Originally Posted by
KENNECTED
Agreed and small brands like Kimpton, Thompson, Gansevort, James & SLS have all stepped up with hotels that compete against the W brand and other Hotel Chains have introduced a "boutique" brand that caters to 30/40 somethings with money and gays, Andaz (Hyatt) and Autograph/Edition (Marriott).
The W is no longer playing in a space by themselves. I personally do not like Marriott, but love the Edition and Autograph properties. I like some JW Marriott's. I love Park Hyatt and Andaz properties, but not the Hyatt or Hyatt place properties enough to make Hyatt my number on go to nor do we have a lot numbers. Starwood has Le Meridien, W & Westin properties which I generally like and are numerous in the cities I travel to.
This is the real problem with the W brand, which is stuck - for most of its properties - in a 90s night club design with poor service, when competition (Andaz, Edition and to some extent Canopy and Kimpton - not a big fan of their corporate design -, and of course numerous boutique hotels) has developped excellent products.