The major brands taking on the hotel industry

By Anthony Dennis

EVERYONE it seems these days reckons they can run a hotel, and not just every anonymous correspondent on TripAdvisor. 
Now Ikea, the self-assembly Swedish furniture brand that made the Allen key one of the world’s most universal tools, has announced plans to open 100 budget hotels across Europe.
Of course, it’s not the first time that a major, non-traditional hotel industry brand has diversified, sometimes unsuccessfully, in to hospitality. Some of the most notable examples are airlines, such as the Japan’s ANA and JAL and the Scandinavian carrier SAS.
Then there are designer brands such as the Spanish shoe-maker, Camper and the fashion designer, Versace, who operate hotels under their label names. So, based on the above theory that anyone nowadays can establish and run a hotel chain these days, here’s the Doc’s own take on potential branding possibilities and scenarios.

 

A range of major brands have branched out into tthe hotel  industry. Picture: Thinkstock 

Ikea
Welcome to Hotel Ikea, where we keep rates low by asking our guests to make their own bed.  That’s right - please take several minutes, or as long as you IQ demands, to carefully read the instructions on how to self-assemble your bed, as well as side tables, wardrobe, coffee table etc. Should you experience difficulties with self-assembly please do not contact reception as we can never work it out either.

Republic of Ecuador
The proud peoples of Ecuador, and our newest citizen, Senor Julio Assange, hereby invite you to enjoy your stay at Hotel Asylum (aka Hotel Last Resort). You’ll be accommodated in the complete comfort of spare closets at our embassy.
Twenty-four hour security is assured by the local police force who are always just out the front door. Please note that while we can get you in to Hotel Asylum, we can’t always necessarily get you out and therefore check-out times and dates can vary significantly. Oh, and apologies in advance, too for the shower – it tends to WikiLeak.

Qantas
Welcome to Hotel Qantas. Please be aware that the management is currently involved in an ongoing make-or-break industrial dispute with housekeeping that may see you tossed out of your room in the middle of the night, just as regrettably occurred to our airline passengers last year (my, how time flies).
But please do be assured that you’re the reason we run this hotel and that we plan to spend the next year, and millions of dollars in marketing funds, sucking up to you to make amends.

The Commonwealth of Australia
On the behalf of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Federal Opposition, we welcome you to Resort Oz, Nauru and wish you a pleasant stay. Do accept our apologies that accommodation at your preferred destination of Australia was unavailable at the time of your arrival.
Please make yourself comfortable in your new island budget resort suite and do forgive the ongoing, urgent renovations. We’re sure that once you’re settled in you’ll never want to leave. In fact, under any future Abbott Government, you may never be allowed to leave. As for Nauru’s tourist attractions please do alert staff at reception immediately should you find one.

Telstra
“This is the operator of Hotel Telstra, bringing you the service you’ve come to love from our telephonic division. So we can assist you with your call please say the service you would like us to provide.” ROOM SERVICE. “You have selected ‘room service’. If correct say, ‘yes’…YES.
“So we can help provide you with your request please say which type of room service you would like. Is that room service, as in a drink delivered to your room, as in food delivered to your room, as in a room service trolley collected from your room?” FOOD DELIVERED TO MY ROOM.
“You have selected “food delivered to your room.” If correct say, ‘yes.’ YES! “Please say what you want to order.” CLUB SANDWICH! “You have selected ‘club sandwich’. If correct say, ‘yes’…” YES. “Thank you. So that we can assist with your call…” And so on and so on.

 news.com.au

Click here to see the original article 

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The Australian article showing how diverse brands are becoming with ikea now starting up a hotel chain, do you think people will be confused at this new venture because they have already made it clear only the brand names will be matching although surely the furniture will be ikea inspired. It makes it seem like anybody can open up a hotel chain these days, I don’t  believe that self-assembly of furniture will be required however as most agree that the they should be a bit more atmosphere as it is owned by one of the biggest retail chains. In my opinion it is a good move for ikea as it has worked for other well known brands like Versace that has a palazzo Versace in the gold coast obviously also showing how the brands status changes status of the hotel the ikea hotels are good for a safe place to stay and a good breakfast and the palazzo Versace is 5 star quality accommodation.