Savvy travelers can learn from hospitality industry experts how to locate and take advantage of un-publicized hotel and resort discounts.

After a steady decline in profits from 2001 until 2004, the good times are back in the U. S. lodging industry. According to Smith Travel Research conducted in June, 2006, the past year has seen an increase in average occupancy rates to 70.8%, an increase of 7.5% in room rates to $97.22 per night, and an increase of 8.3% in REVPAR, or revenue per available room, the metric that the hospitality industry uses to gauge its health. And most troubling to the business and leisure traveler, while things are looking good, hotels have continued to inch up in price.

In an effort to help travelers save money, let's revisit the study done by Consumer Reports magazine in which the staff tabulated an exhaustive survey of hotel chain prices, online booking rates, and the quality-for-price feedback of 35,000 readers, to offer great tips on where to stay and how to get the most value from your hotel stay.

(Although this data is from the most recent research, July 2004, their website continues to study individual hotel chains and offer valuable savings tips.)

Hotel Quality Survey

As you might expect, Consumer Reports readers ranked the five-star luxury chains ($90-$500/N) as tops: Four Seasons and Ritz Carlton peaked here. Interestingly, some of the perks expected by their high-end guests, such as free toiletries, a pool and Jacuzzi, highspeed Internet access and room service, also trickled down to the lower-priced four-star, three-star and all-suites chains.

In the upscale category ($80-$150/N) Embassy Suites, the Walt Disney resorts and Harrah's casino properties were tops.

In the family-friendly moderate price range ($60-$100/N), Springhill Suites by Marriott, Homewood Suites by Hilton and Wingate Inn ranked highest. In the years since this survey was done, this has become the fastest growing category for all the major hotel chains.

Road trip families valued the Sleep Inn, Extended Stay America and Microtel Inn/Suites nights they spent, where $40-$70 per room brought comfort, good lighting, better service and acceptable decor.