DiLeonardo said the concept of boutique hotels had changed dramatically since Ian Schrager opened his first hotel - Morgans in New York in 1984.He said Schrager had taken the comfort element that the boutique sector was known for out of hotels and had replaced it with fashion and design, which was now flooding the market.
'Boutique is all over the place right now', he said. 'Too many people are doing it and it's getting too outrageous. We're going to see boutique hotels going back to being smaller, more comfortable hotels.'DiLeonardo said: 'In Manhattan today there are probably 10 boutique hotels coming up. It's just not going to happen. There is a place for them, but it's limited. It's just too crowded.'
His views conflict with those of a survey released last week, which predicted continued growth in the boutique sector.
DiLeonardo said the concept of boutique hotels had changed dramatically since Ian Schrager opened his first hotel - Morgans in New York in 1984.He said Schrager had taken the comfort element that the boutique sector was known for out of hotels and had replaced it with fashion and design, which was now flooding the market.
'Boutique is all over the place right now', he said. 'Too many people are doing it and it's getting too outrageous. We're going to see boutique hotels going back to being smaller, more comfortable hotels.'DiLeonardo said: 'In Manhattan today there are probably 10 boutique hotels coming up. It's just not going to happen. There is a place for them, but it's limited. It's just too crowded.'
His views conflict with those of a survey released last week, which predicted continued growth in the boutique sector.
