The mouse is going to cash in: Talk about ROI on experiential! Stories are surfacing about what Disney is going to charge at its upcoming Star Wars hotel, which is connected to the new Star Wars attraction at Disney World in Orlando, Florida. The fully immersive, two-night, three-day package, complete with fine dining, will reportedly be priced starting at US$3,300 per person. There will be no one-nighters allowed and rooms come in two types: a regular sized cabin and the larger “Captain’s Quarters.” Each floor is set to have 32 regular cabins and two first-class cabins. While an opening date has not yet been set, you know there will be a cue to book.—Jeff Weinstein
Business for the greater good: In a country where capitalism is king and the president is – was – a CEO, a statement signed by nearly 200 U.S. chief operating officers saying that profit isn’t everything is causing a big ripple. (Read Forbes’ story here, and the original statement here.) “It’s a significant sign of our shifting culture that the country’s largest corporations and the organization representing their interests are revising their definition of the purpose of the corporation from profit maximization to leading their companies ‘for the benefit of all stakeholders — customers, employees, suppliers, communities and shareholders,’” according to Fast Company, which expresses some skepticism about intent versus action. But note the order there: Business Roundtable, in its “Statement on the Purpose of a Corporation,” very pointedly puts shareholder value at the end of the list. Will the shift in priority work? Should it work? How would it impact business and competitiveness?—Barbara Bohn
What are you wearing? One of my favorite topics here at HOTELS is sustainability, including talking to hotel folks about the creative and forward-looking ways they are addressing it. Marketing Magazine shows how other industries, namely retail, are addressing this most urgent of issues: The parent company of fast-fashion queen Zara is committing to using only sustainable fabrics – that means organic, recycled or sustainably produced – in its eight retail brands by 2025 (it’s also eliminating single-use plastics and making digital operations more eco-efficient). Hospitality touches every aspect of sustainability, so increasing options for sustainable fabrics is good news for all.—B.B.