Hotels competing to out-spectacle each other
Host city hotels are engaged in an escalating luxury arms race. At the more “accessible” end of the luxury spectrum, The Ritz-Carlton New York, NoMad offered “The Ultimate Match” package that included a two-night stay in its largest suite and four premium tickets to the Brazil–Morocco match from $31,000 per night. Meanwhile, The Peninsula New York is offering a five-night World Soccer Championship Finals Package, (July 14–19) priced from $400,000–$500,000. It includes suite accommodation, chauffeur airport transfers and match-day transport, daily breakfast, a welcome gift, access to the Fan Village at Rockefeller Center, and two tickets to the World Cup Final at MetLife Stadium.
The Setai Miami Beach raises the stakes with a $300,000 package that includes private jet travel, caviar and vodka bars, private dining, and champagne-fueled brunches—but doesn’t even include match tickets. Then comes the seven-figure option. The Mark Hotel unveiled a $1 million package for six guests, who take over the hotel’s top two floors for four nights. Along with a 24-hour butler, on-call massage therapist, caviar service, and a private harbor cruise, guests arrive at the Final by helicopter, avoiding traffic en route to pitchside seats with exclusive lounge access at MetLife Stadium.
