Delta Hotels by Marriott: The Brand Explained & Reviewed

In 2015, Marriott International acquired Delta Hotels & Resorts, a Canadian full-service chain of hotels. At the time, Delta Hotels & Resorts operated 38 hotels with 10,000 rooms across Canada.

It is quite obvious why Marriott wanted to acquire such a large Canadian brand (to significantly increase its footprint in Canada). At the time, it was less clear what would come of the Delta Hotels brand. I assumed the 38 Canadian properties would end up being rebranded.

Fast forward to 2024 and the Delta Hotels brand has grown to 125 locations. The brand is not just in North America but has expanded to South America, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East.

Despite Marriott’s investment, the brand’s positioning in the hotel conglomerate’s portfolio remained unclear to me and I assume to many other loyal Bonvoy members.

Up until a week ago, I had only stayed a single night at a Delta Hotels property. As a reference, over the past 5 or so years, I have spent nearly 300 nights in Marriott Hotels. I recently opted to try another Delta Hotels property during a recent visit to the Frankfurt am Main area.

Following this stay at Delta Hotels Offenbach am Main, I can say, my opinion on the Delta Hotels brand has changed for the better. However, its brand positioning remains just as unclear to me. Here’s what Marriott Bonvoy members can expect from the lesser-known brand.

What is the Deal with Delta Hotels by Marriott?

As mentioned, Delta Hotels was acquired by Marriott 9 years ago. It wasn’t until later in the decade that Marriott started a significant development push with the construction of numerous new Delta Hotels properties across the globe.

Prior to the construction of new properties, one common use of the brand seemed to be as a brand for low to mid-tier hotels recently acquired by Marriott that were not yet fully integrated into the Marriott brand portfolio. This no longer seems to be the case for the brand.

Nevertheless, how the Delta Hotels brand was integrated into the Marriott portfolio always made me hesitant to book any Delta Hotels properties. It’s also not all that uncommon, at least in the United States, for Delta Hotels properties to be the lowest-reviewed hotels in a city.

Additionally, I could never get a feel for what Marriott was trying to do with the brand. When Delta Hotels started popping up more and more around the US, it appeared as though they were placed on the same level as the Courtyard by Marriott brand. They seemed to be a generic mid-tier hotel often found in suburbs or near airports.

It turns out, this isn’t the case. Rather, Delta Hotels is positioned in the same category as Sheraton, Le Meridien, and the flagship Marriott Hotels brand. According to Marriott, this puts Delta Hotels in the “classic premium” category.

Despite its placement into the “classic premium” category, its purpose or position within Marriott is still murky. It wasn’t until I took a closer look at some of the branding and marketing that I could get a feel for what Marriott was trying to do with the Delta Hotels brand.

A More Simple, Less Exciting Sheraton or a Courtyard Competitor?

The brand’s slogan is “Simple Made Perfect.” The main header on the brand’s website reads “Focus on What Matters.” So, what does this mean?

Marriott Hotels is the flagship brand and Sheraton is Marriott’s go-to classic premium brand. Delta Hotels aims to offer guests a very simple yet elevated experience with very little flair. So, the brand is, in a way, a more upscale version of Courtyard by Marriott or a slightly less premium Sheraton.

That sounds great on paper, but what does this look like in practice?

Review of Delta Hotels Offenbach am Main

During a recent visit to the Frankfurt area, I decided to book a Delta Hotels property in nearby Offenbach. I decided to book this property over other Marriott properties as the rate was insanely low, the property had great reviews and was close to an S-Bahn station.

I was not expecting much from this stay for a variety of reasons. First, I was still under the assumption that the Delta Hotels brand was a value brand similar to that of Courtyard or even Four Points by Sheraton. Second, Offenbach has a less-than-stellar reputation. But, the rate was cheap and it was convenient enough.

The building itself has obviously been around for quite some time. A dead giveaway for when the building was erected is its circular shape. There was a trend in the 1970s and 1980s of building out hotels with a circular floorplan. One of the best examples of this trend is the Hilton Memphis. Another example is the hulking Westin Bonaventure complex in Downtown Los Angeles.

As a result of the dated design, the hotel, despite having been renovated fairly recently, still feels dated. The lobby was clean and simple featuring a 24/7 grab-and-go pantry. Outside of the actual hotel room, there was nothing too extraordinary. There is a breakfast area on the second floor and a bar on the first floor. There is also a small fitness center with new equipment on the third floor.

Given the basic nature of the lobby, I didn’t expect much from the room. I was actually expecting a dark and dreary room. Thankfully, I was wrong.

Delta Hotels Offenbach Double Room

Over the past few years, I can’t say there have been many occasions in which I have been pleasantly surprised by a hotel room. I typically stay at basic mid-tier hotels that leave little room for excitement or surprise. My double twin room at Delta Hotels Offenbach was certainly an exception.

The room was bright, warm, and overall, comfortable. A large window, part of which could be opened for fresh air, offered a fantastic view of the Main River and part of the Frankfurt skyline.

The room was quite spacious. Aside from the two double beds, there was a full desk (this is increasingly rare), a massive app-compatible TV, a sitting area, and a walk-in closet.

The bathroom was somewhat unconventional. Instead of a separate room, the bathroom area meshed in with the rest of the room. The sink was embedded in a tall room divider while the toilet and showers were separated by a piece of frosted glass. Personally, I didn’t mind this rather unconventional setup. However, I could see this layout being less than ideal for families traveling together.

In addition to a comfortable room, the hotel staff were extremely friendly and professional. Room service was also offered. This is quite rare nowadays with some flagship Marriott properties having yet to re-introduce room service following the pandemic. Overall, the hotel was certainly a full-service property which was somewhat of a surprise to me.

The Bottom Line

Though I stayed at the hotel for just one night, I can say, with certainty, that I would book it again assuming the rate is competitive. Where Delta Hotels falls into the Marriott portfolio, however, is still not all that clear.

With strong brands like Sheraton offering similar experiences to guests, it’s interesting that Marriott is investing as much as it is into this relatively unknown brand. I assume that loyal Bonvoy members will still opt for more established brands like Sheraton or even Courtyard over Delta Hotels.

Unclear brand positioning aside, my stay in Offenbach was phenomenal and will make me seriously consider the brand moving forward.

Have you ever stayed at a Delta Hotels property? What do you make of the brand?

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