The 8 Most Satisfying Hotels in North America — for Any Budget

Whether you prefer to vacation on a budget or in the lap of luxury, this is a great year.

Hotel guest satisfaction is at a record high, according to the J.D. Power 2015 North America Hotel Guest Satisfaction Index Study, which was released today.

Overall guest satisfaction reached a score of 804 (out of 1,000 points) this year, which is the 19th year of the study. That’s a 20-point increase from 2014 — and the first time overall satisfaction surpassed 800.

The study is based on responses from more than 62,000 guests in the U.S. and Canada who stayed at a hotel in North America between May 2014 and May 2015.

J.D. Power and Associates attributes the increased guest satisfaction to fewer guests experiencing problems during their stays.

A key finding of the study is that there is a strong relationship between guests’ perceptions of how well hotels meet their needs and guests’ overall satisfaction. Rick Garlick, global travel and hospitality practice lead at J.D. Power, explains:

“Hotels that proactively meet guest needs have the ability to create a positive guest experience. … Hotel staff members need to maintain a proper balance between proactively addressing needs and responding to problems effectively. Doing so can help guests feel good about their selection of the hotel brand and increase the likelihood they will return for another stay or recommend it to others.”

The hotel brands ranked highest in their class for guest satisfaction this year are:

• Luxury: The Ritz-Carlton (which earned a score of 892, the highest of any hotel studied)
• Upper Upscale: Omni Hotels & Resorts
• Upscale: Hyatt Place
• Upper midscale: Drury Hotels
• Midscale: Wingate by Wyndham
• Economy/budget: Microtel Inn & Suites by Wyndham (for a third consecutive year)
• Upper extended stay: Homewood Suites by Hilton (third consecutive year)
• Extended stay: Candlewood Suites (second consecutive year)

Are you traveling soon? Be sure to first check out:

• “8 Tips for a Financially Sane Vacation“
• “5 Keys to a Fun Family Vacation for Under $1,000“
• “The Cheapest — and Costliest — Summer Vacation Destinations“

Have you traveled recently? Let us know where you stayed and how satisfied you were by sharing your thoughts in our Forums. It’s a place where you can swap questions and answers on money-related matters, life hacks and ingenious ways to save.