West Elm Will Open Hotels as Malls Lose Allure for Retailers
- Williams-Sonoma division will start hotel chain in 2018
- Companies increasingly looking for ways to hedge their bets
This article is for subscribers only.
West Elm, the housewares brand owned by Williams-Sonoma Inc., is the latest retailer to look outside the mall for growth.
The retail chain plans to open a line of West Elm hotels, with five locations beginning to open in late 2018. The company is working with hospitality-management firm DDK on the project, according to a statement Monday.