Davis ThinkingDisney is getting into the luxury residential business. Billed as "a world of access and privilege," its planned Golden Oak resort development at Disney World in Orlando has started selling lots designed to serve as family getaway homes, priced between $1.5 million and $8 million. The reason, in a still-soft economy? "The affluent market is an area where we haven't offered a lot of product," says Matt Kelly, VP of Disney resort real-estate development, to the Wall Street Journal.
Many Four Seasons hotels have stopped displaying huge vases of fresh flowers. Others are closing their high-end restaurants on slow days. And some have begun outsourcing laundry. The moves may seem small—and many guests won't even notice them—but they are seismic for a brand like Four Seasons, which built its reputation on impeccable service and pioneered labor-intensive perquisites like in-hotel spas and free shoe shines.
Hospitality giant Marriott International is launching a new brand called the Autograph Collection, aimed at tapping customers who prefer independent, high-end hotels over brands such as Marriott, Hilton and Four Seasons. The Autograph Collection will allow independent hotels, many of whom have lost business in the recession, to maintain their character while using Marriott's massive reach to bring in more customers and save on costs.
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