Story 1: InterContinental Hotel Group
Overview: InterContinental is a brand of luxury hotels, founded by Pan American World Airways, under Juan Trippe, and now owned by InterContinental Hotels Group. The chain operates over 200 hotels and resorts in approximately 75 nations.
History:InterContinental began in 1946 when the first hotel opened in Belém, Brazil. In 1981, holding company InterContinental Hotels Corporation was sold to UK-based company Grand Metropolitan. As GrandMet focused its core business, ICH was sold in 1988 to Japanese based Saison Group. In 1998, Bass Brewery acquired ICH. Bass was itself split in two, its brewing assets being sold to Interbrew whilst the remaining part of the company became Six Continents PLC, focusing on hotel, restaurant and beverages business. When the company split itself in two, IHG was created in 2003 and today retains the InterContinental brand as part of its hotel brand portfolio.
Brands:
History:InterContinental began in 1946 when the first hotel opened in Belém, Brazil. In 1981, holding company InterContinental Hotels Corporation was sold to UK-based company Grand Metropolitan. As GrandMet focused its core business, ICH was sold in 1988 to Japanese based Saison Group. In 1998, Bass Brewery acquired ICH. Bass was itself split in two, its brewing assets being sold to Interbrew whilst the remaining part of the company became Six Continents PLC, focusing on hotel, restaurant and beverages business. When the company split itself in two, IHG was created in 2003 and today retains the InterContinental brand as part of its hotel brand portfolio.
Brands:
Story 2: Marriott International, Inc
Marriott International, Inc. is an American diversified hospitality company that has franchisor of a broad portfolio of hotels and related lodging facilities. Founded by J. Willard Marriott, the company is now led by Arne Sorenson. Today, Marriott International has more than 3,700 properties in over 73 countries and territories around the world.
Founded: Washington, D.C., U.S.(May 15, 1927)
Headquarters: Bethesda, Maryland,United States
History
In 1927, Marriott was founded by J. Willard Marriott
In 1992, Marriott International was formed when Marriott Corporation split into two companies, Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation.
In 1996, Marriott spent $331 million to take over the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta and buy a majority interest in two properties owned by William Johnson.
In 2002 Marriott International began a major restructuring by spinning off many Senior Living Services Communities and Marriott Distribution Services
In 2004, Marriott International owned Ramada International Hotels & Resorts until its sale
In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities
On November 11, 2010, Announced plans to add over 600 hotel properties by 2015
On January 21, 2011, Marriott said that pornography would not be included in the entertainment offered at new hotels
On December 13, 2011, J. W. Marriott, Jr. announced he would be stepping down as CEO of the company
In 1992, Marriott International was formed when Marriott Corporation split into two companies, Marriott International and Host Marriott Corporation.
In 1996, Marriott spent $331 million to take over the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta and buy a majority interest in two properties owned by William Johnson.
In 2002 Marriott International began a major restructuring by spinning off many Senior Living Services Communities and Marriott Distribution Services
In 2004, Marriott International owned Ramada International Hotels & Resorts until its sale
In 2005, Marriott International and Marriott Vacation Club International comprised two of the 53 entities
On November 11, 2010, Announced plans to add over 600 hotel properties by 2015
On January 21, 2011, Marriott said that pornography would not be included in the entertainment offered at new hotels
On December 13, 2011, J. W. Marriott, Jr. announced he would be stepping down as CEO of the company
Marriott Brands
Full-service lodging
- Marriott Hotels & Resorts
- JW Marriott Hotels & Resorts
- Gaylord Hotels
- Renaissance Hotels
- Ritz-Carlton
- BULGARI Hotels & Resorts
- Autograph Collection Hotels & Resorts
- EDITION Hotels
- Marriott Conference Centers
Select-service lodging
- Courtyard by Marriott
- Fairfield Inn by Marriott
- SpringHill Suites by Marriott
- AC Hotels by Marriott
Extended-stay lodging
- Marriott ExecuStay
- Residence Inn by Marriott
- TownePlace Suites by Marriott
- Marriott Executive Apartments
Timeshare
- Marriott Vacation Club International (MVCI)
- Marriott Grand Residence Club
- The Residences at the Ritz-Carlton
- The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club
Story 3: Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide
Background
Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. is an American hotel and leisure company headquartered in Stamford, CT. One of the world's largest hotel companies, it owns, operates, franchises and manages hotels, resorts, spas, residences, and vacation ownership properties under its nine owned brands. As of December 31, 2009, Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide, Inc. owned, managed, or franchised 992 properties employing over 145,000 people, of whom approximately 26% were employed in the United States
Headquarter: Stamford, Connecticut
Founded: 1969 as a REIT
1980 as a corporation
Headquarter: Stamford, Connecticut
Founded: 1969 as a REIT
1980 as a corporation
History
Starwood Hotels and Resorts was originally formed by the real estate investment firm Starwood Capital to take advantage of a tax break; at the time the company was known as Starwood Lodging. Initially, Starwood Lodging owned a number of hotels throughout North America, all under different brand names. The Westin Hotel Company was purchased in 1994 from Aoki Corporation of Japan. Starwood acquired the Sheraton, Four Points by Sheraton, and The Luxury Collection brands from ITT Sheraton in 1998.
