It’s All About Supply
It has been a year since the first glimmerings of economic problems surfaced to the public at large. Some ignored the issue while others thought any problems would be local and limited to a small section of the housing market.
The international community assumed that this was now a global economy w…
On My Mind
Are yesterday’s luxury brands commonplace today?
A recent book by Mark Penn compellingly argued that there are no longer a couple of mega-forces sweeping us along, instead there are micro trends—small, under-the-radar forces that involve tiny percentages of the population but which are …
What’s Happening Out There?
Like a farmer searching the dusk sky for portents about tomorrow, so are we all scouring the news for snippets, signs and omens to help us understand what’s happening in the economy and how it will affect our businesses.
Is the United States going into a recession? Will the GDP be 1%, 2%, or …
Microtrends = Micro Marketing?
A few years ago author Malcolm Gladwell made the case that there was a “tipping point” at which the tiniest thing could bring about dramatic societal shifts. If anyone thinks he was wrong, just reflect on how many of us ask, or are asked, questions about how sub prime mortgages could hav…
Changing Markets – What’s Going On
Let’s all agree that sub prime is not a below-grade cut of meat. However, let’s also agree that we are not seeing the financial markets or the free world as we know it come to a screeching end. This is blip, a moment in time. That’s about it!
The current wave of finger pointing re…
The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days Of Summer
Gas at a barrel;
airlines overbooked;
private plane travel reaching new highs;
GDP remaining healthy;
Wall Street bankers licking their lips over this year’s anticipated gargantuan bonuses;
transient travel strong;
families loading up the cars for trips;
exotic locations flourishing…
NIMBYISM
You’ll have to read on if you want to find out what the word nimbyism means. Here’s a clue—it isn’t foreign!
However, this issue addressed in this tongue-in-cheek and exaggerated commentary is exactly about being foreign.
Have you ever wondered why, with the dollar so …
The Price Is Right - Or Is It?
The chattering cognoscenti of our industry have been busy again with their “oohs” and “ahs” about the US per share price for Equity Inns. I don’t intend to give you an investment banker’s analysis of the deal, but I want to make a point or two to put the matter…
Marriott and Schrager
The announcement of the new venture between Marriott and Ian Schrager has evoked a mixture of emotions from the self styled cognoscenti of our gossipy industry. From wry smiles to bellows of laughter and the inevitable caustic and sometimes witty jokes, everyone has something to say. The yuk it up e…
NYU and Other Conferences
Is it my imagination or are these mega-conferences of ours becoming almost unmanageable? It seems that gone are the days where we could wander around the pre-function areas or the cocktail parties and know you would casually meet the people you wanted to see.
Now meetings are set well in advance&md…
