Hotel Chain CEOs Pick Their Favorite Hotels From Other Brands

Via Scott Mayerowitz, we learn that:

Hilton’s CEO likes the Ritz-Carlton Amelia Island

Accor’s CEO nominates the Andaz Amsterdam

And Wyndham’s CEO says his favorite is the Park Hyatt Vendome in Paris

These answers were given at the NYU Hospitality Conference where hotel CEOs were also clearly on the side of the Middle East carriers in their dispute against United, Delta, and American. Hotel chains compete globally, including on service, so aren’t likely to be convinced by pleas for protectionism

As Wyndham’s CEO noted,

he’d rather fly @emirates @qatarairways @EtihadAirways over @AmericanAir @Delta @united

The funny thing – at least to me – is that such a preference ought to be very aircraft-specific. Emirates has 10-abreast seating on their 777 (so does American, but not Delta or United). Emirates and Qatar have angled business class seats across much of their fleets, while American, United, and Delta are mostly flat across their international networks.

The Middle East carriers have a reputation for service, and it’s service as much as hard product that matters in the hotel business. As Starwood CEO Adam Aron told me in April, the St. Regis brand ‘will throw as much panache at you as we know how’. That’s a very different business from the airlines.

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

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Comments

  1. Gary,
    Qatar’s business class isn’t angled flat across much of the fleet. The 777’s have a flat bed albeit in the old 2-2-2 configuration. They are 180 degree flat. And the 787’s, A350 and A380 are all lie flat.

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