*In 1999, Starwood launched their "W" Hotels brand.
*In September 2005, Starwood announced the launch of aloft, a new hotel brand based on W. aloft Hotels catered toward business travelers.
*In 2005, Starwood purchased the Le Méridien brand
*In 1999, Starwood launched their "W" Hotels brand.
*In September 2005, Starwood announced the launch of aloft, a new hotel brand based on W. aloft Hotels catered toward business travelers.
*In 2005, Starwood purchased the Le Méridien brand
Brands
Sheraton
Sheraton is Starwood's 'flagship' brand, providing luxury hotel and resort accommodation. It began operating in 1937 and was sold to Starwood in 1998 by ITT. Also under the Sheraton brand, are 7 Vacation Ownership properties.
Four Points by Sheraton
Four Points by Sheraton was launched by ITT in 1995 as a mid-scale hotel brand. Originally the brand was created by renaming existing Sheraton "Inns" (a smaller, limited service version of Sheraton Hotels). The new name avoided the confusion some guests found in having two hotel categories (full service and mid-scale) with the same name (Sheraton). These hotels joined Starwood along with Sheraton in 1998.
The Luxury Collection
The Luxury Collection brand began when ITT Sheraton purchased a controlling interest in CIGA (Compagnia Italiana Grandi Alberghi, or Italian Grand Hotels Company), an Italian hotel chain, in 1994. Those hotels, as well as a number of top-tier Sheraton Hotels, were then marketed as ITT Sheraton Luxury Hotels. After Starwood bought Sheraton, they established a separate brand identity for The Luxury Collection and expanded it.
W Hotels
W Hotels is Starwood's luxury boutique hotel brand, generally marketed towards a younger crowd. W Hotels attempt to include the letter W wherever possible - the swimming pool is known as "Wet", the concierge is known as "Whatever Whenever", the laundry bag is known as "Wash" and so on.
St. Regis
St. Regis is Starwood's main luxury brand, launched in 1999.The St. Regis was a Sheraton from 1966 on, and following a lavish restoration from 1985-1991 was part of the ITT Sheraton Luxury division before it became the cornerstone of Starwood's new brand. All St. Regis properties except The Lanesborough in London use The St. Regis name.
Le Meridien
Le Méridien was founded by Air France in 1972 and was sold to Starwood in 2005, by which point it was based in the UK. It has 130 properties worldwide and its first property was Le Méridien Etoile in France.
Aloft
Aloft is a mid-scale, urban-style business / boutique hotel brand. The brand was launched in 2005 as a 'vision of W Hotels', a relationship similar to Four Points by Sheraton and its 'brand parent', Sheraton. It has been criticized for being too slick and formulaic.
Element by Westin
Announced in 2006, this is Starwood's first brand of hotels intended to be environmentally friendly. The designs include energy and water efficient features
Starwood Preferred Guest Program
There are 3 main levels of Starwood Preferred Guest: basic, gold, and Platinum levels. Each level has better perks. They can be found on the SPG Website In addition to obtaining these statuses through hotel nights, all Starwood Vacation Ownership owners are automatically enrolled into the Gold Starwood Preferred Guest Program. Some owners of several weeks (5* Elite Owners) are enrolled into the Platinum Starwood Preferred Guest program.
Story 4: Best Western International, Inc
Overview
Best Western International, Inc., operator of the Best Western Hotel brand, is the world's largest hotel chain, with over 4,195 hotels in over 100 countries. The chain, with its corporate headquarters in Phoenix, Arizona,operates more than 2,000 hotels in North America alone. Best Western has a marketing program involving placement of free Wi-Fi access hotspots in its hotels.
Unlike other chains, which are often a mix of company-owned and franchised units, each Best Western hotel is an independently owned and operated franchise. Best Western does not offer franchises in the traditional sense (where both franchisee and franchisor are operating for-profit), however. Instead, Best Western operates as a nonprofit membership association, with each franchisee acting and voting as a member of the association in the manner of a marketing co-operative.
