Leadership shuffle at WDW resorts

[rteetz]

Disney has changed a few positions at the WDW Deluxe resorts.

Kim Marinaccio is now GM at the Grand Floridian moving from AKL.

Norm Noble is now sole GM of the Polynesian after being the GM of both the GF and Poly.

Kent Mitchell is moving from the GM of Contemporary to the GM of AKL and Kidani Village.

Overseeing all deluxe resorts is VP of deluxe resorts Tracey Powell, this is a new position.

http://www.wdwmagic.com/other/walt-...le-at-the-walt-disney-world-resort-hotels.htm

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) We heard something was coming down the pike.
2) Rather, more like a snow ball rolling downhill.
3) The (alleged) deluxe resorts have been declining in quality for a while, and a change was needed.
4) Plus, the occupancy rates at Deluxe Resorts have been slumping.
5) In addition, the Waldorf and The Four Seasons have better quality/service/food, at about the same price.

 

[rteetz]

1) We heard something was coming down the pike. 2) Rather, more like a snow ball rolling downhill. 3) The (alleged) deluxe resorts have been declining in quality for a while, and a change was needed. 4) Plus, the occupancy rates at Deluxe Resorts have been slumping. 5) In addition, the Waldorf and The Four Seasons have better quality/service/food, at about the same price.

It will be interesting to see if things do in fact change after these changes.

 

[wallrock]

A VP solely focused on the deluxe resorts. So I'll assume that the moderates and values will still have a shared VP to report to.

Sounds like the first step at isolating them completely from the rest of the resorts at the park, and not just to address their obvious decline.

I've often suspected that the long term plan was to make all deluxe resorts into DVC properties. Could be the first step into that direction. Well, perhaps not the first as canibalization is already well underway.

 

[OldsDr]

If it is the same people doing pretty much the same job, just a different hotel, how will that improve anything?

 

[rteetz]

A VP solely focused on the deluxe resorts. So I'll assume that the moderates and values will still have a shared VP to report to. Sounds like the first step at isolating them completely from the rest of the resorts at the park, and not just to address their obvious decline. I've often suspected that the long term plan was to make all deluxe resorts into DVC properties. Could be the first step into that direction. Well, perhaps not the first as canibalization is already well underway.

That's already happening only one deluxe resort doesn't have a DVC now and that's the yacht and that's only because of the large convention business they have.

 

[rteetz]

If it is the same people doing pretty much the same job, just a different hotel, how will that improve anything?

the new VP of deluxe resorts is a brand new position that could change things

 

[wallrock]

That's already happening only one deluxe resort doesn't have a DVC now and that's the yacht and that's only because of the large convention business they have.

If the Yacht Club stays in the deluxe fold and doesn't go the way of the Disney Inn (with perhaps something other than the military) I would count on DVC making its way there.

 

[OldsDr]

the new VP of deluxe resorts is a brand new position that could change things

Okay I missed that that makes more sense now

If the Yacht Club stays in the deluxe fold and doesn't go the way of the Disney Inn (with perhaps something other than the military) I would count on DVC making its way there.

What about complete (or majority) conversion of Beach club to DVC and leaving yacht club for the cash buisness.

 

[wallrock]

What about complete (or majority) conversion of Beach club to DVC and leaving yacht club for the cash buisness.

That's possible, and I think it would be a complete conversion. The big question would be how the cash business Yacht Club is operated. I'm thinking in a vein similar to Swan or Dolphin.

 

[rteetz]

If the Yacht Club stays in the deluxe fold and doesn't go the way of the Disney Inn (with perhaps something other than the military) I would count on DVC making its way there.

The convention business is very important to disney it's been said by many that, that would be the one resort to not get DVC.

 

[rteetz]

Okay I missed that that makes more sense now What about complete (or majority) conversion of Beach club to DVC and leaving yacht club for the cash buisness.

That might work but it's doubtful.

 

[wallrock]

The convention business is very important to disney it's been said by many that, that would be the one resort to not get DVC.

Yet the Contemporary, with almost forty percent more convention space, has already seen a slice of their rooms removed for the benefit of DVC.

If the Yacht Club remains in the Disney fold and money can be made count on DVC showing up there.

 

[hedberg1661]

I hope this will help the Deluxe Resorts make a comeback. Many of them were long overdue for renovations.

I also agree with PP...the convention business is a big deal for Disney. Many conventions choose the S&D over a true Disney resort.

