No one said Four Seasons would be interested in the domain. They obviously wouldn't, but between Donnybrook, Ballsbridge and Merrion Gates, over a dozen hotels would be.
Ok, now I'm convinced you haven't read the whole thread.
It actually was the area which allowed them to charge high prices, it always has been, Brands have certain effect, but it is really down to supply and demand, put the Four Seasons in Parnell Square and see how well it sells. People do use Trip Advisor, and don't want to stay in rough areas (never bothered me, but certainly I don't use expensive hotels in my day to day life).
I have to disagree with you here. Put a hotel like the Four Seasons (smae building) in Parnell Square and it would be able to charge more than the Ballsbridge outfit. That would only be because of it's proximity to the city centre not because of type of area it is.
If that was the case we'd have a hotel in every affluent area in the country and none in the city.
People by into the brand. If you someone told you they were staying the Four Seasons hotel, you wouldn't think of the area, you'd think of the price...
When someone mentions a premier
travell inn, you know you are going to get cheap, comfort and value but nothing special.
Finally, my point is the Four Seasons is entirely outside of the market of the casual / average person who is searching for cheap / budget / affordable hotels anyway. Therefore the Four Seasons is a poor benchmark to put against the validity of a domain for people who are searching for cheap Ballsbridge hotels.
Again I don't think you read the whole thread judging by this and your last point. My original point was that very few hotels in the ballsbridge area will want their brand associated with the word cheap. They would definitely want to be found when people are searching for the word cheap, as that now means value to the majority of people searching the web for hotel deals.
Therefore, I was of the opinion that Dara would find it difficult to sell at the price he is looking for to a hotel in that area. Simply because none of them would want to use that domain as it would be associated with their brand.
There's only 12 odd hotels in Ballsbridge, so if he hasn't found a buyer yet (which I don't think he has) he either hasn't been trying very hard to sell this domain or he's been told that they're not interested in the domain itself - but whatever other idea he has up his sleeve!
Dara; said:
Nothing as complicated as that Tomed. Still mulling a few options over yet. You still looking for that 5% stake lol?
That or just a cheaper price