Headquarter: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Unlike other chains, which are often a mix of company-owned and franchised units, each Best Western hotel is an independently owned and operated franchise. Best Western does not offer franchises in the traditional sense (where both franchisee and franchisor are operating for-profit), however. Instead, Best Western operates as a nonprofit membership association, with each franchisee acting and voting as a member of the association in the manner of a marketing co-operative.
Headquarter: Phoenix, Arizona, United States
Business Model
Best Western charges a rate that is based on an initial cost plus a fee for each additional room. Best Western also publishes a list of standards that each hotel needs to maintain. Instead of long term contracts, each hotel renews its membership on a yearly basis, with a renewal rate of well over 90%.
The hotels are allowed to keep their independent identity. Though they must use Best Western signage and identify themselves as a Best Western hotel, the hotels are allowed the option of using their own independent name as part of their identity (for example Best Western Adobe Inn).
In the USA, the properties can either be traditional roadside motels, motor inns, or full-service hotels. There are also many smaller "mini-chains" that are owned by the same management within Best Western; for example the Best Western Midway Hotels found in the Midwestern United States. Outside the United States, the properties are mainly hotels. More than 90 percent of Best Western hotels in Europe have three or four-star ratings.
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The hotels are allowed to keep their independent identity. Though they must use Best Western signage and identify themselves as a Best Western hotel, the hotels are allowed the option of using their own independent name as part of their identity (for example Best Western Adobe Inn).
In the USA, the properties can either be traditional roadside motels, motor inns, or full-service hotels. There are also many smaller "mini-chains" that are owned by the same management within Best Western; for example the Best Western Midway Hotels found in the Midwestern United States. Outside the United States, the properties are mainly hotels. More than 90 percent of Best Western hotels in Europe have three or four-star ratings.
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History
Hotel Types
1. Best Western
BEST WESTERN hotels offer a welcoming experience among clean and comfortable surroundings, with all the amenities to ensure a restful and productive stay at an exceptional value.Every BEST WESTERN meets the high-standard requirements of AAA/CAA - meeting a minimum Two-Diamond or Three-Diamond rating.
2. Best Western Plus
BEST WESTERN PLUS always offers that little something extra. From well appointed rooms to modern amenities, it’s thoughtfully designed to suit the needs of any business or leisure traveler.BEST WESTERN PLUS hotels meet the high-standard requirements of AAA/CAA with a minimum
3-Diamond rating.
3-Diamond rating.
3. Best Western Premier
The distinct style and personalized service of BEST WESTERN PREMIER will always leave a lasting impression. Whether staying for a relaxing vacation or an important business meeting, plush amenities and features provide a refined level of comfort for all travelers at our upscale hotels.BEST WESTERN PREMIER hotels meet the high-standard requirements of AAA/CAA with a minimum 3-Diamond rating.
Story 5: Four Season Hotels and Resorts
Overview
Four Seasons Hotels, Inc. is a Canadian-based international luxury, five-star hotel management company. Travel + Leisure magazine and Zagat Survey rank the hotel chain's 89 properties among the top luxury hotels worldwide. Readers of Conde Nast Traveler magazine have voted the company's Golden Triangle property in northern Thailand as their favorite in the world for three consecutive years.The company has been named one of the "100 Best Companies to Work For" by Fortune every year since the survey's inception in 1998, ranking 53rd in 2011.
Headquarter: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Owner: Cascade Investment Kingdom Holding CompanyTriples Holdings
Headquarter: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Owner: Cascade Investment Kingdom Holding CompanyTriples Holdings
Business Model
Four Seasons does not own most of its properties; it operates them on behalf of real estate owners and developers. The contracts between Four Seasons and property owners typically permits the company to participate in the design of the property and run it with nearly total control over every aspect of the operation.Four Seasons generally earns 3 percent of the gross income and approximately 5 percent of profits from the properties it operates, and the property owners are required to additionally contribute money for chain-wide sales, marketing and reservations systems. Four Seasons hotels have larger staffs than competing chains, therefore they create separate reserve accounts to cover upkeep costs. While profit margins are relatively low, the reputation of the brand and the value of the hotel for sale as well as loan collateral generates developer interest.
Four Seasons bases its business model on four pillars: Quality, Service, Culture, and Brand.
Four Seasons bases its business model on four pillars: Quality, Service, Culture, and Brand.
Four Seasons Residence Clubs
Four Seasons has a fractional ownership division, Four Seasons Residence Clubs.
- Aviara, North San Diego
- Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
- Florence, Palazzo Tornabuoni
- Jackson Hole
- Punta Mita, México
- Scottsdale
- Vail
Living Values
The company and its hotels and resorts have long been involved in philanthropic programs, with a focus on Supporting Sustainability, Building Communities and Advancing Cancer Research