Originally Posted by
Land-of-Miles
AC came some time after LC as I understand it so I consider LC as the template everyone else is knocking off. Harder to claim this as a breach of IP too as it is just a basic idea.
Absolutely. Though while there are some dumpy properties in Luxury Collection, I've always considered Autograph Collection to be more downmarket... most of the properties I would consider upper upscale, with very few luxury properties... and the absolute growth of the Autograph Collection portfolio in just a few years has shown that this approach seems to be working for Marriott... and I suspect this is the segment that Hilton is targeting as well.