Mark Rucker, 49, is vice president of lodging for Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, overseeing projects such as Aulani, a stand-alone resort on Hawaii, and Disney's Art of Animation Resort, a family-suites hotel in Orlando. He spoke with Sentinel staff writer Jason Garcia.
CFB: I understand you just returned from Aulani. Is it ready to go?
It's going well and it's on schedule. It's actually looking fabulous. We were over there and had planned to go over for some pre-opening work. And that's working on arrival processes and front-desk check-in and sense of arrival and how the guests are going to be welcomed, housekeeping and all the recreation preparation. All the senior leaders are now on board, and most of the leaders are now on board over at Aulani, and it's really transitioning many years of work over to the leadership team that's going to be there on the ground, yet still continuing to be here to support them with the test phase and opening. I think you're aware opening is on August 29.
CFB: How do you make a Disney hotel stand out without a theme park?
Disney's very much about storytelling and service excellence, and what the WDI group has done here at Aulani will tell stories. I mean, everywhere you look in the aspects of this product — the artwork and murals and paintings to the general design to the architecture and even the cultural components of the experiences and the entertainment — everywhere the guests look, everywhere they turn, whether it's the lobby or the Waikolohe Valley, they are going to have stories told to them. And it's really cool because the stories are a lot about Hawaii. We did a lot of work with the people of Hawaii to make sure that the "destination reason" for going there was about sharing the history of Hawaii and the authenticity of Hawaii. Yet, still, there's going to be this Disney magic or Disney overlay to complement the authenticity of Hawaii when they visit. And that really is going to be distinctively different.
CFB: What will Art of Animation add to Disney World's hotel lineup?
We've talked a number of times in the past about our focus on specialty rooms. And Art of Animation, when you look at that, it's a couple of power alleys for us. Power-alley one is that Art of Animation is getting to the point where we're leveraging stories and the equity of our products. The second is this whole family-suite issue; the world has changed around us, and we're seeing a lot more multigenerational families traveling and celebrating together, whether it's reunions or special events or what have you. And we're seeing the fact that they're wanting to play together at Disney and but also stay together in our hotels. This family suites product creates, a little bit more, an intimate setting where they can stay together.
CFB: What else do specialty rooms encompass?
There is this whole themed and storybook room, which we're working on not just domestically but internationally. You asked about Art of Animation, and aspects of room configurations — family suites — fits into that. Family suites is a strategy of specialty rooms. In that specialty-room category, we're looking at bedding configuration, too, of preexisting rooms. And we've got a really neat bedding strategy that's going to be coming out with the release of upgrades for our moderate product, which is really going to drive some interest, we know, to those moderate rooms. And we've a talked a little bit about — not just the 14th floor [of Disney's Contemporary] and the health-and-wellness suites test and pilot that we've got coming up here this coming fall — but just other categories like that, where there's emerging trends or big trends in the industry.
2011年4月28日 星期四
Bedding producers offer many new lines
Bedding producers are offering a loaded lineup of new mattress models at the High Point Market in one of the broadest showings of flagship lines in years.
Each of bedding's Big Three - Sealy, Serta and Simmons - is rolling out a new flagship line.
This marks the High Point debut of the new Sealy Posturepedic line, the flagship line that company officials are expecting to generate strong sales and to make market share gains.
The new line offers several key new features: A CoreSupport center that is reinforced with memory foam and is designed to enhance support and resist body impressions; LiftRight fabric handles that surround the mattress, making it easy for consumers to move and adjust; and a Stay-Tight rubberized gripper fabric on the foundation designed to keep the mattress in place.
Three new springs, one an encased coil model, were developed for the line, offering new levels of support, according to Sealy officials.
The line is backed by a comprehensive marketing program that includes new television commercials and a broad digital media package.
Serta is showing two new lines. Its flagship Perfect Sleeper line was designed with input from the National Sleep Foundation and aims to solve common sleep problems, while the new iComfort line features gel memory foam, a combination of gel and memory foam that Serta officials say offers superior comfort and support.
The iComfort line, backed with new retail display elements, represents a major effort by Serta to gain ground in the specialty sleep arena. Retails are more modest than for other memory foam lines, according to Serta.
And Simmons brings a new Pocketed Coil spring to market, the Smart Response Pocketed Coil, which offers "superior performance," said Gary Fazio, CEO of Simmons. He said it represents an evolution of the Pocketed Coil that has always been a hallmark of the company's signature Beautyrest line.
The Smart Response Pocketed Coil is offered in two Beautyrest lines here: the NxG line, which combines springs and NxG memory foam, and the Elite, which replaces the Beautyrest Anniversary Collection introduced last year.
Also new from Simmons is a Beautyrest Classic line with new styling and a BeautySleep line targeting promotional price points.
Other Top 15 producers also have new products on tap for High Point.
A new High Point exhibitor is Comfort Solutions, which is introducing a new "no sag" warranty on its Extended Life line, intended for all sleepers, especially those with larger body types. The warranty covers a half-inch or less of normal wear. Retails will range from $1,099 to $2,999.
