Branding - Does it affect your buying decision when torn between two products

valpuk

I have created this thread because I would like to know everyones opinion on this chosen topic.

I am planning to do some research in this area so any replies would be of great benefit and also greatly appreciated!

If you can imagine that you are booking a holiday and you are at the stage when you are planning to book the hotel.
Does the brand of a hotel affect the choice of your hotel?
Example, if the choice was between a branded hotel (Days Hotel,Hilton, Travelodge) or a small family run hotel which would you choose? And why?
Would you choose the branded hotel even though it was located a good distance from where you actually want to travel to?

This may sound like a silly thread but as I said, all responses would be greatly appreciated!!!! :D:D

Thanks,
- Valerie -

cazzy

Are you another marketing or hotel and catering student looking for someone to do your assignment for you ! So you can go to the pub for a bit longer !

Using your example I personally would book a branded hotel because you know what you are getting - generally the hotels are similar everywhere.
However hotels may be a bad example as they are regulated by the star system so genearally you know or have some idea of what you will get with a 3 star, 4 star, 5 star hotel etc

I think some people might use the same hotel cause of their loyalty scheme (stay 3 nights in any hotel worldwide and get the 4th free etc) - I know Hilton, Radisson etc run these but personally I never bother with these.

If a hotel has 4 stars Id be pretty content it should be ok so I wouldn be too brand aware. if I was travelling longer (say 3 weeks travelling around europe and staying in different hotels every night which is expensive) and looking for cheaper hotels - 2 and 3 stars - Id stick to a brand Id know so at least I know it shud be clean (Ibis, holiday inn etc)


good luck with your research. (with food - if Im abroad and not looking for a nice restaurant and just take away/cafes sometimes i woudl go to mc donalds/starbucks simply cause at least youd know what type of food / coffee you are getting adn whats on the menu rater than trying the local caf)

valpuk

cazzy wrote: »

Are you another marketing or hotel and catering student looking for someone to do your assignment for you ! So you can go to the pub for a bit longer !

Thank You Cazzy for your reply. Yes I am a student but no I am not trying to get the easy way out of doing my research. In fact I thought that if I tried posting the idea on a general public board as another method of communication where I would get a variation of replies this could go towards my research as another element to tie it in.
I am questioning the public in the same way that I would in a face to face scenario but I am choosing to do it over the internet.

I am a final year student so I do not have time to go to the pub :(:( (I even missed college Christmas Day for the 4th year running due to assignments):eek::eek::eek: A shock I know, an Irish student that doesnt socialise!

Once again thank you for your reply! Greatly appreciated

growler

Branding - Does it affect your buying decision when torn between two products ?


of course it does, that's what branding is all about... why do you think businesses invest billions in brand strategy ?

fintan

How I choose a hotel

I go to: maps.google.co.uk
I type post code of where I will be working in the UK
I click "find business" type in "hotel" and hit return
I then look at my options, read some reviews (all provided through google maps) and the book whichever I like the look of.

Job done

cheers

fintan

r3nu4l

growler wrote: »

Branding - Does it affect your buying decision when torn between two products ?


of course it does, that's what branding is all about... why do you think businesses invest billions in brand strategy ?

For me:
When it comes to electronics, yes branding matters. When it comes to Hotels, no, branding means feck all.


I look for Location first, then the star rating of where the hotel is, then the price. I factor all of these into account when choosing a hotel.

I stayed in a small family run hotel in the hills of Sorrento, called "Il Nido". It was a fantastic hotel, loved it.

I stayed in the Hilton in Gatwick and Barbados, both identical in terms of service, room facilities and processes but I wouldn't book a Hilton again just because it was a "Hilton" branded hotel. If I found somewhere in a better location or with a better price then that's what I'd go for.

If I was torn between the two, I wouldn't go with the Hilton just because I'd previously stayed in a Hilton.

growler

so given a choice between a hilton and a ABC Hotel in the same location with similar prices, which would you go for?

prendy

For me:
When it comes to electronics, yes branding matters. When it comes to Hotels, no, branding means feck all.

+1

as someone already said, due to the star rating system you generally know what your getting with hotels.
electronics cars etc yes branding does affect my decision

r3nu4l

growler wrote: »

so given a choice between a hilton and a ABC Hotel in the same location with similar prices, which would you go for?

Probably not the Hilton, not because I've anything against the Hilton but because I prefer new experiences (for better or worse!). So, on balance, I'd probably try the other one, even if I'd never heard of it before.

I would of course look for online reviews of ANY hotel I'm thinking of booking. I don't mind the odd bad review but if there are a number of bad reviews then I'd think twice and look for something else.

growler

so branding has effected your buying decision!


ok, so not in the way the Hilton Group would want, but it still has directly influenced your decision.

valpuk

Big thank you to all of those who have provided me with relevant replies to my original post.

This has given me plenty of food for thought and should keep me busy with research right through til the start of the summer.

Once again thank you!

From,

Val
:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D