New York Times reports a "price correction" is in order here.....

Previously, we'd reported that Google paid a reported $125 million for Zagat. Now, the Times is saying it was more like $151 million.

Oh....what's a few million $ among friends, anyway?

I continue to see more and more brands becoming available through non-traditional foodservice distribution channels such as Amazon.com (they're not the only source, for sure) and it makes me wonder if this is slowly becoming another legitmate source for restaurateurs  and hoteliers for tabletop items.

A few questions:
Are these brands being listed on Amazon-type sites by the manufacturer or by distributors (Wasserstom, et.c)...or both?
Are the markups on these listing comparable to traditional dealer/distributor markups, making the websites price competitive?
What are delivery & service levels through these sites?
Do the brands generate meaningful volumes through this site, making them a legitimate distribution channel for the manufacturers?

It would seem to me that operators in rural areas of the country ... or where the local distributor does not have access/knowledge of certain brands.... purchasing through these types of sites might make sense. Of course, immediate payment (credit card) is required and the buyer needs to know exactly what they want.

But, the question is ....are sites like Amazon just one more threat to the traditional dealer / distributor network?

Spent some time this weekend reading through newest edition of Wallpaper (how DO they manage to have so many different cover pages???). Interesting reading on a variety of fronts. Good for broadening the perspective.

Interesting article on Ian Schrager's (Morgans, Royalton, etc. etc. ...... oh, yea - a little something called Studio 54) newest venture and his philosphy behind it. His new hotel is a remodel of Chicago's Pump Room/Ambassador East which he is about to open as Public - a new hotel embracing what Schrager tells Wallpaper is "an entirely new class of hotel" that "will be as big a wake up call to the industry as the boutique hotel was all those years ago."

According to the article, Schrager says "The cultural trade winds are changing. You can see it everywhere. People are more interested in vlaue for money. There's a new simplicity. And it;s not just because of the economy. It's structural. It won't change when the economy gets better." 

 Oh yea.... also, some guy named Vongerichten is re-doing the menu for The Pump Room. Interesting.

Fascinating stuff - especially when you consider what the implications might be for tabletops around the world.

An added bonus in this issue of Wallpaper is their list of best business hotels. Hotel Americano, anyone?

Check out Wallpaper at a newstand near you.