Comfort Solutions has re-branded and re-engineered its Laura Ashley line to intensify its "all about her" focus. And the company also is unveiling a new two-sided bed line called "Advantage by Comfort Solutions" to address consumers who still want two-sided beds.
International Bedding has a new Airsprung line that represents a partnership with Airsprung of the United Kingdom. It features three different foam-encased spring units, all available on European-design platform bases. The producer also is showing new American-Pedic and Classic lines.
Therapedic has a broad offering of new lines: BackSense, featuring the company's proprietary HourGlass support grid, retailing from $399 to $999; additions to the Kathy Ireland Home by Therapedic Essentials line, retailing from $599 to $1,999; and new PureTouch latex beds retailing from $1,199 to $2,999.
Gerry Borreggine, president of Therapedic, said latex remains an "underdeveloped category." On one hand, he said, bedding veterans praise the responsiveness and support offered by latex, but that message hasn't taken hold with consumers. "It remains a mystery to me why that story hasn't resonated with consumers," he said.
Restonic is showing a new HealthRest line, featuring memory foam and latex models and retailing from $999 to $2,499, and a new encased coil line called ComfortCare Select, retailing from $799 to $1,999.
Symbol is showcasing its Symbol 50th Anniversary beds and the Symbol Response Collection, both of which have been strong performers for the company, said Mike McQuiston, vice president.
"We are also excited about expanding our Comfortec line and launching our new Discovery PLUS Series, combining fresh looks and comforts at velocity price points," he added.
Each of bedding's Big Three - Sealy, Serta and Simmons - is rolling out a new flagship line.
This marks the High Point debut of the new Sealy Posturepedic line, the flagship line that company officials are expecting to generate strong sales and to make market share gains.
The new line offers several key new features: A CoreSupport center that is reinforced with memory foam and is designed to enhance support and resist body impressions; LiftRight fabric handles that surround the mattress, making it easy for consumers to move and adjust; and a Stay-Tight rubberized gripper fabric on the foundation designed to keep the mattress in place.
Three new springs, one an encased coil model, were developed for the line, offering new levels of support, according to Sealy officials.
The line is backed by a comprehensive marketing program that includes new television commercials and a broad digital media package.
Serta is showing two new lines. Its flagship Perfect Sleeper line was designed with input from the National Sleep Foundation and aims to solve common sleep problems, while the new iComfort line features gel memory foam, a combination of gel and memory foam that Serta officials say offers superior comfort and support.
The iComfort line, backed with new retail display elements, represents a major effort by Serta to gain ground in the specialty sleep arena. Retails are more modest than for other memory foam lines, according to Serta.
And Simmons brings a new Pocketed Coil spring to market, the Smart Response Pocketed Coil, which offers "superior performance," said Gary Fazio, CEO of Simmons. He said it represents an evolution of the Pocketed Coil that has always been a hallmark of the company's signature Beautyrest line.
The Smart Response Pocketed Coil is offered in two Beautyrest lines here: the NxG line, which combines springs and NxG memory foam, and the Elite, which replaces the Beautyrest Anniversary Collection introduced last year.
Also new from Simmons is a Beautyrest Classic line with new styling and a BeautySleep line targeting promotional price points.
Other Top 15 producers also have new products on tap for High Point.
A new High Point exhibitor is Comfort Solutions, which is introducing a new "no sag" warranty on its Extended Life line, intended for all sleepers, especially those with larger body types. The warranty covers a half-inch or less of normal wear. Retails will range from $1,099 to $2,999.
Comfort Solutions has re-branded and re-engineered its Laura Ashley line to intensify its "all about her" focus. And the company also is unveiling a new two-sided bed line called "Advantage by Comfort Solutions" to address consumers who still want two-sided beds.
International Bedding has a new Airsprung line that represents a partnership with Airsprung of the United Kingdom. It features three different foam-encased spring units, all available on European-design platform bases. The producer also is showing new American-Pedic and Classic lines.
Therapedic has a broad offering of new lines: BackSense, featuring the company's proprietary HourGlass support grid, retailing from $399 to $999; additions to the Kathy Ireland Home by Therapedic Essentials line, retailing from $599 to $1,999; and new PureTouch latex beds retailing from $1,199 to $2,999.
Gerry Borreggine, president of Therapedic, said latex remains an "underdeveloped category." On one hand, he said, bedding veterans praise the responsiveness and support offered by latex, but that message hasn't taken hold with consumers. "It remains a mystery to me why that story hasn't resonated with consumers," he said.
Restonic is showing a new HealthRest line, featuring memory foam and latex models and retailing from $999 to $2,499, and a new encased coil line called ComfortCare Select, retailing from $799 to $1,999.
Symbol is showcasing its Symbol 50th Anniversary beds and the Symbol Response Collection, both of which have been strong performers for the company, said Mike McQuiston, vice president.
"We are also excited about expanding our Comfortec line and launching our new Discovery PLUS Series, combining fresh looks and comforts at velocity price points," he added.
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