Smart Travel: Survey shows best hotels for travel

The business traveler has special needs and requirements, among these to be on time for meetings and to have adequate accommodations at the destination. For you, this month, there is some good news and some bad news in some of the late reports.

First the good news. J.D. Power and Associates has just reported the results of an annual survey, the Domestic Hotel Guest Satisfaction Study. The study polled more than 10,000 travelers in 52 hotel brands, excluding the luxury category. A number of hotel brands exceed the average satisfaction level for their service category.

In the economy/budget category, five hotels were above average in client satisfaction. These included (in order of their ranking for each category): Fairfield Inn, Microtel, Baymont Inns, Ramada Limited and Motel 6.

In the mid-price with limited food service category, only two were above average satisfaction; Hampton Inn and Country Inns and Suites.

There were also two rated in the mid-price full food service category: Courtyard by Marriott and Holiday Inn.

The all-suites category was topped by Embassy Suites Hotel and Residence Inn.

The upscale category had five brands exceeding the average in satisfaction: Omni Hotels, Marriott Hotels, Hyatt Hotels, Westin Hotels and Crowne Plaza Hotels.

Business travelers might consider this survey in making reservations for the next trip or meeting as these brands have received a consistent satisfaction rating in a large survey.

Now the bad news. The Department of Transportation has just released the June figures for delayed flights and canceled flights.

United Airlines, with its labor troubles, was the worst offender with 24 percent of its flights delayed and 7.3 percent of its flights canceled. US Airways came in second with 13.7 percent of its flights delayed and 6.3 percent canceled. America West was third with 6.7 percent delayed flights and no figures on cancellations. Alaska, TWA, American, Continental, Southwest and Delta were all below 5 percent delayed and Northwest showed the best on-time schedule with only 0.9 percent delayed flights.

For the business traveler, these delays mean arriving behind schedule at their destination and, even worse, missing a connecting flight and not arriving at all. Cancellations can be fatal as often other flights to the intended destination are already filled.

Although recent figures for United Airlines is improving, it might be wise for the business traveler on an urgent schedule to book one of the airlines that show a good on-time record and fewer cancellations. Be sure to book no short connections right now they could easily fail to connect and leave you stranded far from your destination.

Try to use all precautions possible to avoid a delay or an unscheduled destination.

(Linda and Dr. Don Overend are co-owners of Ozark World Travel, a full-service travel agency serving the Springfield area since 1976. Last June, Ozark World Travel became part of The Travel Group.)