In Fashion In First

By Cheryl Rosen / September 05, 1999

In Fashion In First

By Cheryl Rosen

An Office Of Your Own In Downtown Dallas

The Fairmont Hotel At the Arts District in Dallas is refitting part of each of its four parlor suites to include a full office as well as a guest room. By the end of October, each suite will offer a conference table that seats eight, a private bathroom, conference calling for up to six people and high-speed computer access--and a bed--for about $300 a night. "There's a big trend toward renting office space in Dallas, but that's quite expensive--and doesn't offer 24-hour room service or technicians to bring you computer equipment if you need it," noted general manager Cyril Isnard. If the concept proves successful, Isnard said, it will be brought to Fairmonts chainwide.

Four Stars For Under $40 In NYC

The Lespinasse Restaurant at the St. Regis New York--rated four stars by New York Times critic Ruth Reichl--has introduced a $36 prix fixe three-course lunch that can be served to hurried business travelers in under an hour (or savored at a more leisurely pace). Also on the menu here is one of the city's largest half-bottle wine lists, and 20 vintages served by the glass.

W Hotels Find Their Niche

Going with the flow of interest in its upscale and funky W brand, Starwood is straying from the original game plan and letting nature take its course. Where a year ago it envisioned 10 company-owned W properties inhabited by the under-40 crowd, it's finding its audience "skewing to an older business traveler," and now expects to have 20 properties by year-end 2000, including four under management contracts with outsiders. "We wanted to have the first W's all be company-owned to establish the brand, but we're getting a tremendous number of calls from developers," said sales and marketing vice president Brian Windle. Two management contracts, for W hotels in Honolulu and Sydney, Australia, already have been signed.