Drury Hotels is a Missouri-based, family-owned and operated hotel system with more than 120 hotels in 19 states from Arizona to North Carolina and from Texas to Michigan. Brands include Drury Inn & Suites, Drury Inn, Drury Plaza Hotel, Drury Suites and Pear Tree Inn. The properties are located primarily in the Midwest with areas of growth in the West and Southeastern regions of the United States. We recently spoke with Alexis Nugent, Executive-Secretary Marketing, Drury Hotels.
InsideFlyer
What makes Drury Hotels different than the rest?
Alexis Nugent
We are 100 percent family owned and operated. Being a private family-owned company insures that all Drury Hotels are solely in our control. Managing all of our locations means customers know what to expect at a Drury Hotel and we provide the best possible customer service to every guest every time they stay with us. We also offer a number of free extras such as, free HOT! QUIKSTART breakfast, free evening beverages, free long distance (one hour in every room, every night), free wireless Internet and more.
IF
What do you offer business travelers to make their stays more productive?
Nugent
Our Drury brand hotels offer free wireless Internet and each of our properties is equipped with a business center that offers computers, fax machines, printers and copiers. We also offer all of our guests free local phone calls as well as one hour of free long distance every night.
IF
What is the difference between the Drury Gold Key Club and Drury Inner Circle loyalty programs?
Nugent
The Drury Gold Key program is made up primarily of road warriors, travelers who foot their own bill, as well as the corporate guest whose expenses are paid by the company. Drury Inner Circle is a program for travel planners and is not open to general membership. Most InsideFlyer subscribers would not qualify and we’d better serve them by keeping the focus on the Drury Gold Key Club.
IF
What do you see as the main benefits of membership?
Nugent
The main benefits of a Drury Gold Key membership are how quickly you can accumulate points and the assortment of rewards we offer. We offer free night gift certificates, charitable donations, retail gift certificates, 5,000 airline miles, resort and spa packages and cruise packages.
IF
What is your most popular award redemption?
Nugent
A free night’s stay at any Drury Hotel.
IF
Are there plans to add more hotel locations in the future?
Nugent
Drury is growing its hotels at a steady and consistent pace of six to eight hotels per year for the next several years.
IF
We noticed you partner with American, Delta, United and US Airways where members can get 5,000 miles when redeeming 25,000 Drury points. Do you have plans to extend your airline partner list?
Nugent
At the present time we do not plan to extend our airline partner list.
IF
Is there anything more you would like our readers to know about Drury Hotels?
Nugent
Drury Inn & Suites has been recognized by J.D. Power & Associates with the award for “Highest in Guest Satisfaction Among Mid-Scale Hotel Chains with Limited Service” two years in a row, in 2006 and 2007. Drury also earned top honors in the 2006 Market Metrix Hospitality Index with a ranking of #1 Overall Hotel among all brands in customer satisfaction; and it was #1 in its segment for the first half of 2007, among Mid-scale Hotels w/out Food & Beverage. This, along with recognition in a noted consumer publication has made the past couple of years very special for Drury Hotels and our guests.