 

[rteetz]

Yet the Contemporary, with almost forty percent more convention space, has already seen a slice of their rooms removed for the benefit of DVC. If the Yacht Club remains in the Disney fold and money can be made count on DVC showing up there.

It's been said by spirit on wdwmagic and Jim Hill both have said the Wilderness Lodge is next when it comes to DVC construction. Yes they already have it but club level rooms are rumored to be converted to DVC. This is then rumored to happen to even more disney deluxe resorts because occupancy rates are not where Disney wants them at deluxe resorts.

 

[Andrew015]

If it is the same people doing pretty much the same job, just a different hotel, how will that improve anything?

Agreed 100%. Shuffling the deck with the same bad cards isn't going to change a thing.

I understand that the VP position is new, but the real question is whether or not Powell will be empowered to make any significant changes to the way things are currently done today. I'm sure she will be challenged with improving occupancy levels throughout the deluxe's, but IMHO, the only way to achieve that (aside from converting existing rooms to DVC) is by 1.) improving the product offering or 2.) lowering prices. Personally, I'd like to see option #2 exercised, but highly doubt she will be given that lever to pull. That only leaves her with option #1. Does anyone really think Disney is going to put a product on the table that is truly worthy of the title "deluxe"? Call me skeptical, but I don't see it happening regardless of the new, fancy position/title...

 

[Reddog1134]

Yet the Contemporary, with almost forty percent more convention space, has already seen a slice of their rooms removed for the benefit of DVC.

If the Yacht Club remains in the Disney fold and money can be made count on DVC showing up there.

A conversion at Yacht Club would be 1 for 1 as far as number of rooms is concerned. What was the ratio when the tore down the CR wing and built BLT?

 

[wallrock]

Agreed 100%. Shuffling the deck with the same bad cards isn't going to change a thing.

I understand that the VP position is new, but the real question is whether or not Powell will be empowered to make any significant changes to the way things are currently done today. I'm sure she will be challenged with improving occupancy levels throughout the deluxe's, but IMHO, the only way to achieve that (aside from converting existing rooms to DVC) is by 1.) improving the product offering or 2.) lowering prices. Personally, I'd like to see option #2 exercised, but highly doubt she will be given that lever to pull. That only leaves her with option #1. Does anyone really think Disney is going to put a product on the table that is truly worthy of the title "deluxe"? Call me skeptical, but I don't see it happening regardless of the new, fancy position/title...

Sadly I don't see them doing either one. With the offsite properties starting to win folks over with service and value the old notion of 'location, location, location' as justification for those insane prices isn't cutting it anymore, especially when some of the so-called perks like the monorail are unavailable with an increasing frequency.

Disney, and ultimately Wall Street, has gotten used to the huge profit margins on those rooms and it's going to be hard to walk away from them. If they raise the service to be something above and beyond the competition the cost increase to maintain the same profit margin will put the price beyond the reach of most of that highly desired family demographic.

 

[wallrock]

A conversion at Yacht Club would be 1 for 1 as far as number of rooms is concerned. What was the ratio when the tore down the CR wing and built BLT?

Granted the ratio with Bay Lake Tower coming in was far beyond 1 for 1, but I used the Contemporary as an example that having conventions at a hotel doesn't shield it from DVC coming in. That said, at the Yacht Club Disney could always do something like taking the wing closest to the Dolphin and double or even triple its height and add a good number of rooms. While it would take away from the symmetry of the site it wouldn't be any worse than contrast between Bay Lake Tower and the Contemporary, at least in my opinion. Heck, the upper floors of that increase would provide a nice viewpoint for Illuminations.

 

[rteetz]

Agreed 100%. Shuffling the deck with the same bad cards isn't going to change a thing.

I understand that the VP position is new, but the real question is whether or not Powell will be empowered to make any significant changes to the way things are currently done today. I'm sure she will be challenged with improving occupancy levels throughout the deluxe's, but IMHO, the only way to achieve that (aside from converting existing rooms to DVC) is by 1.) improving the product offering or 2.) lowering prices. Personally, I'd like to see option #2 exercised, but highly doubt she will be given that lever to pull. That only leaves her with option #1. Does anyone really think Disney is going to put a product on the table that is truly worthy of the title "deluxe"? Call me skeptical, but I don't see it happening regardless of the new, fancy position/title...

I agree that shuffling doesn't necessarily change a lot but Norm Noble headed two resorts now he can only focus on one which is a better move in my opinion even if it's no one new. We will have to wait and see if there are any changes made in the next few months to a year.