Get ready for another round of 'keeping up with Motel 6' - as the mainland budget chains have announced plans to upgrade the 'sub-$100' sector with new 'no-frills-chic' design.
Great idea, since the cost is probably not much more than upgrading the dull old designs - but the market perception should bring these properties into a whole new range of customers who might never consider a Motel 6 in the past.
Based on the designs shown - some will look like 'chic on the cheap', while others are more 'South Beach' than 'wrong side of the tracks' that many associate with the very cheap prices....
If you're a Caribbean hotelier - take a look and see what will become the new 'minimum standard' in the minds of your mainland market. If people get all of this for less than $100 at home.... it will be hard to satisfy them with run-down rooms for the high prices that Caribbean properties demand.
Our clients say 'but they have to understand..... this is the Caribbean.....'
But very few guests care.... In their view 'This is a 4-star hotel and doesn't even have everything the local Motel 6 offers'.....
We went through this with In room phones, air conditioning, cable TV, Wi-Fi.... and now design may be the next 'manditory' upgrade you should consider....
before the 2-star property down the beach does it...
