- Sep 8, 2014
- 25,447
- 59,442
Me and @secgator started this convo in the politics forum, figured it was best moved here:
Nice. Most nights out in a single year for me was 175....but I averaged during that time 150+/- nights. That 175 was in 2005 at the peak of our Under Armour repping days. 2001-2006 were my busiest traveling years. All other years seem to be 100-120 and has gradually fallen off in past 8 years.
I feel as well, Marriott is better than Hilton overall--especially the big marquee properties. I don't stay at the high end places as much as I do their mid-tier properties when using Hilton/Marriott such as Hamptons, Courtyards, even Fairfields....again, because of the pricing. If I'm 'working' I save money--when I'm on a fun trip or with family, that's when I raise the budget up high and will go to the really nice(pricey places)
A funny thing back in around 2000, I was repping Wigwam socks(Best outdoor hiking, sking, etc sock made. Period) Sales mgr flew down to ride with me in Atlanta for a few days seeing some key accts. Second morning out, he starting having chest pains and I had to take him to Piedmont Hospital in Atlanta around 8 am---he was in ER till 5 pm. Turned out to just be indigestion from the Japanese beer he had the night before at the 3 Dollar Cafe(it was a great place back then and the name wasn't indicative of the place--just a name of a great sports bar with THE best chicken cheese sandwiches on earth at the time). Anyway, I had us booked that first night at a Red Roof for only $25/night. Great place and was close to our accounts in Buckhead--he loved it but couldn't believe it was so cheap. He had never seen a hotel/motel for that kind of price...especially up in New England where he was from. Well, after the ER released him that second day, he decided to call off the trip and head back home to Connecticut just to be on the safe side.
So....he told me he(Wigwam) would pay for my room that night out at the airport since he would be flying back the next morning and I would be dropping him off at the airport hotel. As a thank-you, and convenience thing for me. We stayed at the Airport Marriott Gateway that second night before I drove home the following day. My point is the contrast between first night and second night. First night-Red Roof/$25....second night Marriott Gateway(nice place then)/$240 night. One extreme to the other. One thing I have always loved about Marriott(Hilton's too) are the beds. If you can't get a great night's sleep on one of their beds---you are too sick to be still living. They are absolutely amazing! Food is generally pretty good as well.;)
What is striking is the current prices for that same Marriott Atlanta is now far, far cheaper than it was back then. I'm sure COVID has had a lot to do with it, but it's kind of like that all over. I just happened to be looking at prices in Savannah last night for various hotels--good lord there are some great rates up there going on. Lack of travel is making these folks get down and dirty on room rates and specials.