A "5-Star" Aloft Hotel With A Club Lounge?!?

Per the terms of Bonvoy, lounge access for platinums or higher is not a benefit at Aloft. Aloft is expressly exempt. See section 4.3.c.iv.

On the other hand, platinums and higher are entitled to the elite welcome gift choice of a restaurant breakfast, 500 points or an amenity under section 4.3.c.iii.

Perhaps the hotel is offering the club lounge as the restaurant breakfast benefit.

Regardless, this is the unintended (or perhaps intended) consequence of a hotel chain that no longer cares about consistency. Looking at the photos of the hotel in question and the rooms don't even look like an Aloft. They even have huge meeting and event space. It seems like the hotel should have been branded as a Four Points, Delta, or maybe even a Marriott.

Internationally, Fairfield has properties with full-service restaurants and no complimentary breakfast for elites or, for that matter, all hotel guests. For the life of me, I don't understand why Marriott branded these properties as Fairfield. Same for some of the Courtyards in Asia. It makes no sense. Why would you operate an Aloft as a 5-star hotel? There are so many other Marriott brands you could have chosen.

I stay there on a regular basis. The lounge is pretty much a better than standard Bonvoy lounge with breakfast option, tea/coffee and soft drinks throughout the day and a happy hour with drinks and pretty decent food options (hot and cold buffet spread) in the evening. Bonvoy members from platinum upward get access.

Not only that, the Aloft has just been updated/renovated last year and delivers the best value for money in Kathmandu in my opinion.

It's not that uncommon abroad for brands to have a much higher star rating/quality/facilities. I've stayed at four star HIXs (with very good breakfast buffets) and proper five star Holiday Inns outside the US. Haven't stayed there yet but we have a stay coming up in Guiyang China at a Four Points with a Club Lounge.

Brand standards are great but when the standards are low I'd rather have them exceeded. As to why any hotel would choose to do this, I'm sure it has to do with franchising fees, revenue and/or brand restrictions.

I'm not familiar with aloft, but I don't find this at all surprising. Things like these vary between markets. The airport Courtyard at PRG is a 4* and I am certain I have stayed in a 5* Novotel somewhere in Asia (can't remember where though), whereas even the name 'Grand Mercure' might seem like a bit of a joke to anyone who has stayed at some 'interesting' Mercures in Northern England, Italy etc.

One of a Courtyard owners explained to me that the reason that he chose the Courtyard brand even though his property qualified for a Westin was to get government business as the local government only allows 4 Star accommodation. So there are other factors in play than simple branding.

Similarly there's more than a hundred of five star holiday inns in China alone, some of which still have a functioning club lounge, that's closer to American Kimptons then CP or Indigo. Alongside with courtyards that miles better than typical American Marriott/Sheraton/Westin.

Go for the holiday inn Guiyang instead, the suites are in mint condition with a breakfast spread that's ahead of most american intercontinentals.

Cheaper fees from what I heard, that's why some shaddy marriott would label themselves as conference centers as oppose to resorts as well.

Almost all of the branded chain hotels are nicer in Asia and other markets with low labor costs. Not only can owners or operators afford to properly staff a hotel, but the culture (particularly in Asia) is so service-driven that a hotel can't get away with the relatively low standards of the USA. Moreover, if you're working in a guest-facing job at an international chain hotel in a non-English-speaking country you're probably reasonably well-educated, speak at least two or three languages, and likely going into hotels and hospitality as a career.

Still, I would be mad if I was the owner of a brand-leading Courtyard, Aloft, Fairfield, etc. in Asia or somewhere else since corporate allows owners in other markets to ruin the brand. Look at Ramada. It's amazing that there are still some Ramadas internationally that are respectable hotels. Ramada in the USA has been a bottom-feeder brand for at least 30 years.

I've never heard of that before. Is this China? In France, hotels are taxed based on the star rating imposed by the government. The French government has very strict regulations and audits hotels every year. So, a five-star hotel or a palace-designated hotel has a higher nightly tax than a four-star hotel. In the USA and Canada, cities/states that levy nightly hotel occupancy taxes levy a fixed amount.

