Guest satisfaction among hotels improved slightly in the first quarter of 2010, but satisfaction with airlines declined by 3 points, representing the steepest fall since 9/11. Drury Hotels, Jet Blue and Enterprise Rent–A–Car ranked No. 1 in hotel, airline and rental car satisfaction, respectively.

Elite-status road warriors don't hold back when it comes to sharing what they expect from a hotel loyalty program.

For hoteliers who want to reward loyal guests but don't want to align themselves with a brand such as Marriott's Autograph Collection or Choice's Ascend Collection, there are a few options.

Brand loyalty programs drive a wide range of business to individual hotels; franchisees can count on a loyalty program for as little as 2 percent of booking business to as much as 65 percent, depending on the market. But any business is better than no business, and hotel owners and operators report being overwhelmingly satisfied with the programs they are a part of.

In today's marketplace, brand loyalty is fickle. The antidote the industry has turned to is the loyalty program, and at the heart of a loyalty program rests the simple goal: incentivize customers to stay with a brand.

Loyalty programs have spread to most industries fighting for today's customer: grocery stores, gas stations, retail chains, restaurants and, of course, hotels. But as the old adage goes, nothing in this world is free. Check out H&MM's special report on hotel loyalty programs and what they mean for brands, owners and guests.

Each of the six hotel segments has improved in satisfaction scores this year compared to 2009, with extended-stay properties and midscale, full-service hotels demonstrating the greatest gains. Across all segments, satisfaction with costs and fees, reservations and guestroom measures were most improved.

Although providing excellent guest service always has been important for future word-of-mouth advertising, the numbers today are exponentially that much greater. It is vital to communicate just how important frontline team members are to the hotel's brand-management efforts.

An air purification system is installed, creating air quality that is cleaner than the threshold necessary for asthma patients. Micro-fiber, hypo-allergenic pillowcases and mattress covers are used in 25 rooms to reduce allergies triggered by dust mites.

At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin resort, guests custom-order snack and drink items for their in-room mini-fridge. The items are then delivered and stocked with no delivery or service charge.