The Tulsa Forum by TulsaNow

Sometimes people just have so much bad judgement they flaunt it.  

It wouldnt be so bad if this were in an urban center but (except for the nearby casino) its more suburban.

“It has so many lights on it that when they turn the power on, the city is going to dim a little bit,” architect John Sanford said jokingly.

The four-story Best Western will contain 70 guest rooms and is scheduled to be completed in about 10 months. The Glo prototype focuses on a dramatic and memorable arrival experience...  Lighting, on the exterior and in guest rooms and public areas, also is integral to Glo’s design.

(https://bloximages.newyork1.vip.townnews.com/tulsaworld.com/content/tncms/assets/v3/editorial/d/7b/d7ba997f-5ae7-5dcd-91c4-37379ab38d30/5b36945a61180.image.jpg)

Not a chance in hell you are going to see the stars in the photo.


https://www.tulsaworld.com/business/realestate/developer-bringing-two-new-hotel-brands-to-tulsa-area/article_c862da31-b6b6-576e-8a72-28d470e295dc.html

good god and they had the audacity to render it with that sky.

this is ridiculous and irresponsible design.

You got that right.  Even down here by 111th & Memorial looking north, the stars below about 15 degrees elevation are already blocked by Tulsa's light pollution.

Oh, don't be so hasty to condemn the concept. Why, with some coal-fired steam generators belching smoke, you won't see them pesky stars anyway. And imagine the cost savings to an already over-taxed public if they can just pipe their raw sewage into the nearest body of water!

MAGA!

Sounds like a plan.  Not a very good one though.
 
 ;D

"The Glo prototype focuses on a dramatic and memorable arrival experience...  "


Hey, Best Western,....how about focusing on the rest of the travel experience!??   Like clean the rooms once in a while.  Change some sheets.  Sweep the carpet, both in the rooms and common areas...


To be fair, they aren't alone in this - Embassy Suites (and many others) does a lot of the same stuff, but at a much higher price point, so you feel like you are getting a better deal...!

Best Western is promoting "selfies areas" for their Glo vanity boutique hotels, so that should give you a clue as to their appeal.
In ten years it will be ready for the bulldozer, or become a detention facility.

At one time, they were not a bad motel chain...that time has long passed, unfortunately.  They appear to be in a race to the bottom with the Comfort brand (Choice Hotels), and a couple of others.

I am not a Best Western guy, but they are trying to re-brand and introduce tiered hotels.  They have Glo and Vibe and Premier as upper/mid entries.  It will be interesting to see if they can compete, but unlike Comfort, which I agree has completely ceded the mid/upper market, they are trying. 

For Glo specifically, yeah, I don't like the outside lighting. But that is easily toned down.   The idea seems like a good niche play to me, and near the casino is a great place for it. 

Casino makes good sense, but I stay puzzled over how many hotels are present in 71st, 81st, 91st around Mingo area.  I know there are hospitals there, but what is the draw that is bringing all those rooms to that zone of town?   Is it just that there are already so many around, this seems like a good place to put  more??


BW isn't the only one struggling.  Marriott, Hyatt, IHG**, and Radisson all used to be higher tier places than they are now.  I have the 'frequent flyer' memberships on the first 3 and have gotten lots of free nights from all of them....they all are 'just another hotel'.   Would much rather just drag a travel trailer along and stay in it.  Would be much more truly upscale!   And ya know the person who slept on those sheets last night!!



**If you want an example of one of the worst 'downhill slides' in the industry, Embassy Suites, Little Rock, AR, downtown!   Unbelievably bad.  And I do have the pictures to prove it....  The difference from best to worst in that brand is mind blowing - LR being the worst - some are pretty nice.  Still not that clean, but put on a much better appearance.  That particular one was more like "Skeeter's Rent by the Hour" hotel, bar, and auto repair.

I think it is the cancer hospital.

