Market Metrix Announces Annual 2010 Hospitality Index Results

San Rafael, CA, March 09, 2011 --(PR.com)-- Customer satisfaction among hotels held its own during a tumultuous year (+.3 to 83.3). However, passenger satisfaction with airlines deteriorated (–1.7 to 77.0), and continued to decline among rental cars companies (–0.2 to 78.2). Sandals Resorts, British Airlines, and Enterprise Rent–A–Car ranked number one in hotel, airline, and rental car industry customer satisfaction, respectively in 2010.

Hotel operators continued to emphasize value for money as leverage in a weakened travel economy, competing on price promotions and perks. Price was most important to guests selecting economy hotels, but surprisingly, economy hotels received the lowest value scores (79.2). Upscale hotels received the top scores for delivering value (83.5). Scores for value were up for the industry (+.3 to 82.2) with Upscale Casino guests reporting the biggest improvement (+1.2 to 85.2). The hotel brands receiving the top scores for “Value” in 2010 were Joie de Vivre Hospitality (92.6) and Drury Inns (91.7). In 2010 hotel loyalty programs also played a bigger role for guests in choosing a hotel compared to 2009.

Comparing performance across the hospitality industry

In 2010 Sandals Resorts, an operator of all–inclusive resorts in the Caribbean, earned the highest customer satisfaction score among all hotels (93.7). Guests love the beachfront settings, personal butler and white glove dining service on the beach.

Midscale with food and beverage (+0.7 to 81.8) improved more than any other hotel segment in 2010 with Red Lion Hotels earning the top score (83.3) and Holiday Inn SunSpree Resorts showing the biggest improvement (+2.6 to 82.6). Among all hotels, Loews Hotels (+3.4 to 88.1) and Hyatt Resorts (+3.4 to 89.0) showed the biggest improvements. Brands with the biggest drop in score included Hyatt Summerfield Suites (–5.1 to 85.1) and Shilo Inns & Resorts (–2.2 to 80.7).

Market Metrix Hospitality Index – 2010 Winners

Winner Segment

Hotels

Mandarin Oriental 90.3 Luxury

Joie de Vivre Hospitality 90.4 Upper Upscale

Sandals Resorts 91.0 Upscale

Red Lion Hotels 83.3 Midscale w/ F&B

Drury Inns 90.4 Midscale w/o F&B

Microtel Inns & Suites 84.2 Economy

Casinos

The Palazzo Resort & Casino 89.4 Upscale Casino

South Point Hotel Casino Spa 89.1 Casino

Web Sites

TownPlace Suites 91.0 Hotel Brand Web Site

Hotwire.com 77.4 Hotel Travel Web Site

Airline

British Airways 83.4 Airline

Car Rental

Enterprise 82.3 Car Rental

Timeshare

Disney Vacation Club 91.8 Timeshare Accommodations

About MMHI
Based on 35,000 customer interviews conducted each quarter, the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI) is the largest and most in–depth measure of hospitality company performance available today. Our annual MMHI Awards are coveted by lodging and travel enterprises around the world. These benchmarks, delivered through our flagship product CustomerMetrix™, enable Market Metrix clients to compare their results to competitors by STAR segment, AAA classification, Brand, SMSA, industry averages, performers in the top 10% and other classifications. The MMHI is also available by subscription.

###