Video Review of Country Inn & Suites - Columbus OH Airport

[jp10558]

Not sure if this is something people will be interested in, but I'm branching out on my Youtube to not just review the TS resorts, but the hotels I stay in on the way to and from my further away trips. Probably more useful as exemplars of a brand, but maybe also for the specific locations if you happen to be going near them.

 

[dioxide45]

I heard you mention "by Radisson" in the video. Is Country Inn & Suites part of Radisson? I thought they were part of Choice Hotels. A Google search seems to indicate that it is part of Radisson outside the Americas but part of Choice in the Americas. I didn't know that.

It might make me snooty, but I am not sure I could bring myself to stay at either a Choice Hotel brand or even the budget level Wyndham brands.

 

[jp10558]

I heard you mention "by Radisson" in the video. Is Country Inn & Suites part of Radisson? I thought they were part of Choice Hotels. A Google search seems to indicate that it is part of Radisson outside the Americas but part of Choice in the Americas. I didn't know that.

It might make me snooty, but I am not sure I could bring myself to stay at either a Choice Hotel brand or even the budget level Wyndham brands.

IDK on the sign on the building it said "By Radisson" so I just assumed that was the case. I didn't actually research it beyond a glance at wikipedia.

EDIT: And for content I might give them a try... very occasionally.

 

[am1]

The companies split a few years ago.

 

[pedro47]

What is this hotel health inspection rating ?

 

[wmgjr]

It might make me snooty, but I am not sure I could bring myself to stay at either a Choice Hotel brand or even the budget level Wyndham brands.

You might in fact be snooty but choice has some gems. The Cambria brand has been great each time we stayed, Columbus and Chicago. Ascend was where they housed their TS components so formerly Bluegreen seems to now be Westgate.
The rest of the classes I understand though.

 

[dioxide45]

You might in fact be snooty but choice has some gems. The Cambria brand has been great each time we stayed, Columbus and Chicago. Ascend was where they housed their TS components so formerly Bluegreen seems to now be Westgate.
The rest of the classes I understand though.

Interesting about the Choice Hotels and Westgate partnership. I hadn't heard about that, or at least I don't remember it. I looked it up and it seems they partnered with them in January of this year. It seems that when HGV (Bluegreen) dropped Choice Hotels they went with Westgate.

Westgate Resorts join ChoiceHotels.com in New Strategic Partnership

Travelers Can Now Book 21 Westgate Resorts on ChoiceHotels.com Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the largest hotel companies in the world, and Westgate Resorts , the industry's premier resort developer, announced today that 21 Westgate properties are now available to book on...

investor.choicehotels.com

 

[wmgjr]

Interesting about the Choice Hotels and Westgate partnership. I hadn't heard about that, or at least I don't remember it. I looked it up and it seems they partnered with them in January of this year. It seems that when HGV (Bluegreen) dropped Choice Hotels they went with Westgate.

Westgate Resorts join ChoiceHotels.com in New Strategic Partnership

Travelers Can Now Book 21 Westgate Resorts on ChoiceHotels.com Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH), one of the largest hotel companies in the world, and Westgate Resorts , the industry's premier resort developer, announced today that 21 Westgate properties are now available to book on...

investor.choicehotels.com

Westgate has "been going" with everyone lately lol (like rent is due)

They'll have tables inside Chuck E Cheese soon like they have at sports stadiums offering 3 night promos. Lol

 

[silentg]

Westgate has "been going" with everyone lately lol (like rent is due)

They'll have tables inside Chuck E Cheese soon like they have at sports stadiums offering 3 night promos. Lol

Hopefully not.

 

[silentg]

If it was only a one night stay, I would be ok with it.

 

[dioxide45]

Westgate has "been going" with everyone lately lol (like rent is due)

They'll have tables inside Chuck E Cheese soon like they have at sports stadiums offering 3 night promos. Lol

It seems that the new management that took over Westgate Resorts is trying everything they can to push the company forward. If that is what we would call it. With HGV in Bass Pro shops, I guess Westgate is looking to find victims elsewhere.

 

[wmgjr]

It seems that the new management that took over Westgate Resorts is trying everything they can to push the company forward. If that is what we would call it. With HGV in Bass Pro shops, I guess Westgate is looking to find victims elsewhere.

Any info on new management?
It's not Siegel anymore?

 

[1Kflyerguy]

Any info on new management?
It's not Siegel anymore?

Siegel passed away earlier this year, so he is definitely not involved in management any longer.

 

[dioxide45]

Any info on new management?
It's not Siegel anymore?

About a year prior to David Siegel's passing, they named Jim Gissy as the CEO.

 

[wmgjr]

About a year prior to David Siegel's passing, they named Jim Gissy as the CEO.

mmm i wasnt aware.
his wife didnt want to take over?
lol

 

[dioxide45]

mmm i wasnt aware.
his wife didnt want to take over?
lol

I don't know. Did David have 100% ownership of Westgate Resorts? I suspect it is an LLC or other incorporated company with an independent board of directors that hires and votes in the top leadership.

 

[wmgjr]

I don't know. Did David have 100% ownership of Westgate Resorts? I suspect it is an LLC or other incorporated company with an independent board of directors that hires and votes in the top leadership.

I was half joking figuring she'd want control since she's the 'Queen of Versailles'

Anyone think this will turn Westgate around as a company?
Maybe they'll lose their terrible nickname?

