Listen, there’s luxury, and there’s economy, and then there’s outright outrageous—and this weekend’s New York Times has a round-up of that sector, along with some thoughts about what happened to the middle.
The article features luxury suites, which are proliferating in hotels around the world because, simply, the rich have, as the saying goes, gotten richer, and are willing to spend the money because…because they can. Right up to the $75,000-a-night suite shown above, at Manhattan’s Mark Hotel.
We’re talking penthouse, here, of course. Five bedrooms, 5.5 baths, living room, dining room, foyer, eat-in kitchen, a terrace that runs around 3 sides of the building, “furnishings of ebony, sycamore and nickel, fine Italian linens and bedding by Quagliotti”—all for only 1-1/2 times the U.S. median annual household income for each night.
Of course that’s extreme even for some of the uber-rich, so the Times also lists a number of super-luxury suites around the world for prices from $20,000 up and even a few for much less. There’s one for only $2000 a night in Paris, with a terrace view of Les Invalides and the Eiffel Tower.
Industry experts interviewed by the Times pointed out that luxury and economy are the two thriving segments of the hotel industry; in the words of one hotel industry analyst: “Our political and economical evolution are literally tied to the hotel industry.” When the middle class was rising, so were middle-tier hotels. “Now as we hollow out in the middle,” he said, “you effectively have lodging doing very well at the high end or bottom.”
For more gorgeous (and distressing) pictures and details from the Times, click HERE
Photo above: Mark Hotel website
Let them eat cake!
$75G is enough to pay for the vacations many people take in an entire lifetime — not just one night.
When I saw this, I coudn’t help but think of think of a teen who used to post on Frommers about luxury travel. I’ll bet he’d love to stay at one of these rooms. I’m wondering also if some in the middle class aren’t choosing to stay at lower end places and save their travel budget?
I have to say that although I could afford to go up a bit, I always look first at the low-end because while the rooms tend to be small, they have the needed facilities, and are more likely to have the wifi and breakfast free. Why pay more; it looks the same in the dark. Different for a resort, I guess…
Never been unhappy with an Ibis in Europe, or the Motel 6/Super 8/Comfort Inn type here. I’d rather spend the difference on good food…