I'm not sure about that. The Aloft in question is operated under a franchise whereas the Marriott in Nepal is managed by Marriott, according to a quick Google search. Maybe Marriott Aloft is the only brand Marriott is willing to license or franchise in Nepal. While 70% of Marriott hotels across all brands are licensed or franchised, Marriott still makes a significant amount of money from managing hotels, particularly the most upscale brands. Most of the managed hotels are outside North America.

I've stayed at various Lofts and while a nice hotel five star my a$s. At best a jazzed up version of a Radisson. Another business trying to look "cool."

There's a Hyatt Regency, Hyatt Centric, and Marriott in the same market. So that probably explains why this franchised Aloft is so much nicer than your typical Aloft.

Interestingly, Marriott, legacy Starwood and the owner/franchisee of this Aloft have been accused of wrongdoing in the way the land was allegedly acquired:
https://www.colorado.edu/program/fpw/sites/default/files/attached-files/marriott_international_investor_brief_1.pdf

https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/latest-news/nepal-complaint-against-marriott-intl-alledges-failure-to-conduct-hr-due-diligence-for-involvement-with-chhaya-center/

Yes there is a club lounge. I stayed there this past April and was given access as a Titanium (presume Platinum would as well). Space is on top floor (where pool and spa are located), good views and service, a variety of food options, and quet. Also used spa (very small, very reasonably priced). Well rounded property, clean, stylish and well located. Would definitely stay there again when in Kathmandu.

And, per the terms of Bonvoy, lounge access for Platinums or higher is not a benefit at any of Marriott's luxury brands (save one). Why not end the charade and simply eliminate the benefit?

I stayed at Aloft Abu Dhabi last year and they had a happy hour in the lobby bar for their marriott elites with food and drinks. It was a nice touch as I wasn't expecting that when I checked in. I assume it was for Platinum and above as there were only a few people there during Ramadan.

I wonder if commission rates vary between hotel owners and brands based on the quality of the brand?

I'm not surpirsed but still not sure why hotels in Kathmandu are better then avg, I was delighted at just how good the MArriott Kathmandu was, facilities usually reserved for JW's and Four Seasons. Even the lounge on the top floor was a pleasant surprise.

Thanks Glen, interesting insight. Kinda like how it wasn't uncommon to see AA's transcon First class selling for less than Business class because business travelers can only buy Business. Presumably also a big reason why we're seeing Business Plus seats at the front of the cabin replace a separate First class.

That has to be the best opening of an article you've ever written. I actually lol'ed at the bit about "For reasons I'm not quite sure of..."

In that part of the world almost everything branded from a western country is tagged as "5 star", such as all the Fairfield inns in india

For whatever it's worth, the Marriott in Kathmandu is managed by Marriott, not a franchisee or licensee.

Gosh, this hotel looks fantastic. But again, the idiots at Marriott don't understand branding, experience, minimum standards for each tier of hotel and MOST IMPORTANTLY a consistent customer experience whether propert is franchise or corporate owned.
Take a look at Sheraton Brooklyn marketed as a 4 star, 40,000/nt for redemption (but as low as $125/nt paid rate). They advertised Club Lounge. The rooms were shabby and so small they don't even offer King bed. The "Club Lounge" was a closet and only a couple of beverages, unattended and no food whatsoever.
This Aloft is 6 star luxury compared to that dump in Brooklyn.

$125 is not even one days salary for the average New Yorker.
$100 is several weeks salary in Nepal... Of course it is going to be more luxurious when things just cost less locally. Aside from certain fixed expenditures of course.

Hmm, do you mean the Novotel "Max" Yangon?? Awesome five star property, one of my favorite breakfast buffets with all kinds of special Burmese dishes and ice cream, an important part of every breakfast. I was skeptical too about the Novotel brand but that one is special. Brands don't mean much, especially in Asia

I will say this: you shouldn't really expect "brand consistency" between wildly different markets. Case in point: have you seen McDonald's and KFC in Asia? This is particularly true for "cheaper" brands, since it takes certain amount of profit to expand to a new market, and upscale generally has higher profit margin (so easier to earn a profit)

Around 2013 or so, I stayed at the Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral, I remember it being very nice and having a nice restaurant. I wouldn't be surprised if it had a club lounge too. A real departure from Aloft hotels in North America (but to be fair hotels in Asia have much higher standards).

I stayed in Aloft KL Sentral in May 2022. Nice breakfast and room but no club lounge there.