I used to think that must be the big draw, but they also have RV parking and even that isn't "that" full.  I don't think they have that many patients there at any one time that would require hundreds if not thousands of rooms....  Anyone know how many go through that place??   From car traffic I see, I would make a guesstimate of maybe a few hundred any given week for the various treatments??  And are most of them from out of town/state?  (I am guessing yes on that second one.)   No real clue as to how many it might be...

Marriott?  I'm Marriott gold, and will probably be platinum this year if my travel stays the way it has been and Marriott is investing heavily all over country remodeling and updating.  And their merger with Starwood Brands is complete, and those properties are always very nice.   On a more mid-level, the Hyatt Place line is pretty nice as well.  But in general I agree with IHG and Radisson.

Marriott is one of the chains that got caught in the "didn't change the sheets" sting back in 2016....they all do that, no matter who they are.   And don't ever expect them to change sheets during your stay - even when you fill out the little card they used to leave to change every night.  Usually they will change on 4th night.  If very lucky, occasionally the 3rd.  Have gone as long as 6, though.


One of the best Hyatt Place I have been to was at the Milwaukee airport.  Usually they are ok, but that one was better than average.  Pfister Hotel in MKE ain't too bad...just too expensive. 

Luckily my travel has slowed a lot this last year - don't miss it at all. 

I stay in hotels across America about 70 to 75 nights a year.

I stay everywhere. I disagree that "chains" like these are all going downhill. It just depends on the town, the operators, and how recent the last remodel.

I have stayed in a terrible Hyatt and a wonderful Motel 6 just this summer alone.

I may have not been clear - I don't think they are going downhill (except BW) so much as they just weren't all that special to start with.  We used to stay at BW quite a bit - it was very good value for the money.  Last few times have been disappointing.

Do you have a preferred chain?  I made a decision last year, and am a Marriott guy now.   I wish I had done that years ago, as I have several coworkers that are lifetime Platinum with them and it makes a huge difference in reservations and attention. 

I have stayed at a fantastic Radisson and a sh*tty Radisson this year. You just never know...

I am member of the 'club' in Hyatt, Marriott, and IHG - in that order.  Typically, there are areas of the country where one is more 'convenient' than another due to location, pricing, number of points I already have, etc.  All 3 generally will not make you sick to stay there.  Some of the Hyatt's have a nice breakfast.  And there is a Renaissance in downtown Milwaukee (and others) that have a great Managers evening happy hour.  Free drinks and 'snacks'....generally can truly make dinner out of it.

Plus for MKE, concourse D at the airport has a little air museum that is pretty cool.  Has the Medal of Honor of a local hero.  That little blue ribbon is modest, but the representation is epic!


In the interest of full disclosure - I really loved staying at Holiday Inn when I was about 11.  They had swimming pools!!  Once I grew past the age of about 14, I realized how generally dirty these places are.  And staying at hundreds of different hotels for thousands of nights over the last many of years has not given me any cause to change my opinion.  Only reinforced what I found to be true, lo those many years ago.   And hotel swimming pools - well, let's just say if I want to soak in a festering stew of waste and harsh chemicals, I would rather just pass - you know it's true.

Take a sleep sack with you.  And pillow cover.  Never walk around barefoot - get a good pair of flip-flops for use in room.  Including the shower.  No bare skin on any cloth surface.  And the very first thing I do going into the room is turn down the bed - the sheets are gonna be dicey, but the comforter/quilt/cover is NEVER washed.  Ever.  You can buy a very decent poly or even silk for a very reasonable price.  Keeps you off the dirty sheets....

Now, having said all that - this is also a great opportunity to build your immune system!!  Positive thoughts....

Last weekend I gambled on hotel. I went to Priceline "name your own price" area of their website.

I wanted to explore on the Illinois side of St. Louis so I chose the Collinsville area, selected $39 a night, and got a Day's Inn. The total cost after fees and taxes was $53.

It had a clean room, internet, free breakfast, and a large corn field out my room window.

I really like diversity in travel. I went to Vegas last year for 11 nights and I changed hotel rooms every morning. Once I went from a penthouse suite in the Four Queens ($35) to a dive motel (Downtowner for $15).

Must have a tavern within walking distance.  Hey, when you are tired of driving...