Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 - (Page 4)

4| Editor’s Letter I heard a rumor wo winters ago in New York City, I noticed The Plaza’s muchhyped renovation was under way. The billboard advertising the property’s new residences was a particularly good marketing campaign, I thought. It featured Eloise, the hotel’s most famous fictional resident, and her most famous line. “I am a city child,” the sign said. “I live at The Plaza.” Now two years later, The Plaza’s reopening has been a sore spot among luxury hotel watchers, and the gossip surrounding rumors about chefs, opening dates and the residences is almost Vanity Fair-worthy. In fact, VF editor Graydon Carter and his business partners Jeff Klein and Jeremy King passed up management of the Oak Room in December. Online hotel gossip sites (and print ones too, such as the New York Post) chattered about the opening delay, and the quest to find a chef and restaurant management group. Today, the hotel is in the midst of its soft opening and is taking reservations starting in April. I’m not surprised that the original opening date of December 2007 was pushed forward, especially since the renovation was a $400-million, lobby-toroof endeavor, but I do like to note how rumors and buzz keep the story alive. It goes to show how integrated luxury properties are now. Consumers might know your brand name, but they want to know the chef’s bio and all about the designer’s portfolio. At LUXURY HOTELIER, we keep an eye on openings, particularly ones that involve residences (and don’t most of them these days?) and other mixed uses. Here in the States alone, the statistics on condo-hotel T sales in luxury properties still are a mixed bag. The Plaza is just one example, of course. We’re going to keep an eye on mixed-use luxury development around the world for future issues as some notable openings occur. Speaking of development, the topic that inevitably surfaces when hoteliers talk about new builds and renovations is sustainability. In this issue, The RitzCarlton’s Simon Cooper discusses the brand’s green philosophy, and writer Jennifer Merritt takes us through the fine points of sustainability at Scotland’s Gleneagles Hotel. Why is there still so much confusion surrounding this topic, especially from North American hoteliers? Our editors have several trips planned in 2008 to events that will further define what it means for a hotel to be sustainable and eco-conscious in matters of architecture, design, construction, food and beverage and operations. It’s up to you to make green pay off at your property; let us give you some examples. Finally, I’d like to point out a new feature that debuts in LUXURY HOTELIER this month. We received many requests from readers about where to find certain products shown and mentioned in our first two issues. With this issue we launch our Source List on page 54. We give you names and contact information for the suppliers featured in many of our layouts. Thank you for your interest in LUXURY HOTELIER, and we look forward to 2008. PHOTO BY STEPHANIE RICCA In Kay Thompson’s charming children’s book “Eloise,” the precocious title character delights in her madcap life at The Plaza. STEPHANIE RICCA Managing Editor Luxury Hotelier | February 2008 | www.LuxuryHotelier.com http://www.LuxuryHotelier.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Luxury Hotelier - February 2008

Luxury Hotelier - February 2008 Editor's Letter Publisher's Letter Inform Network Forever Young Evolution for Jumeirah Insight Diamond in the Rough Amenities Televisions Art in Residence Yield Management Development Wine Lists Marketing to Locals Update Advertisers Index Editorial Index Source Listing Dossier

Luxury Hotelier - February 2008

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