Latest news with #Evermore
Skift
12 hours ago
- Business
- Skift
Blending Hotels and Rentals: Dart's Bet for Group Travel at Scale
Skift Podcast Compelling discussions with travel industry leaders and creatives who are helping to shape the future of travel. Compelling discussions with travel industry leaders and creatives who are helping to shape the future of travel. Learn More As the line between short-term rentals and hotels continues to blur, Dart Interests is betting that the next generation of resorts won't choose sides. In a new episode of the Skift Travel Podcast, Skift CEO Rafat Ali sat down with Dart President Chris Kelsey to explore the company's $2.5 billion flagship project—Evermore Orlando—and a bold vision for hybrid, group-first hospitality. Located next to Walt Disney World, Evermore is different than many other resorts in the market: a master-planned destination that combines luxury vacation homes with traditional hotel rooms, all managed under one umbrella and anchored by a 433-room Conrad. The idea, according to Kelsey, is to solve the pain points of both legacy hotels and short-term rentals while meeting the needs of modern families and multigenerational travelers. 'We didn't want to retrofit homes into hospitality,' Kelsey said. 'We designed everything from the ground up for this exact use case—groups, gatherings, and consistent hotel-level service.' Listen to This Podcast Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube | RSS Bridging the Gap Between Hotels and Rentals At the core of Evermore's model is what Kelsey calls 'residential hospitality.' Unlike Airbnb or Vrbo, none of the homes are privately owned or inconsistently managed. All units—from 2-bedroom flats to 11-bedroom homes—are owned, operated, and serviced by Dart Interests, offering the scale of vacation rentals with the standards and loyalty benefits of a hotel. That alignment with Hilton Honors is a key differentiator. Evermore is the first property where Hilton has integrated non-traditional units—like villas and vacation homes—into its global loyalty ecosystem. 'You can now book an 8-bedroom house with Hilton points,' Kelsey said. 'That's transformational, not just for us, but for travelers who are looking for more space without giving up quality or perks.' An 'Anti-Theme Park' Philosophy While Evermore sits next to one of the busiest tourist corridors in the U.S., Dart intentionally designed it as a counterpoint to the high-energy, high-saturation theme park experience. 'Everything in Orlando goes fast, flashes lights, or tries to entertain you,' Kelsey said. 'We wanted the opposite—calm, open spaces, human-scale architecture, and intentional landscaping that helps people decompress.' That focus has helped Evermore attract not only park-goers but also destination weddings, reunions, and corporate retreats. The crown jewel is an eight-acre crystalline lagoon that serves as both centerpiece and recreational hub, surrounded by event venues, cabanas, and casual dining. Rethinking Food, Labor, and Landscape Dart Interests is also challenging conventional resort operations. After encountering difficulties running 13 food and beverage outlets in-house, the company partnered with Chicago-based Lettuce Entertain You to bring culinary expertise and brand consistency to the portfolio. Landscaping and maintenance have also been rethought from scratch. With more than 1,000 acres under management, Dart has internalized many traditionally outsourced services to ensure long-term quality and cost control. And on the labor side, Kelsey emphasized Dart's investment in building a stable, full-time workforce rather than relying on contractors or gig labor. 'Hospitality isn't just about the physical product—it's the people delivering the experience every day,' he said. Building for the Long Game Unlike many resort developers chasing yield and flipping assets, Dart is taking a long-term ownership view. Kelsey says the firm's privately held structure allows it to prioritize brand equity, operational resilience, and guest satisfaction over short-term gains. 'What we're building with Evermore is not meant to be sold in five years,' he said. 'It's a forever asset—and that changes how you design, staff, and operate.' Looking ahead, Dart is exploring expansion into mountain, lake, and coastal markets, using the Evermore playbook to serve group and family travelers often underserved by traditional hotels or vacation homes. But Kelsey is clear: this isn't about scaling fast. It's about scaling right. 'We don't want to copy and paste Evermore,' he said. 'We want each location to feel grounded, local, and thoughtfully built for how people actually travel—and stay—today.'
