast. Last few times I have stayed, I noticed the breakfast choices were very slim and the quality of the food went down hill drastically compared to a few years ago. Take our cinnamon roll incident from Mount Joy as an example.
  • Cleanliness issues appear to be more common especially in the bathrooms, on the flooring and on the appliances (fridges & microwaves).
  • Like Hampton Inn, there are so many Holiday Inn Express locations which often means there are multiple locations within the same town or city that are only minutes apart. This may confuse your travel plans. Make sure you really research and know exactly what location you are booking and going to.

Final Thoughts:

In conclusion, the journey of discovering and experiencing various hotel brands has been eye-opening and enriching. Each stay has offered valuable insights and memorable encounters, shaping my perspective as a traveler. As I look ahead to future adventures, I eagerly anticipate the evolution of these hotel brands and the new experiences they will offer. With a blend of nostalgia for past stays and a sense of anticipation for the future, I am grateful for the diverse range of hospitality experiences that have enriched my travels.

What do you think of my top hotel brands? Do you agree with this list? Let us know down in the comments section below, and as always, if you are enjoying our content, be sure to subscribe to never miss a single post.

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Hampton Inn Redesign: Revitalizing Brand Identity and Guest Spaces

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If you have been following along with my Touristician Reviews series where I recap my travels, you may have noticed a recent trend in my hotel recaps. Almost every time I travel somewhere whether it was to Detroit, Richmond, or Lancaster County, I always stayed at a Hilton branded hotel such as Tru, Hampton Inn, and Home2 Suites. In general when I travel, I always look for a Hilton branded hotel as it is always reliable, consistent, comfortable and clean. 

So when I found out one of my favorite Hilton brands, Hampton Inn is getting a refresh, I knew I had to take a look at the design. In this post, I will be going over the redesign, comparing it to the current prototype Hilton and sharing some of my thoughts on the new branding and design. So without further ado, let’s dive in!

© 2024 Hilton

Hampton Press Release:

Going through the press release, we can see there are a few key points Hilton is aiming towards with this branding update. Those being:

  1. Refreshed brand identity with an updated logo, new branding, and focusing on what makes Hampton unique as a brand.
  2. Redesigned guest spaces and a move away from a traditional lobby set up allowing for more spacious and open room design.
  3. New guest rooms with a focus on utilizing space and decluttering rooms by using less furniture pieces.
  4. Emphasis on smarter more efficient design allowing for operational efficiency and cost savings for operators. 
  5. Keeping the well known and loved exterior design only slightly tweaking the colors, finally adding outdoor space and modifying the entryway.

Initial Thoughts

Overall, I love how they kept the existing exterior design they have and just added to it. Although nothing is ever going to replace the traditional exterior design. I really love how they added an outdoor patio space to the design as this is something I noticed Hampton has been lacking for a while. When I stay at Home2 Suites or Tru I love the outdoor spaces they have, especially at night for relaxation just before bed. Although, I’m not sure if it is just the way the concept art shows it, but I think it is odd how the patio is literally next to the front door where cars pull up. I personally would rather see it moved to the back of the hotel away from the front entry like how Tru is. That or I’d like to see some more separation. However, I do recognize this concept art and the actual prototype may vary once it is rolled out.

Moving on to the lobby, I personally have mixed feelings about this design. I like how the retail market is moved out and is not stuffed in a corner or buried in the lobby. I feel like this helps contribute to that open air, large space design Hampton wants. One thing I dislike though is the seating area/community area. I feel like the furniture gives the space a dated feel and doesn’t really remind me of how a Hampton would be. Again I get this is just concept art, so we’ll have to just see how this actually turns out when the first location using this design opens.

Looking at the front desk, I like how it is not a cramped work space and has branding behind it. Although, I do have to say I wish they stuck more with the little greeting phrases on the walls they use now like “Welcome to the Garden State” or “Welcome to the BuckEye State”. I do have to give the design props though cause they did somewhat incorporate that in the foyer as we saw from the video. Personally, I’m not a fan of how lite the wood tones are since I feel like they clash with the darker wallpaper accents. I’d much rather see more of a walnut or brown toned wood instead since I feel like that is more consistent with the current new builds and design that is currently rolled out.

