Merrillville, Indiana, Sept. 02, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — White Lodging continues to set the standard for guest satisfaction among third-party hotel management companies, earning a No. 4 ranking in J.D. Power’s 2026 North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark.
The recognition extends White Lodging’s consistent track record of guest satisfaction, with the company ranking among the top five third-party hotel management companies in six of the seven years since the benchmark was established in 2020.
“Great guest experiences don’t happen by accident – they’re created by people who care deeply about the experience they’re delivering,” said White Lodging Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Barone. “In an age where more and more of life is automated, the moments guests carry with them are still profoundly human. Our Hospitalitarians bring that to life every day, and this recognition from J.D. Power is a meaningful reflection of their work.
For White Lodging, guest satisfaction is more than a measure of performance – it is a reflection of the company’s experiential approach to hospitality. From genuine, anticipatory service to distinctive food and beverage experiences and thoughtfully designed spaces, White Lodging focuses on creating environments that bring people together and leave a lasting impression.
The 2026 findings point to a broader improvement in guest satisfaction across the third-party hotel management industry, with overall satisfaction increasing 14 points year over year to 696 on a 1,000-point scale. J.D. Power also found that satisfaction with hotel staff service among first-time guests increased 26 points, underscoring the continued importance of the human element in the guest experience.
The North America Third-Party Hotel Management Guest Satisfaction Benchmark measures service quality and guest satisfaction specifically attributable to third-party hotel operators, separate from the impact of individual hotel brands. The 2026 benchmark evaluates guest experiences across seven factors, in order of importance: guest room; hotel staff service; value for prices paid; check-in/check-out; hotel facility; food and beverage; and hotel connectivity. The benchmark includes third-party hotel operators with 14,000 or more branded hotel rooms under management. The 2026 benchmark is based on 5,642 survey responses for past 30-day branded hotel stays from May 2025 through May 2026.
Across its portfolio, White Lodging continues to focus on creating hotels and experiences that give guests more reasons to connect – with the destination, with each other and with the people who make each stay possible. It is a conviction the company believes only grows more valuable as artificial intelligence reshapes how travel is planned, booked and personalized: technology can smooth a stay, but inspiring human connection remains the work of Hospitalitarians.
The company continues to grow through intentional development, acquisitions and renovations, with a focus on creating distinctive hotels and experiences in highly desirable markets. White Lodging’s portfolio spans many highly desirable travel markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, Louisville, Raleigh and San Antonio.
Discover more about White Lodging’s portfolio
ABOUT WHITE LODGING
White Lodging, established in 1985 by the late Bruce White, has evolved into one of the country’s largest privately held hospitality companies focused exclusively on highly curated urban and lifestyle properties. The company develops, owns, and operates a portfolio of hotels and restaurants in destination-driven markets, including Austin, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Indianapolis, and Louisville. White Lodging’s portfolio consists of approximately 60 premium hotels; a private collection of world-renowned luxury ranches; 50 independently branded, award-winning restaurants; and 10 market-leading rooftop bars. White Lodging is a multi-year Gallup Exceptional Workplace Award winner, named to Newsweek’s America’s Greatest Workplaces, and is consistently ranked in the top 10 of J.D. Power’s Guest Satisfaction Benchmark listing of hotel management companies.
For more information about White Lodging, visit www.whitelodging.com or follow the company on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. A biography and documentary film about White Lodging and its founder can be accessed at https://www.whitelodging.com/about/our-founder.
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Mike Banas White Lodging 219-472-2861 mike.banas@whitelodging.com
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