A Sea Of Red

I know this sounds random, but with summer vacation season in high gear I thought it was time to express my family's love for Drury Inns & Suites. I travel a great deal for business and usually stay in the typical business-oriented hotels. But in the past year or so, I have been booking us into Drury properties whenever possible. Unfortunately they do not have any properties in Virginia as of yet. But if you travel in the south, southwest or midwest then you are in Drury territory.



What makes Drury so awesome for families?

• * Value - Their prices are very competitive with the typical competitors
  * Customer Service - They give 5-Star service for a 2- or 3-star price. I love a company that recognizes that it doesn't cost any extra to be courteous. It is in their DNA which is why they have JD Power's top rating for customer satisfaction for like a decade straight
  * Well Maintained - I have yet to stay in one of their properties that wasn't exceptionally clean
  * Convenient - Nearly all are located along major interstate highways
  * Freebies - This is the key differentiator for my crew. Not only do you receive a bigtime hot breakfast in the morning before you hit the road, but they have the 530 Kickback every evening where you essentially get a cheap dinner for free. It usually consists of things like hot dogs, nachos, chicken strips, chili ... you get the idea. Did I mention it is free all evening? It beats the grub in the VIP lounges at most nicer hotels. For those into adult beverages, they serve those up free as well (not that I encourage such consumption).

If you have an upcoming family road trip, give them a try instead of your usual Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express. You won't regret it.

Drury Website

For the record, I am not being compensated for this post. I am just a fan of companies who go the extra yard for families like mine.

Good to know, thanks.

Good info. I have not heard of them before this. Doesn't look like they are in any locations I might use them. Do you know if they are expanding?

Yeah, they have been a heavy growth cycle primarily into growing markets. Greensboro is the closest one to Lynchburg. But I wouldn't be shocked to see them enter the Lynchburg market considering the strong booking rates in town.

Flamehunter - You never travel south at all?

Interesting Sly. Thanks for the info. I have always wondered about that chain.

I normally stay at "comfort inns and suites," and <most> of the time have had good experiences. One of the advantages with sticking with a brand is free nights. This year I was able to get two free nights. The interesting thing was that the free nights were higher per night charges, but lower point redemption costs. I also use the liberty alumni discount code.

Does Drury have any similar programs?

Every chain does. I stayed at hotels across Europe last year on our anniversary trip strictly on points. Drury's is called the Gold Key Club.

And for the record, Comfort Inn & Suites is one of their primary competitors and a place I stay regularly for business. On my own nickel, I prefer Drury Inn & Suites.

I stayed in a Drury Inn once. Awful experience. Felt like an upscale Motel 6.
Of course there were blood stains on the wall in my last room at a Hyatt,so....
Hilton for me.

I normally go with a Hilton if the price is reasonable. Hard to turn down free nachos and chicken strips, but I probably should given the doctor told me I need to lower my cholesterol!

Sly Fox wrote:Yeah, they have been a heavy growth cycle primarily into growing markets. Greensboro is the closest one to Lynchburg. But I wouldn't be shocked to see them enter the Lynchburg market considering the strong booking rates in town.

Flamehunter - You never travel south at all?

Sure, just got back from Florida, but Orlando is nowhere near family. Also, Eastern TN and Eastern Ohio are areas we frequent. Drury is not in those areas. Now, one day we would love to visit your neck of the woods, perhaps that would be a chance to check them out.

Great recommendation - that 5:30 kickback is a fantastic option for people with young kids.

Could they not come up with a better name?

jcmanson wrote:Could they not come up with a better name?

Says the man who came up with "Flames Nation."

alabama24 wrote:

jcmanson wrote:Could they not come up with a better name?

Says the man who came up with "Flames Nation." :I chortle audibly.:

A branding committee spent countless hours on the project of coming up with the name!

But seriously, no one else thinks Dreary Inn when hearing the name? Doesn't sound like an appealing place to stay.

The Drury family scoffs at your teasing. For the record, the cain remains family-owned.

