The Jetpacker

J.D. Power and Associates, the people who rank and survey everything, just released a new study that found that people are more satisfied with hotels than they were last year.

The 2010 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study revealed that even though people are overall satisfied with hotel chains, they want more nice stuff and more free stuff than ever before (either we’re becoming prima donnas or this is a result of the bad economy).

According to the study, the top five things people expect from hotels are:

#1:  Wireless internet access

#2:  Free breakfast

#3:  Bedding and pillow options

#4:  Pillow-top mattresses

#5:  Free parking

The study also graded every major hotel chain in North America in seven different categories.  So who received an A?  Here are the Best hotel chains:

Economy Budget: Microtel Inns & Suites

Extended Stay: Homewood Suites

Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton  (Ironically, luxury hotels are less likely to provide free Wi-Fi even though their rooms cost the most.  Not cool.)

Mid Scale Full Service: Hilton Garden Inn

Mid Scale Limited Service: Drury Inn & Suites

Upscale: Omni Hotels

J.D. Power and Associates is too classy to draw attention to the hotels that scored lowest in each category, but we’re not.  Here are are the WORST hotel chains:

Economy Budget: (tie)  Knights Inn, Rodeway Inn

Extended Stay: (tie)  Extended StayAmerica, Homestead Studio Suites Hotels

Luxury: (tie)  Intercontinental Hotels & Resorts, Loews Hotels, W Hotels  (How could the W suck?  Rappers love the W.  And everyone knows rappers epitomize good taste.  Just look at Lil Wayne chillin’ at the Dub…)

Mid Scale Full Service: (tie)  Clarion, Howard Johnson Hotels, Quality, Ramada Inn

Mid Scale Limited Service: (tie)  AmericInn, Baymont Inn & Suites, Comfort Inn, La Quinta, Ramada Limited, Sleep Inn

Upscale: (tie)  Crowne Plaza Hotel & Resorts, Delta Hotels, Radisson Hotels & Resorts, Sheraton Hotels & Results

All of these hotels scored 2 out of 5 stars.  That’s a “D,” people.  That’s not passing, that’s on the verge of failing.  A “D” would you get dropped out of school.  Then you’d have to find work at Radisson… oh, that explains it.

You can view the full results and find out how well your favorite hotel chain ranked HERE.

What we found most interesting in this report was that people who book hotel reservations online through an independent travel website (like Expedia or Orbitz) were less satisfied than those who booked through the hotel brand’s main website.

Often times rooms are more expensive when you book directly through the hotel, but the director of global hospitality and travel practice for J.D. Power and Associates says, “Twice as many guests experienced problems with their reservation when booking through independent sites, compared with hotel brand websites.”

So there you have it.  Book through the hotels.  Ask for more.  And pay less.