In India, the Focus is on Mid-Market Hotels

by Josh Lew on

A combination of growing demand from business travelers and a souring economy have led hotel developer Accor to focus on mid-range hotels in the world’s largest countries. So far in India, the formula seems to be a good one. As the country grows economically, more people will be traveling there for business purposes. Smaller businesses or independent entrepreneurs who don’t want to spring for a 5-star room have few options. Accor’s budget brand, Ibis, has already opened one location in Gurgaon. The company also has two Novotels in Hyderabad. These hotels are focused on providing solid service with a few extras, but nothing in terms of the over-the-top luxury seen at a 4 or 5-star. The strategy is to be attractive both to domestic and international business travelers.

Currently, over half of Accor’s India bookings come directly from corporate buyers seeking bulk rates. However, the mid-range prices and services could be attractive to independent travelers seeking an economical alternative to India’s current hotel options.

What’s the dirtiest hotel in the U.S.? It has company

by Jamie Rhein on

TripAdvisor has just released its annual list of the dirtiest hotels in the U.S. I suppose this is akin to Mr. Blackwell’s Annual Worst-Dressed list aimed at celebrities. Who would aspire to land a spot on such a list?

The Hotel Carter, a 700 room architectural beauty in Manhattan is right at the top of the worst of the dirtiest. The photo on its Web site looks rather 40ish funky–perhaps it hasn’t been cleaned since then. At one time, the hotel was probably magnificent and the place to be. Perhaps, it’s in need of a real update. Whatever the reason, if you look at the travel ratings review chart, this place isn’t even recommended for budget travelers. Young singles might like it a tad better. Young singles without dates, or nowhere to go perhaps?

If all the complaints are accurate, it sounds like this could be named Hell Hotel with accuracy. Mice, lice, cigarette butts, prostitutes, police, blood, hair of various types everywhere, slow to fill tubs, paint peeling–you name it, this place has it. So, this is what the dirtiest hotel looks like? On the plus side, for the Times Square area, it’s price is a deal if you don’t have health or safety concerns. Patricking, who posted this shot on Flickr wrote that this is how he found his room when he arrived. The bag is the only additon. This was in April 2007. For other dirty of the dirtiest.

Check out these weird hotels:


Also on the dirtiest list:

  • Nashville – Days Inn Vanderbilt / Music Row, Nashville, TN
  • Ramada Niagara Falls – Niagara Falls, NY
  • Red Carpet Inn, Fort Lauderdale, FL
  • Regency Inn & Suites, New York, NY
  • St. Augustine Beachfront Resort, Saint Augustine, FL
  • Travel Inn Civic/Medical Center, Miami, FL
  • Eden Roc Motel, Wildwood, NJ
  • Days Inn Lancaster, Lancaster, PA
  • Pacific Sands Motel, Santa Monica, CA

    It’s too bad that those connected to Days Inn and Red Carpet Inn have such bad ratings. Since these are brand name hotels, it goes to show that reading about a hotel before you show up is a good idea instead of relying on the fact you have stayed in a perfectly fine Days Inn. I’d also double check to see if anything has changed since the last comments were made. Hotels and motels can go through transformations, however, in the case of the ones listed, there needs to be major, major improvements.

    For those of you traveling to the UK, TripAdvisor also lists the dirtiest hotels there. If a hotel has the word Eden in it, don’t be fooled in thinking it might be paradise. Regency, Manor and Resort also may not mean anything. Whoever thought up the name of some of these hotels had a way with words, even though they didn’t have a clue about how to run them.

    • Berlin: A Bargain City with Bargain Hotels

    by Neil Woodburn on

    With a plummeting US dollar, there remains very few places in Europe that are a bargain for visiting Americans. Fortunately, Berlin is one of them.

    Berlin is my favorite German city because history has raised and dropped it so many times that it is practically bipolar in nature. These days, the city is neither at is nadir or zenith. It is somewhere in between, suffering financially and economically.

    Berlin’s woes, however, are travelers’ good fortune, according to a recent AP article, Berlin Hotels offer high style at budget prices.

    Apparently, a troubled economy coupled with Berlin’s quirky, artsy character has resulted in a number of very cool, very chic hotels popping up around the city that are cheap and exceptional for their value.

    Budget chic. I love it.

    Take, for example, Ostel. This great pun on the word Hostel and Ost (German for East) is a communist themed retro hotel with rooms going for just $53 (above photo). Or, there’s the $65 a night Arte Luise Kunsthotel in which every room has been personalized and designed by a local artist.

    If you’ve ever dreamed of going to Berlin, now is the time; because if you don’t act soon, it will soon be as expensive as the rest of Germany.