http://www.elliott.org/blog/the-best-hotel-chains-and-the-mystery-of-the-power-circle-ratings/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 http://www.elliott.org/blog/the-best-hotel-chains-and-the-mystery-of-the-power-circle-ratings/comment-page-1/#comment-2409 Terry Tue, 31 Jul 2007 15:56:37 +0000 http://beta.elliott.org/photos/the-best-hotel-chains-and-the-mystery-of-the-power-circle-ratings/#comment-2409 I use to work at an international market research firm and we did industry awards. This part of the firm was patterned after JD Powers. We researched industries and companies and categories that we think we can SELL the award promotion to. Once you win the award you can not promote it in any way - on your Web site or in print or TV ads unless you PAY for the right. We, like JD Power, offered different packages that allowed you to promote that you received the award (at different levels). We did not necessarily award to the best candidate but to the best candidate with the money (and willingness)to pay for the award promotion. You can find any marker or level at any company that can be "Best in Class" against another company and allow the paying company to "win" the award. The big guys in the research and award division were ex-JD Power guys. So, your concerns are correct. A JD Power award is not a true measure of industry excellence. I use to work at an international market research firm and we did industry awards. This part of the firm was patterned after JD Powers. We researched industries and companies and categories that we think we can SELL the award promotion to. Once you win the award you can not promote it in any way – on your Web site or in print or TV ads unless you PAY for the right. We, like JD Power, offered different packages that allowed you to promote that you received the award (at different levels). We did not necessarily award to the best candidate but to the best candidate with the money (and willingness)to pay for the award promotion. You can find any marker or level at any company that can be “Best in Class” against another company and allow the paying company to “win” the award. The big guys in the research and award division were ex-JD Power guys. So, your concerns are correct. A JD Power award is not a true measure of industry excellence.

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