Guest satisfaction for hotels was down in every region of the globe during the second quarter of 2012, according to the Market Metrix Hospitality Index (MMHI), one of the leading provider of customer and employee feedback solutions for hospitality companies around the globe. The measure of perceived value for price paid, also declined in the second quarter. This appears to have made guests more price sensitive in the Americas and Asia where the incremental amount they would be willing to pay before switching brands declined compared to the first quarter of this year.
“The industry is gaining strength. You can see average daily rate and occupancy going up in many regions of the world. But although demand is strong, hotels’ ability to service that demand continues to be restrained by economic uncertainty,” reported Dr. Jonathan Barsky, Chief Research Officer at Market Metrix.
MMHI data also indicated that hotels are catering to their best customers by making it easier for loyalty club members to redeem points. Satisfaction with loyalty clubs increased significantly in the second quarter, especially in Asia where it rose eight percentage points.
“The majority of this increase is probably attributable to the ease with which loyalty club points can be redeemed,” he said. “This is because market conditions are still very competitive and hospitality companies are aggressively protecting their most valuable guests. They need to do everything they can to take care of their best customers,” said Barsky.
The Ritz-Carlton received the highest customer satisfaction score (91.9) for Luxury class hotels, and outscored competitors in every other price segment. Drury Hotels won the Upper Midscale segment with a 91.2, and for the second quarter in a row beat more expensive hotels in every category except Luxury.
