HOTELS

Derek Gale

W Hotels: Who's Next?
August 13, 2008

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, which for the last few years has had a bit of a revolving door with its PR executives, now seems to be experiencing the same thing with its luxury brands executives.

First, Hilton stole away Ross Klein, and now Marriott has nabbed Tina Edmundson.

As Jerry Seinfeld would say, “What’s the deal?”

Granted, both Klein and Edmundson have the opportunity to start something new with lifestyle brands at Hilton and Marriott, but one has to wonder why Starwood CEO Frits van Paasschen, a brand guy himself, can’t seem to hang on to these key brand execs.

And what, or perhaps more aptly, who, is next for Starwood’s W brand? Is there any talent left on the bench?

Because Starwood is going to need it now that its competitors are cooking up their own lifestyle products with Starwood’s former all-star execs.

Posted by Derek Gale on August 13, 2008 | Comments (0)