New welcome wall at foyer entrances in the new prototype design.

Room wise, I have mixed feelings and a few concerns with the new prototype. This redesign is meant to fit more rooms within the existing blueprints for new builds which means smaller room design. This concerns me as I do not want to see room sizes similar to Tru being implemented. Generally if I am only doing an overnight or two nights, I prefer Tru since it is a smaller room and generally I am just looking for a comfortable place to sleep without fuss. However, when I look to book a Hampton, generally it is for multiple nights so I prefer a little more space and do not want as small of a room. I’m personally not a fan of this design for a variety of reasons:

  1. Lack of a closet space. I totally understand wanting to open up the space to make it feel less cramped but I dislike not having a closet. While I like this closet set up for a Tru, I feel like it doesn’t fit as well with the Hampton design and will be a move away from what Hampton rooms are known for.
  2. I’m personally not a fan of the light wood tones since I feel like they clash with the color scheme of the room. I like the colors of the room since I feel like those are classic Hampton colors but the furniture just feels out of place to me. I personally would have the existing walnut colored furniture and fixtures in the room since I feel like they fit better and are already pretty streamlined. I feel like this furniture is too similar to that of Wyndham and it takes away from what makes Hampton Inn unique.

Another thing that alarms me, is in the press release, they mentioned a bathroom redesign. I surely hope they improve on the current bathroom design. Personally, I am sick and tired of seeing a lack of thought go into towel racks or towel hooks in hotel bathrooms. I personally like to sometimes reuse my towels for a few days before getting fresh ones. However, this is often complicated when there are only one or no hooks or towel bars. I would like to personally see sliding glass shower doors instead of curtains in the shower stall. I am starting to dislike shower curtains because you can’t tell if they are clean or how often it has been cleaned whereas with glass doors, you can actually see the steak marks and it is way easier to tell if it has been cleaned.

Current Vs New Branding & Design

Along with the refreshed hotel design comes the newly updated marketing and branding. I have to be honest here, and say I am thoroughly surprised and delighted with all the updates. Looking at the logo, I love how they kept the logo almost the same and added little touches like connecting the font together between the p and t and just modified the colors slightly. I was honestly nervous like most modern day rebranding, that the logo would be butchered and look so cooperate looking. However, this was definitely not the case here and I have to say Hilton hit it out of the park on this one.

The logo was not the only thing that received a much needed face lift. We also see the new branding and marketing materials that were a part of this brand refresh. I love how they kept those iconic mustache coffee cups and really took that idea and elevated it to the next level. I also love how they took the iconic waffle breakfast that the chain is known for and focused on that for billboard advertisements along major highways and high traffic areas.

When I was looking at all the new marketing materials, I noticed a few subtle things that stick out. First, when I was looking at the renderings for all the new promotional items, I see the Hampton Inn Memphis-Poplar is listed on the business card renderings. If you look up this location, it appears as though this location is due for a renovation. Is it possible the first roll out of this design would be in the Memphis-Poplar location?

Yet another thing that sticks out is in the newspaper ad rendering, you can briefly see a variation of the new design with a slightly different color scheme. Is it possible there are going to be variations to this new prototype design depending on the location of the hotel? Honestly speaking, I prefer the blue color scheme pictured since that feels more like Hampton Inn to me.

Final Thoughts:

Overall, I think these changes are mostly positive for guest experience and for operators to ease the burden in day to day operations. I can’t wait to see this new prototype rolled out and see the end result. I am never usually disappointed with Hilton branded hotels, and I can’t wait to stay in one of these new hotels one day. Personally, if I was ever to open my own hotel, this would be one of the brands I could consider going with based on my experiences, and my stays with Hampton Inn.

What are your thoughts on the new Hampton Inn redesign and updates? Let us know in the comments below. As always if you are enjoying our content be sure to subscribe and follow us on social media to never miss blog updates and any new posts. We’ll see you in the next one!

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Extended Stay Frenzy – Hilton, Marriott & Hyatt Launching New Brands

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Within the past two years, we’ve seen an explosion of new hotel brand development and rapid advances in the way we travel. One of those new found changes is extended stay hotel brands such as Home2 Suites, Residence Inn, Hawthorn Suites, Hyatt House and more. 

