Travelers who enjoy staying in quality discount hotel rooms or purchasing higher end discount travel packages should be pleased with the upgrades planned for Crowne Plaza hotels.
Its owner, InterContinental Hotels Groups (IHG) wants to enhance the Crowne Plaza brand to make it competitive with Hilton, Hyatt, Marriott and Sheraton. As part of this upgrade, Crowne Plaza may drop as many as 10 percent of its current hotels to move its brand into the upper-upscale hotel market. As many as 40 of Crowne Plazas current 394 hotels are viewed by its parent company as below required (future) standards.
IHG plans a combination of room and property upgrades, promotions and more vigorous service training for Crowne Plaza. Details are expected to be released in October.
Crowne Plaza has the largest number of hotels in the development pipeline of any upscale brand globally. 120 new Crown Plaza hotels will opened over the next few years.
Today it is seen as an upscale chain which caters primarily to business travelers and meeting markets. Its competitors include Courtyard by Marriott, Four Points by Sheraton, Hilton Garden Inn, and Wyndham.
Crowne Plaza and Carlsons Radisson were ranked in the bottom of the upscale hotel segment by J.D. Powers 2011 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study. Hotel Indigo, another IHG brand, came in at the top of the upscale segment of hotels.
Crowne Plaza hotels are located in almost 60 countries around the world. Its hotels offer premium accommodations, designed to appeal to discerning business and leisure travelers who appreciate simplified elegance combined with the practicality of the latest features, as well as receiving value for their money.
Crowne Plaza guests enjoy 24 hour business service, wireless high speed Internet access in lobbies, plus fitness and leisure facilities. www.cheapfares.com