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No Brainer: Low Room Rates Equals Happy Hotel Guests

We got this room at the Affinia Chicago for $159 a night. And we liked it!

A new report released by J.D. Power & Associates says hotel guests are more satisfied this year with their hotel stays and hoteliers have reasonable room rates to thank for that.

Because of the recession, hotels have had to drop room rates and as we've known here at HotelChatter for quite some time, when we get good deals on rooms, we're happier guests. Also thanks to the recession, hotels have had lower occupancy levels so more guests have gotten room upgrades at check-in. J.D. Powers' Mark Schwartz told the LA Times:

“If occupancy is lower, we find satisfaction with the speed of check-in is higher,” he said. “Guests are spending less time in line, are less likely to face overbooking and are more likely to be able to get an upgrade because more rooms are available.”

And guests are probably happier because hotels are rolling out all sorts of new amenities and services to keep them happy, from free WiFi to wine-tastings to cool in-room technology and upgraded lobby cafes.

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Wyndham Hotels Scoop Up Microtel Inns and Hawthorn Suites

Wyndham Hotels will be adding two new brands to its company portfolio.

The company is set to buy the Microtel and Hawthorn Suites brand from US Franchis e Systems, a division of Global Hyatt.

Microtel includes 292 economy hotels, with 38 more under construction. Wyndham is entering the all-suites, extended-stay market with the addition of the 91-hotel Hawthorn Suites chain.

Let's just hope Wyndham keeps the free internet that we love to get at both of these brands.

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Heard Around the Hotel World

We have spies all over the hotel industry who like to send various miscellaneous tips our way. Some of these are post-worthy, others are not much more than one sentence tid-bits. So here's the latest batch of whispers through the hotel grapevine.

· The Red Rock Resort & Spa has partnered with iPort to install in-wall music system for the Apple iPod into 20 of the hotel's suites. Party in the room!

· In what we consider a pretty smart move,  Microtel Inns have released a version of their website en Espanol.

· TripAdvisor has not gotten the memo that Nicky O South Beach is just a figment of Nicky Hilton's imagination.

· The Le Meridien Beverly Hills is selling off its furniture as it gets ready to close. In its place with be a Philippe Starck hotel under the SLS Brand.

· And some super insidery info (or so we think). An Intercontinental Hotel (the chain's anchoring brand--not a Holiday Inn) is going up just off the strip near TheHotel. No word on whether it will be a casino as well.

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Budget Chain Extends into Canada

Where: 292 Louisa Street, Parry Sound, ON, Canada, P2A 0A1

A fairly new budget/economy chain, Microtel Inns & Suites, has decided to open up shop in Canada--Parry Sound, Ontario to be exact.

This newest property is located close to the Bobby Orr Hockey Hall of Fame, the Charles Stockey, Performing Arts Centre, 30,000 Island Queen Cruise, several golf courses, and snowmobile and hiking trails. Room options are either single, double or suite accomodations along with a business center and a meeting room on-site.

Like its other budget counterparts (Holiday Inn, Best Western) Microtel offers free wireless Internet access in all guestrooms, but also goes the extra mile by offering free local calls and free long distance calls in the continental U.S. (Sorry, Canucks. Maybe next time.)

Microtel has 262 other hotels worldwide, all in suburban locations. Kinda like Starwood's reinvention of the roadside motel, aloft, but we doubt aloft will offer free WiFi or phone calls.

Related Stories:
· Microtel Parry Sound reviews [TripAdvisor]
· Inside the aloft Experience [HotelChatter]