 

[dioxide45]

I was half joking figuring she'd want control since she's the 'Queen of Versailles'

Anyone think this will turn Westgate around as a company?
Maybe they'll lose their terrible nickname?

I doubt this will change their reputation. The new CEO was previously one of their top salespeople back in the day.

 

[jp10558]

I was half joking figuring she'd want control since she's the 'Queen of Versailles'

Anyone think this will turn Westgate around as a company?
Maybe they'll lose their terrible nickname?

It would seem like they'd need to substantially change how they do business to do that. No idea if that would make them more or less profitable.

 

[wmgjr]

They'll have tables inside Chuck E Cheese soon like they have at sports stadiums offering 3 night promos. Lol

Just got a free night at Westgate from Chuck E Cheese
Lol

 

[dioxide45]

Just got a free night at Westgate from Chuck E Cheese
Lol

What kind of promo packages do they offer? Free night? Just one night? I often see online ads for 3 nights for $99 or $199. I don't think I can sign up for any of them as we signed something a couple years ago at Westgate Town Center saying we weren't eligible for promo packages and if we booked one we would be charged full price. That was a lone moment of weakness at a presentation. We didn't buy anything but they couldn't force me to sign it either. It would be up to them to just not make these promotional offers to me.

 

[wmgjr]

What kind of promo packages do they offer? Free night? Just one night? I often see online ads for 3 nights for $99 or $199. I don't think I can sign up for any of them as we signed something a couple years ago at Westgate Town Center saying we weren't eligible for promo packages and if we booked one we would be charged full price. That was a lone moment of weakness at a presentation. We didn't buy anything but they couldn't force me to sign it either. It would be up to them to just not make these promotional offers to me.

Haha do they send them to you still?
I need more info about that experience.
We do a lot promos and havent been told that yet.
Not many with Westgate though.

It seems targeted to CEC consumers (we have a membership). Terrible deal. 1 night and think it requires a tour. No mention of other incentives.
Raw deal for the uninformed parents they're targeting.

Read the terms they have some interesting language re single women. No counterpart language for single men...

 

[dioxide45]

Haha do they send them to you still?
I need more info about that experience.
We do a lot promos and havent been told that yet.
Not many with Westgate though.

It seems targeted to CEC consumers (we have a membership). Terrible deal. 1 night and think it requires a tour. No mention of other incentives.
Raw deal for the uninformed parents they're targeting.

Read the terms they have some interesting language re single women. No counterpart language for single men...

We don't get them in the mail. I just see them on YouTube or Facebook ads. We went to a Westgate presentation and they found out we knew too much about how timeshare worked. So they said we couldn't do any promo packages. We have actually never done one with Westgate. We were at the resort on an II getaway. I am sure we could still sign up for a presentation if we hit up one of their head hunters in Orlando at the outlet mall, just can't buy a discounted stay. That is if they even retained what we signed or noted it in their system.

 

[Snazzylass]

Not sure if this is something people will be interested in, but I'm branching out on my Youtube to not just review the TS resorts, but the hotels I stay in on the way to and from my further away trips. Probably more useful as exemplars of a brand, but maybe also for the specific locations if you happen to be going near them.

Your video I enjoyed! That place? Yikes! Just the thumbnail of the room with nothing on the walls was a tell. Probably worth emailing a link to corporate.
I stayed at one of these at least once years ago and it was utterly charming. Nothing like this scary tour. I honestly thought the breakfast area was filmed at night until I saw the eggs. Just the flashing lights!! Ugh.

When I'm on the road, I use the Hoteltonight app. I don't decide where I'm going to stay until I'm ready to pull over. I've stayed in some super basic older places and have been happy with them (except for one but it was clean). Trust me, there are a lot better places to hang your hat.

 

[jp10558]

Your video I enjoyed! That place? Yikes! Just the thumbnail of the room with nothing on the walls was a tell. Probably worth emailing a link to corporate.
I stayed at one of these at least once years ago and it was utterly charming. Nothing like this scary tour. I honestly thought the breakfast area was filmed at night until I saw the eggs. Just the flashing lights!! Ugh.

The flashing lights actually weren't "real", that was because they're LED and the camera picked them up. I had no idea till I went to edit the video. But the rest was sooo empty.

When I'm on the road, I use the Hoteltonight app. I don't decide where I'm going to stay until I'm ready to pull over. I've stayed in some super basic older places and have been happy with them (except for one but it was clean). Trust me, there are a lot better places to hang your hat.

I used to do that though just with the Hilton app. Last couple years Hilton has made it difficult to book same day or even next day with the app - I question if it's real that the places are sold out, but then again I do want to be able to find a place. While this one saved me a little money I do wonder realistically how much. What I mean is being a Diamond member with the Aspire card, and the amount of bonus points I get for staying at a Hilton property now, it's potentially quite a lot. I've not strictly done the math, but I am reasonably sure from my earnings that I get both the hotel points earn PLUS the Aspire bonus points for a stay. If I'm not entirely wrong, that can be 6,800 HHonors points from a single night at a mid hotel ($200). At the accepted redemption average for points, that's $34 back in value, and can be more if you're smart about using the points. Yet a lot of these "discount" sites I've used work out to save you around that much. Which I guess makes sense.

I might try Hoteltonight in the future, though I might also risk another VRBO (watch for that review in a little while). At least unlike the AirB&B stories, VRBO has no after the fact surprise fees allowed.