From the Orlando Sentinel
Mar. 10--SWAN, DOLPHIN GET NEW LOOK: The Swan and Dolphin hotels at Walt Disney World have begun redecorating all 2,300 of their rooms in an effort to make them more luxurious.
The properties, owned by Tishman Hotel Corp. and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, are aimed largely at business travelers. They cater to corporate meetings, industry conventions and trade shows.
The room overhaul is being directed by Michael Graves. The 13-year-old hotels' original architect, Graves designed the hotels' exterior landmarks -- several 55-foot dolphins and 47-foot swans.
"The reason we're doing it is that travelers are demanding more sophistication," said Treva Marshall, a spokesman for Tishman.
Included in the new room design are all-white bed sets. Gone are the more theme-parkish brightly colored sets.
The new bed design, which originated with the Starwood's Westin hotel chain, has a custom-designed Simmons mattress, three sheets and down bed covers and pillows. "For people who are allergic to feathers, we will substitute other materials," Marshall said.
STARWOOD EXECUTIVE RETIRES: One of Central Florida's time-share pioneers is retiring. Jeff Adler, president and co-chief executive officer at Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc., will step down at the end of 2003.
Adler, 49, will limit his role to vice chairman and a member of Starwood Vacation's board of directors.
"This is both one of the easiest and most difficult decisions I've ever made," Adler said. His new job will involve him less in day-to-day operations and focus on planning.
Raymond "Rip" Gellein, 55, will continue as the Orlando-based company's chairman and chief executive officer.
The two men engineered growth of Vistana Inc., as Starwood Vacation was formerly known, starting in the early 1980s, when the company's only property was a 98-unit condominium near Disney. The company has since grown to more than $600 million in sales.
Starwood is a unit of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., in New York. The company bought Vistana in 1999 and renamed it.
Mar. 10--SWAN, DOLPHIN GET NEW LOOK: The Swan and Dolphin hotels at Walt Disney World have begun redecorating all 2,300 of their rooms in an effort to make them more luxurious.
The properties, owned by Tishman Hotel Corp. and managed by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, are aimed largely at business travelers. They cater to corporate meetings, industry conventions and trade shows.
The room overhaul is being directed by Michael Graves. The 13-year-old hotels' original architect, Graves designed the hotels' exterior landmarks -- several 55-foot dolphins and 47-foot swans.
"The reason we're doing it is that travelers are demanding more sophistication," said Treva Marshall, a spokesman for Tishman.
Included in the new room design are all-white bed sets. Gone are the more theme-parkish brightly colored sets.
The new bed design, which originated with the Starwood's Westin hotel chain, has a custom-designed Simmons mattress, three sheets and down bed covers and pillows. "For people who are allergic to feathers, we will substitute other materials," Marshall said.
STARWOOD EXECUTIVE RETIRES: One of Central Florida's time-share pioneers is retiring. Jeff Adler, president and co-chief executive officer at Starwood Vacation Ownership Inc., will step down at the end of 2003.
Adler, 49, will limit his role to vice chairman and a member of Starwood Vacation's board of directors.
"This is both one of the easiest and most difficult decisions I've ever made," Adler said. His new job will involve him less in day-to-day operations and focus on planning.
Raymond "Rip" Gellein, 55, will continue as the Orlando-based company's chairman and chief executive officer.
The two men engineered growth of Vistana Inc., as Starwood Vacation was formerly known, starting in the early 1980s, when the company's only property was a 98-unit condominium near Disney. The company has since grown to more than $600 million in sales.
Starwood is a unit of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., in New York. The company bought Vistana in 1999 and renamed it.
