New hotels are popping up everywhere 

The hotel industry is on a massive terror to build new hotel rooms this year. In the second quarter alone, 5,572 hotel projects were in the pipeline adding 660,000 more rooms in the U.S.. It is amazing how the industry has gone from famine to feast in the last 2 years. Americans are traveling the world and hotel developers are optimistic this trend will continue for years to come. I thought higher interest rates would slow this train down, but, there are more optimists than pessimists in the hotel industry right now. CLICK HERE to read more.

Hotels are broken into six basic chain scales, where do you fit? –  I have broken them out by scale and brand below. Looking at the list for short business trips I usually star at Upper Midscale (4)  and Upscale (3) hotels when I have a short one-night stay and have to pay for the room. When I am using my Bonvoy (Marriott points) I go for Upper Upscale (2) and even luxury (1) if I can. If I had to rate myself as a traveler I would put me at 1.5 on the 1-5 luxury scale below. Where do you fit on this scale? CLICK HERE to see more.

1. Luxury – Conrad, InterContinental, Le Meridien, Park Hyatt, JW Marriott, Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, W Hotels, and Waldorf Astoria.
2. Upper Upscale – Autograph Collection, Canopy, Curio, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Indigo, Kimpton, Marriott, Omni, Radisson Blu, Sheraton, Thompson Hotels, Westin, and Wyndham Grand.
3. Upscale – AC by Marriott, Aloft, Cambria, Courtyard, Hilton Garden Inn, Homewood Suites, Hyatt House, Hyatt Place, Radisson, Residence Inn, Staybridge Suites, Tapestry Collection, Voco, and Wyndham.
4. Upper Midscale – Comfort Inn, Fairfield Inn, Hampton Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Home2 Suites, La Quinta, Motto, Moxy, TownePlace Suites, and Wyndham Garden.
5. Midscale – Avid, Best Western, Candlewood Suites, Everwood Suites, Hawthorn Suites, Quality Inn, Ramada, Red Lion Inn & Suites, Sleep Inn, and Tru.
6. Economy – Days Inn, EconoLodge, Knights Inn, Microtel, Rodeway Inn, Super 8, Travelodge, and WoodSpring Suites.

Hotel hidden fees (Resort Fees) will sooner or later go away – For over 7 years I have been yelling at the top of my voice that the hotel industry needs to stop charging hidden fees such as resort fees to their customers. These fees are not included in the hotel rates and are kind of like gotcha charges they charge at the front desk. More and more people are coming out against allowing hotels to charge them. I read a great article this week that echoes what I have been saying for years. Perhaps we are about to see a seismic change coming to STOP this hidden fees soon> CLICK HERE to read this article.

This promises to be a record breaking year for our company as we finally are ahead of pre-COVID numbers – It is hard to think back to 2019 which was the last (normal) year before COVID clobbered the world. It has been a long journey back but if things don’t fall off a cliff later this year it looks like our company will jump past our 2019 numbers and be a record setting year. The one thing I am most proud about is our amazing team has all stuck together and now our customers say they are the cream of the crop. I am proud to work every day with such an amazing team. God has blessed me beyond measure. Thank you also for your business and friendship.

Iceland – Final Call – Travel while you can! – We have four spots open on our once-in-a-lifetime journey to Iceland from September 30 to October 7. I visited Iceland a few years ago and was overwhelmed by its incredible nature. Join us in a breathtakingly beautiful country with the most friendly people you have ever met! Experience rumbling ice-covered volcanos, black sandy beaches, gigantic glaciers, crystal-clear lagoons, and much more. CLICK HERE to see all the details. Call or email our friendly group department at 402.858.0033 / GroupDepartment@executivetravel.com. This journey is open to everyone; solos, couples, and friends.