Saint Louis
Hotel News
July, 2009
St. Louis Hotels Guide
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(L - R) Dr. Peter Raven, President of the Missouri Botanical Garden was joined by Kitty Ratcliffe, President of the St. Louis Convention and Visitor's Commission, County Executive Charlie Dooley, J. Patrick Dougherty, Executive Director of Metropolitan Zoological Park & Museum District (ZMD), and Doug King, President and CEO of the Saint Louis Science Center at a press conference at the garden to draw the winners of the 2009 Staycation Promotion.
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Drury Inn & Suites Forest Park Teams Up with St. Louis Attractions for 2009 Staycation Promotion
ST. LOUIS, MO (HOTELS-STL.com), August 2, 2009 - The knowledge that the economy was a concern for many families, many of whom have chosen to cancel vacations in order to save money, led ZMD institution representatives to create the Staycation giveaway, now in its second year.
In drawing held, Friday, July 31, at the Missouri Botanical Garden, the names of two lucky families were drawn by County Executive Charlie Dooley and Kitty Ratcliffe, President of the St. Louis Convention and Visitor's Commission.
August 2, 2009 - Emma Leeker, 9-year-old daughter of Karen Leeker of St. Louis, enthusiastically jumped through the pulsating water at the splash plaza at the new City Garden.
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Each family won a Staycation package that included: Two free night certificates courtesy of Drury Inn & Suites Forest Park; four passes for general admission and four passes to the Children's Garden courtesy of the Missouri Botanical Garden; four passes to Katherine Dunham: Beyond the Dance and four passes to Mary Lee Bendolph, Gee's Bend Quilts and Beyond; a copy of the book Lewis and Clark: Across the Divide and a special gift courtesy of the Missouri History Museum; a private, docent-led collection tour for six people and a $25 gift certificate to Puck's Restaurant courtesy of the Saint Louis Art Museum; four passes to A T. rex Named Sue, four passes to Ends of the Earth: From Polar Bears to Penguins, four passes to the OMNIMAX® Theater and complimentary parking courtesy of the Saint Louis Science Center; and, four Safari Passes, four passes to Stingrays at Caribbean Cove and complimentary parking courtesy of Saint Louis Zoo.
In an interview following the announcement, Ratcliffe said that the St. Louis Attractions began talking about Staycations last year. "We have a great visitor's experience here that we felt our citizens could enjoy. In the economic times that exist today, we needed to make sure that people thought about that and just not take a vacation at all."
When asked if the opening of the new City Garden has had any impact, Ratcliffe responded enthusiastically that "It is magnificent. Every single day it is filled with families and people of all ages, races and genders splashing in the water, admiring the sculptures and really having a different experience in St. Louis than they have been able to have before. It's just world-class," stated Ratcliffe. See related story: Downtown St. Louis Citygarden Is a Big Hit
The 2009 Family Staycation giveaway was sponsored by the five member institutions of the ZMD: the Missouri Botanical Garden, Missouri History Museum, Saint Louis Art Museum, Saint Louis Science Center and Saint Louis Zoo, and Drury Inn & Suites Forest Park.
Despite Industry Downturn, Satisfaction with Hotels Increases as Guests Seek Comfort and Value
ST. LOUIS, MO (HOTELS-STL.com), August 2, 2009 - Even though reduced demand has caused hotel properties to slash operating costs and reduce staff, hotel guest satisfaction has improved in 2009, according to the recent
J.D. Power and Associates 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index StudySM.
Now in its 13th year, the study measures overall hotel guest satisfaction across six hotel segments: luxury, upscale, mid-scale full service, mid-scale limited service, economy/budget and extended stay. Seven key measures are examined within each segment to determine overall satisfaction: reservations; check-in/check-out; guest room; food and beverage; hotel services; hotel facilities; and costs and fees.
Four of the six segments-upscale; mid-scale full service; mid-scale limited service; and economy/budget-have improved in satisfaction in 2009, compared with 2008. Guest satisfaction with luxury hotels has remained stable from 2008, while satisfaction with extended stay properties has deceased slightly. Across all segments, satisfaction with the reservations and check in/check out measures has improved, while satisfaction with guest rooms has declined.