An extended stay hotel offers guest rooms with larger living spaces, kitchenettes and additional amenities you wouldn’t find in a traditional hotel room. These types of hotels are aimed at travelers or guests staying for longer periods of time while offering the comforts of home. 

Extended stay hotels are nothing new to the industry, and have actually been around for several decades. During and after the pandemic, extended stay hotels have grown rapidly and quickly became the fastest growing segment in the hotel industry.

With all this new found expansion and an already crowded hotel market, brands like Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt and even Wyndham have developed new brands to capitalize on the growing market and expand their reach. In today’s post, we will be taking an in-depth look at some of these newly created brands, how they plan to differentiate themselves and what we can expect as consumers from these new brands. First up, LivSmart Studios by Hilton!

LivSmart Studios by Hilton:

Back in May of 2023, Hilton teased it was in the process of developing a new extended stay hotel brand with Project H3. 

“After much anticipation, we’re thrilled to announce that LivSmart Studios by Hilton is official,” Isaac Lake, brand leader of LivSmart Studios, said in a statement. “With a resilient $300 billion workforce travel market, the extended-stay segment continues to grow. It has never been as primed as it is now for this long-stay brand, and we’re thrilled with the initial excitement we’ve received from owners.”

LivSmart Studios by Hilton will be aimed toward travelers and guests looking to spend about 20 nights or more at a time. Each location will feature communal common areas such as fitness centers, laundry areas and outdoor spaces with grills as well as fire pits. Hilton previously announced there would be free breakfast with grab-and-go items.

Rooms will be designed and furnished like Apartment-style studios. Each will feature fully-equipped kitchens with full-size refrigerators, dishwashers, microwaves, two-burner stove tops and plenty of storage. Multipurpose furniture in the guest rooms will create versatile spaces for working as well as relaxing and, of course, sleeping

It is reported that the first location should be open for business by the end of this summer in Kokomo, Indiana.

StudioRes by Marriott:

Prior to Hilton announcing Project H3, Marriott announced Project MidX Studios, another extended stay brand it would be adding to its 30+ brands. For context, Marriott already has four extended stay hotel brands, including:

  • Residence Inn by Marriott, where all rooms are suites and feature kitchens, with complimentary breakfast and an evening happy hour.
  • TownePlace Suites by Marriott, where rooms range from studios to two bedroom suites, and feature kitchens; Marriott describes this brand as being for “the Upbeat Realistic traveler”.
  • Element by Westin, where rooms range from studios to one bedrooms suites and feature kitchens, with complimentary breakfast and an evening happy hour; this is typically higher end than Residence Inn and TownePlace Suites
  • Marriott Executive Apartments, which is the closest thing in Marriott’s hotel portfolio to an apartment-style accommodation

Looking at the StudioRes design, it shares similarities to that of Hilton’s design however, I personally feel this design is very bland and slapped together for the sake of it. Marriott seems to be aiming at attracting more owners/operators with a cheaper startup and operational brand rather than improving on a niche market concept that can benefit potential new guests.

StudioRes will have a focus on the United States and Canada, with the most affordable cost-per-room product for developers, intended to accelerate speed-to-market, with a low cost to build. For a property with 124 keys, the model targets a build cost of $13-14 million, with around 54,000 square feet of total building area. The brand will also have a light operational cost model for owners and franchisees, meaning you can expect these hotels to not have many amenities.

Comparing this to the previously discussed Hilton design, I feel as though the Hilton design is way more put together and actually feels more detail oriented, has that service standard Hilton is known for and is overall a better concept. I feel like this concept is just pinching pennies and could honestly use more time and effort in development. Just looking at the concept art, it looks very rushed and slapped together. The exterior rendering doesn’t even look like a hotel at all. Plus why is there no bathroom rendering? Does this mean we are going to get a cheaply slapped together bathroom?

On many online threads, there are several loyal Marriott guests commenting on the company’s massive growth and inability to balance between developing its newer brands and keeping its older brands afloat.

