Maria Wood is senior editor of Real Estate Forum, from which this article was excerpted.

At its media summit in New York City in May, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc.’s CEO Steven Heyer gave what could be considered an unusual speech by the head of a major lodging company. Yes, he mentioned Starwood’s strategic plans for expansion and RevPAR. But he also talked about creating a sensory bond with guests. “A brand,” he said, “is not just a bed and a room, but a unique experience.”

Those themes were further supported by the company’s marketing chief, Javier Benito. “There is more emotional connection between a consumer and a detergent than a hotel room,” he said.

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