"Many hotel brands have successfully focused on guest satisfaction, despite steep rate discounts, staff declines, reductions in in-room amenities and a halt on renovations," said Michael Drago, director of the global hospitality and travel practice at J.D. Power and Associates. "These hoteliers know that providing extraordinary guest service in a consistent manner, in both good times and bad, is a recipe for continued success."
Hotel guests in 2009 express increased desire for comfort and value-related amenities. For the first time since the inception of the study in 1997, bedding and pillow choices and free parking are among the top five "must-have" amenities for hotel guests. Other most-desired amenities include complimentary breakfast, wireless Internet access and pillow-top mattresses. Within the luxury segment, a high percentage of guests express the desire for in-room high-definition flat-panel TVs.
"Hotel guests want the comforts of home at a competitive rate," said Drago. "They don't want to incur fees for 'extras' such as parking or Internet access. Guests are much more satisfied when their total charge at check-out is in line with what they anticipated when they made their room reservation."
The following hotel brands rank highest in guest satisfaction within their respective segments:
* Luxury: Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts
* Upscale: Embassy Suites Hotels (for a third consecutive year)
* Mid-Scale Full Service: Hilton Garden Inn
* Mid-Scale Limited Service: Drury Inn & Suites (for a fourth consecutive year)
* Economy/Budget: Microtel Inns & Suites (for an eighth consecutive year)
* Extended Stay: Staybridge Suites
"Microtel Inns & Suites, which ranks highest for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year, is owned by Wyndham Worldwide-a hotel group that has improved substantially from 2008," said Drago. "InterContinental Hotels Group, which owns Staybridge Suites-the highest-ranked property in the extended stay segment-also improves considerably in 2009 from 2008. Each of these hotel groups owns a wide array of hotel brands in various segments, so their improvement is particularly impressive."
The study finds that hotel companies that maintain brand standards consistently across their portfolio of properties have the ability to substantially increase their satisfaction and loyalty levels.
"The highest-performing hotel brands differentiate themselves by meeting customer expectations consistently, whether it's a guest's first stay with the brand or their fiftieth," said Drago. "By setting and maintaining high brand standards, hotels build a reputation for reliability, which breeds customer loyalty."
The study also includes the following key findings:
* Guest awareness of property-initiated "green" programs has increased significantly in 2009, with 66 percent of guests stating that they were aware of their hotel's conservation efforts, compared with 57 percent in 2008. Among these guests, 72 percent say they participated in their hotel's conservation programs.
* Awareness of "green" programs has a strong impact on overall hotel guest satisfaction. On average, satisfaction is more than 160 points higher among guests who report being aware of their hotel's green programs, compared with guests who are unaware of them.
* The proportion of hotel guests making reservations online has decreased slightly in 2009, to 54 percent from 57 percent in 2008.
The 2009 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study is based on responses gathered between June 2008 and June 2009 from more than 66,000 guests who stayed in a hotel between May 2008 and June 2009.
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Archived St. Louis Hotel News:
- Hotel Indigo Opens First of Three Properties in St. Louis
- Hyatt to Play Host Hotel for Major League Baseball's All-Star Game
- Hyatt Regency St. Louis Celebrates $63 Million Renovation with Grand Opening Rate of $63
- New Holiday Inn to Open in Fairview Heights
- Doubletree St. Louis at Westport Joins AmerenUE's Pure Power Program
- Hilton St. Louis at the Ballpark and Hilton St. Louis Airport Play Starring Role in Clooney's Movie "Up in the Air"
- Marriott Streamlines its Newspaper Delivery Program at Hotels Nationwide
- Drury Hotels Launches 'Guide to the Staycation'
- Doubletree Hotel Collinsville/St. Louis Unveils News Name and $12 Million Renovation
- Hilton Garden Inn, St. Louis Airport Celebrates Opening
- New Hyatt Renovation Helps Revitalize Downtown St. Louis
- Renaissance Grand to Remain Open During Foreclosure Proceedings
- Marriott Returns to Downtown St. Louis at Union Station
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