“I get that the big hotel companies need a lot of brands to justify growth. But what happens to the old brands? I don’t see anyone really building and opening new Alofts anymore. That brand seems to be just existing. I stayed at the Aloft in Wichita last year. It felt like walking into a W property circa 2006. It was a hip concept back then, but felt very dated and just completely out of place in Kansas. What about Four Points? Is anyone really building and opening new Four Points properties? I actually think that Four Points is a better brand than Courtyard but Courtyard seems to be what developers want to build when they want something more than a Fairfield but something less than a more upscale brand. At some point, Marriott has to discontinue old brands and convert existing properties to something else. I’ve noticed that a tremendous number of 1970s and 1980s Marriotts have become Delta in recent years”.

Overall, I have to say I am extremely disappointed with their concept and effort they put in. Considering Marriott wants to create a concept for extended stays for 20+ room nights, their concept doesn’t stand out or incorporate anything innovative or new. I personally think this is very lazy and sad since the company is well known from the start for being innovative and groundbreaking when it comes to hotels. I just don’t see that from this concept at all. Marriott already has Marriott Executive Apartments and those are lightyears better. You would think you would want to top that concept especially if you want to create a whole new hotel brand from it. I just don’t see how Marriott, who is known for high standards and the details, is okay with this concept.

Hyatt Studios:

Before we get into Hyatt’s new brand, a quick note, compared to the previous two concepts, this concept is a more traditional extended stay brand not an apartment style, long term stay brand. Hyatt announced its new brand in April of 2023, in order to grow the company’s portfolio, guest base and tap into this new found exponential growth of extended stay hotels. 

“We are proud to launch the Hyatt Studios brand and bring the high-quality experience and level of care promised by the Hyatt brand to smaller markets and submarkets where we don’t have Hyatt hotels,” said Jim Chu, chief growth officer, Hyatt. “We identified a white space for Hyatt, creating a compelling opportunity to significantly accelerate our industry-leading net rooms growth, care for World of Hyatt members on more stay occasions and introduce World of Hyatt to new guests in a new segment which we expect will drive increased direct bookings for all properties across the Hyatt portfolio.”

Guestrooms will marry form with function and offer suites with kitchen amenities to provide comfort during extended trips away from home. The Hyatt Studios food and beverage experience will include a complimentary grab-and-go breakfast and a best-in-class, 24-hour market with a wide variety of options to satisfy extended-stay guests – from health-conscious snacks and ready-made meals to sweet and savory staples to fulfill travel cravings, all of which can be prepared and enjoyed in the guestroom’s kitchen featuring a multi-function convection microwave.

One major thing that sticks out for me is how Hyatt states “the brand is designed to be flexible based on developer needs”. Personally, I feel a brand should be designed for the guests experience, efficiently and ease to operate. Basically, what I’m getting out of this is there will be little to no form of brand standards. 

The specific relevant content for this request, if necessary, delimited with characters: Room design wise, much like Marriott, it seems very slapped together and bland. There is no pop of color or anything exciting to draw you in. While I get a kitchenette takes up a lot of room, why does it seem like the kitchen is weirdly placed in the middle of the room? Seems like they took a standard Hyatt room and slap a kitchen inside with a tiny closet. If this is supposed to be an extended stay brand, why does it lack storage options? Is it possible they just forgot that detail in the rendering or is it totally forgotten? Also notice how we don’t even get a rendering of the bathroom? Does this mean we are going to get a cheaply slapped together bathroom?

Final Thoughts:

One thing that is an immediate red flag for me as well is despite being different concepts, all three of the exterior renderings all suspiciously share the same color scheme and similar design. 

Despite this, I personally think the Hilton design is the most throughout, detailed and most guest oriented. Seems like Hilton is more focused on the guest experience instead of putting the developer first. While I get designing a new hotel prototype to minimize the start-up and operational costs makes sense, it shouldn’t be at the guest’s expense. This is just one of the many reasons Hilton always wins me over compared to Marriott, Hyatt and IHG. 

It’ll definitely be interesting to see how each of these brands expands and grows as time goes on. Will these concepts be well received or will there be massive changes made? Only time can tell.