Hotel brand bingo is a what I like to call the game of booking a hotel based upon it’s brand affiliation and then showing up to find out what the property is really like. Unfortunately just as a Las Vegas card game is stacked in favor of the house, so too is this one.
Most travelers pick a brand that they know and simply (reasonably) expect a consistent level and quality of décor, service and food anywhere around the world.
You would think that hotel chains could deliver this minimal requirement. Unfortunately, the standards often vary widely across the countries they operate in. Take Starwood and the brand Sheraton for instance.
Starwood has many brands which they keep quite consistent. W being trendy, hip and young, Westin being comfortable and spacious, St. Regis as a prestigious nameplate, A loft is affordable and so on. But somehow Sheraton seems to have missed the memo.
You would be surprised at how the Sheraton JFK Airport compares to the Sheraton Hong Kong. We’re talking the proverbial apples to oranges, or maybe more accurately rotten apples to mandarin oranges.
So saying this, my point is that within a single brand there can be a huge difference.
If you are from the UK and you know the Sheraton brand, you will be very disappointed in how a Sheraton London hotel compares to a rundown Sheraton New York property. The message here is don’t depend on choosing the hotel based solely on the brand.
Hilton I feel keeps their brand a little more consistent internationally, as does Sofitel and Marriott.
Rule of thumb. Asia will always be better than expectations and New York will always be far less so with the big brands.
Hotels that do keep their brand as much on target as possible are:
- Shangri-la
- Mandarin Oriental
- Ritz Carlton
- Four Seasons
- Fairmont
- Raffles
- Swiss hotel
What do you think? What’s the most consistent hotel brand? Hit us up on Twitter @goingglobaltv.
Daniel Green, the Model Cook is a Celebrity Chef known for his healthy approach to food and living well. With TV, books, magazines and live appearances, Daniel spends his time helping fans to cook better, feel better and live better. He’s also an avid traveler and a self-confessed Foodie.
To contact Daniel or learn more visit www.themodelcook.com or follow on Twitter and Facebook.