Not teasing, that's honestly the first thing that comes to my mind. Guess I'm the only one.

jcmanson wrote:Not teasing, that's honestly the first thing that comes to my mind. Guess I'm the only one.

I'm with you. I'm glad it's the family name and all but I think the same thing! Plus, their corporate color scheme isn't very reassuring.
I'm sure if you have kids it's not a bad set up

As a self-professed nachos connoisseur and someone who has expressed interest in adult beverages, I would think this would be the ultimate Haize hangout thanks to the 530 Kickback.

hiltons are overpriced and not that great. i do country inn/mariott whenever possible as a rewards member. but when in the midwest, i'll also stay at drury when by myself. when you get pier diem of 50 bucks a day for food, free breakfast and dinner help pay for alot of fishing equipment.

RubberMallet wrote:hiltons are overpriced and not that great. i do country inn/mariott whenever possible as a rewards member. but when in the midwest, i'll also stay at drury when by myself. when you get pier diem of 50 bucks a day for food, free breakfast and dinner help pay for alot of fishing equipment.

Go to an Arby's and get a few Ham & Cheese sandwiches off the value menu (or somewhere else with a decent value menu). I made out like a bandit when doing stuff like that when I would get a food per diem for athletic trips.

lynchburgwildcats wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:hiltons are overpriced and not that great. i do country inn/mariott whenever possible as a rewards member. but when in the midwest, i'll also stay at drury when by myself. when you get pier diem of 50 bucks a day for food, free breakfast and dinner help pay for alot of fishing equipment.

Go to an Arby's and get a few Ham & Cheese sandwiches off the value menu (or somewhere else with a decent value menu). I made out like a bandit when doing stuff like that when I would get a food per diem for athletic trips.

no the key is to take customers or potential customers out and just pay with the company credit card or better yet, find vendors looking to wine and dine you. get my per diem AND eat at *insert churasscaria or other highfalutin steakhouse* at the same time.

Now you are talking my language.

RubberMallet wrote:

lynchburgwildcats wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:hiltons are overpriced and not that great. i do country inn/mariott whenever possible as a rewards member. but when in the midwest, i'll also stay at drury when by myself. when you get pier diem of 50 bucks a day for food, free breakfast and dinner help pay for alot of fishing equipment.

Go to an Arby's and get a few Ham & Cheese sandwiches off the value menu (or somewhere else with a decent value menu). I made out like a bandit when doing stuff like that when I would get a food per diem for athletic trips.

no the key is to take customers or potential customers out and just pay with the company credit card or better yet, find vendors looking to wine and dine you. get my per diem AND eat at *insert churasscaria or other highfalutin steakhouse* at the same time.

I remember those days. Now I just get $60 for dinner $15 for breakfast and $25 for dinner

I found Marriotts and Hilton's priced about the same. I like Hilton Gardens better than Courtyard Normally I stay in a Double Tree in Tn. This weekend is an Embasst Suite in DC though

RubberMallet wrote:

lynchburgwildcats wrote:

RubberMallet wrote:hiltons are overpriced and not that great. i do country inn/mariott whenever possible as a rewards member. but when in the midwest, i'll also stay at drury when by myself. when you get pier diem of 50 bucks a day for food, free breakfast and dinner help pay for alot of fishing equipment.

Go to an Arby's and get a few Ham & Cheese sandwiches off the value menu (or somewhere else with a decent value menu). I made out like a bandit when doing stuff like that when I would get a food per diem for athletic trips.

no the key is to take customers or potential customers out and just pay with the company credit card or better yet, find vendors looking to wine and dine you. get my per diem AND eat at *insert churasscaria or other highfalutin steakhouse* at the same time.

Depends on your profession. Not everyone's job is to reel in customers or vendors. Say, for example, an assistant athletic trainer for a college. Their "customers" are current student-athletes that they don't recruit, and the vendors they use (if they have them) would be negotiated by their superiors.

every jobs a sales position if you are doing it right.

I stayed in one for the first time a few months ago in Charlotte...liked it a lot. Never really considered them before because I hadn't heard much about them and there aren't many around the areas I typically travel. But would definitely stay in one again.