MikeFromTokyo

I don't think these passengers can be assumed to be living off of `very wealthy` parents- it's just business class and trans-pacific flights are very long, so many people from all kinds of demographics choose to fly in J to increase their comfort on long flights.

Designer handbags or luggage- especially of the variety with conspicuous logos- say very little about wealth in Asia.

Also, I'm curious as to how a passenger on an airplane would appear to 'not have a job'.

BENLEE

I saw this video when I stayed at a RC hotel recently. I thought it's kind of nice though a bit cheeky, and best left treated as purely a commercial. Most guests will not realistically expect the hotel, even a luxury chain such as RC to be able to say.. arrange fireworks outside their room at will.

hannisen

I agree, most people probably understand that. I think it brings up an interesting point tho as luxury hotels wants us to believe that nothing is impossible, but what is really reasonable to expect? I read some pretty outlandish stuff in a thread related to Aman, for example.

FlyerEC

Outlandish for some but not others - just say one's request & see the GM's response / reaction
Aman GM's usually do not bat an eye . The ones that know you better will ask ' when / where ' we prefer if in ' season '.
If you are ' new ' they will likely politely re-phrase what you tell them to make sure they heard correctly - if really ' outlandish '.

Well, the fireworks mentioned for guests celebrations are or perhaps ( were ) quite common in many luxury or other considered ' luxury ' hotels. I have witnessed them & say, in Phuket , can have animals like elephants or peacocks to add even more interest & colour
Anyway, as these fireworks are at really close quarters, please note that the sounds/booms are very loud & gunpowder smell is very strong.
A a few hotels, fireworks have now been banned by management . At one , in Phuket , I believe earlier this year , sparks caused a fire which resulted in at least one hotel restaurant being closed.

Raffles

There is an ad for Syon Park (Waldorf-Astoria Collection) in 'How To Spend It' this weekend. Interestingly, the man in the ad does appear to be around 50, ie the right demographic for a luxury hotel. Unfortunately, the ad shows him with a woman who is at best 35 ....

vuittonsofstyle

I saw this ad somewhere else on my travels. Hotel advertisers are invariably happy to show silver-haired men, but usually chicken out when they show women, who generally all look like models. However, some hotels in this world have guests just like that.....normally places I would prefer not to stay.

Let's not forget that Syon Park is, essentially, a Hilton now....

Shangri-La

Rich men and younger woman. That's rare.

Raffles

I know .... but I've got a couple of Hilton Group free night vouchers to use so I'm going to give it a go anyway before the end of the year! Heck, Hilton Gold even gets us free breakfast and internet on top - how bad can it be?!

Mora

And totally unrealistic

Mora

Unfortunately I don't think that any hotel in the world is spared from these guests.

Shangri-La

Well, they can "pay" for it.

vuittonsofstyle

Well, it will be interesting to see 'how bad it can be'. UK country house hotels tend either to be extremely good or unspeakably awful, with not too much in between. Wishing you luck on this one!!

elitetraveler

It's aspirational both ways: For the man, a sexy companion on his arm; for the woman, a debonair and fit husband who looks like he came out of central casting instead of a snooze on the couch with a warm bottle of beer

To your point, some hotel will be clever and have the sexy mature women escorting in the boy toy for her weekend away.

I think both are fine, but it is a bit more eye-catching and attention-grabbing (the purpose of an ad to begin with, is it needs to get your attention before it can deliver a message) if one sees the female as the lead. YMMV

Shangri-La

FS seems to like the theme:

http://www.fourseasons.com/vail/dini...resort-VAI_070

ppnyc108

due to the nature of my job, I've worked with some very wealthy people(i.e.business moguls to Saudi Royalties and etc). These people have some serious money. Their net worth will be anywhere from 100M to several billion dollars(guessing). Kind of money most of us will never see in our life time.

Based on my own experience and I can only speak for myself, most of these super wealthy people will never stay in hotels(even if the hotel has 10 stars), nor they will fly commercial airline first cabin. They don't even know how the first class cabin looks like on a commercial plane. They only fly their private jets. They usually have their favorite vacation spots around the globe and they will build their private homes(many of them have several homes all over the world). If they don't have the homes in certain destinations, their friends will, so, they will stay in their private villa or castle or whatever.

So, The real money will never stay in this type of hotels, don't you think these hotels are aiming for right target audiences? I do believe most of people staying these types hotels are aspiration clienteles, business travelers and common folks like me. I always consider myself lower middle class and yes I can afford to buy LV, Gucci, Prada( although my personal favorite labels are AF.Vandevost, Ann Demulemeester, or French Couturier like Azzedine Alaia, and Japanese designers such as Undercover and Yohji Yamamoto, lately I am into Raf Simons for Jil Sander and you will see me wearing Martin Margiela all the time) and stay in FC, MO, and etc.

Once again this is my own personal view based on my own experience. You don't have to agree with me but this is my own opinion