Disney exec offers details on plans for future growth

[Timbo]

From TravelWeekly.com:

Disney exec offers details on plans for future growth (02/26/2007)

Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, told investors at a recent analyst conference that Disney has a plan for "strong, continued growth over the next decade and beyond," not only from Disney's existing businesses, but also from "new geographies and new businesses."

"We have only scratched the surface of the worldwide travel market," Rasulo said.

Intent on "broadening our footprint," Rasulo said, Disney is looking at a number of options that depart from past practices, including putting Disney attractions in many places where they have not existed before, such as "resort hotels, RD&E centers or water parks," he said.

Disney's plans include expanding its Grand Collection of Hotels in a variety of ways, including regional resort properties outside of metropolitan areas, urban hotels, resorts in exotic destinations and boutique hotels.

The company also plans to expand its retail, dining and entertainment complexes.

In addition, the company wants to expand its theme parks in a different way than in the past, Rasulo said, noting that "not all parks have to be the size of our current parks. ..."

He added that Disney is contemplating a "smaller, deeply immersive park -- for now I'll call it a 'niche' park -- that could serve a much smaller daily audience in a more intimate setting."

To contact the reporter who wrote this article, send e-mail to David Cogswell at dcogswell@travelweekly.com.

[DisneyGuy87]

hmmm thats all very vague but sounds interesting! hopefully there will be some more details soon!