Yahoo
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Iconic Rock Star, 54, Makes a Bold Declaration About Taylor Swift
Iconic Rock Star, 54, Makes a Bold Declaration About Taylor Swift originally appeared on Parade. The National frontman recently made a bold declaration about , likening her to On July 12, El País published an interview with the singer, 54, of the indie rock band—whose guitarist, , collaborated with Swift on Folklore, Evermore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department, in addition to her re-recorded albums. 🎬 SIGN UP for Parade's Daily newsletter to get the latest pop culture news & celebrity interviews delivered right to your inbox 🎬 "She's a tremendous talent,' Berninger said of Swift, who declared in 2020 that The National was her favorite band. 'Obviously, we've gained a lot of fans thanks to our proximity to her. It's made a new generation discover my band. Taylor Swift fans understand The National. They get my lyrics.' As El País pointed out, Swift is in two of the first three songs on Spotify's This is The Nationalplaylist. 'It's true, those three songs are more hers than mine. If you look closely, even the first one—'I Need My Girl' (2014), which we recorded before we met—could easily pass for one of her songs," Berninger told the publication. "Because—thanks to my daughter—Taylor has always been playing in my house." Additionally, he shared that he's "admired her lyrics and melodies" for years. "I've learned a lot from her," Berninger said of Swift. "Many people have grown up with her music," he said before making a daring comparison. "She's John Lennon to many people, not just teenagers," he declared. "Taylor Swift is undoubtedly one of the best artists today, as well as a lovely person.' In recent years, Berninger isn't the only one who has weighed in on Swift's impact on music. First lady Melania Trump recently shared her surprising opinion about Swift. Even King Charles sent an unmistakable message about the "Anti-Hero" songstress. Additionally, country singer Eric Church made a shocking confession about Swift. Next: Iconic Rock Star, 54, Makes a Bold Declaration About Taylor Swift first appeared on Parade on Jul 14, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 14, 2025, where it first appeared. Solve the daily Crossword
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Rachel Zegler reveals her favorite Taylor Swift song and fans are surprised: ‘She has taste'
It's no secret that West Side Story and Hunger Games actor Rachel Zegler is a proud Swiftie, but her latest confession has Taylor Swift fans cheering for her even more. The 24-year-old, who is currently starring as Eva Perón in Evita at the London Palladium, was asked by a fan to name her all-time favorite Taylor Swift song. Rachel Zegler is a huge fan of Taylor Swift. Recently, she confessed about her favorite track by the singer.(Invision) After a thoughtful pause, Zegler gave her answer: Cowboy Like Me, a slow-burning track from Swift's 2020 album Evermore. As soon as she responded, fans at the stage door gasped and applauded in delight, clearly moved by the unexpected choice. Zegler continued to sign autographs, as per a The News report. Also read: Travis Kelce melts hearts with viral response to fan calling Taylor Swift 'best girlfriend': Watch Swifties call Rachel Zegler's choice 'impeccable' A video of the moment was captured and shared on social media, where it quickly went viral. Swifties on X (formerly Twitter) were quick to hail Zegler's choice, especially given that Evermore is often described as one of Swift's most underrated albums. A user posting the video on X with the text, 'a fan asking rachel her fav Taylor Swift song.' It was later reposted by another Taylor Swift fan account. One fan commented, 'Love when someone doesn't say Blank Space or Style for once.' Another said they didn't think they could 'love her any more.' Another Swiftie, with Zegler's face as their profile picture, wrote, 'She has taste so true.' A fan responding to the post wrote, 'I love how she's such a genuine Swiftie.' A fifth one, tagging Zegler, said, 'We need a cowboy like me cover my queen.' Also read: Love Island's Kaylor Martin confesses love for Aaron Evans despite being blocked: 'I always will…' Rachel Zegler's longtime Swiftie status According to Parade magazine, this isn't the first time Zegler's Swiftie heart has been on display. Just last weekend, ahead of Sabrina Carpenter's show at BST Hyde Park, Zegler was caught on camera gleefully singing along to Swift's Tortured Poets Department track, I Can Do It With A Broken Heart. With her stunning stage performances and honest fangirl moments, Zegler continues to endear herself to audiences around the world – both as a Broadway leading lady and a card-carrying Swiftie. Fans can catch Zegler in Evita at the London Palladium until September 6. FAQs What is Rachel Zegler's favourite Taylor Swift song? She revealed it is Cowboy Like Me from Swift's 2020 album Evermore. Where is Rachel Zegler performing currently? She is starring as Eva Perón in Evita at the London Palladium through September 6. Is Rachel Zegler a Taylor Swift fan? Absolutely. Zegler has publicly expressed her love for Swift on many occasions and is often spotted singing along at shows or online.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Taylor Swift Buys Back Her Catalog: How We Got Here
Taylor Swift's years-long saga to win back the rights to her first six albums will go down as one of the most significant storylines in the history of the modern music business, as the dispute brought the complex, often dry world of copyright and master ownership further into the national consciousness. At the same time, the conflict grew her own superstardom to stratospheric heights as the Taylor's Version re-releases became massive hits in their own right. Swift isn't the first artist to re-record her music, though the practice will forever be synonymous with her as she took on the ambitious task of recreating her old albums all over again, while also managing to record and release four new albums (Folklore, Evermore, Midnights and The Tortured Poets Department) and net the highest-grossing concert tour of all time. More from The Hollywood Reporter Taylor Swift Buys Back Rights To Her First Six Albums Years After Scooter Braun Drama Mike Sumler, Kool & the Gang Hype Man, Dies at 71 Who's Who in the Sean "Diddy" Combs Trial: Key Witnesses, Industry Enablers and Victims So Far As Swift announced Friday, she's officially bought bought back ownership of the records, bringing this chapter to a close. With Swift re-united with her original works at last, let's take a look back on how we got here today. June 2019 — Scooter Braun's Ithaca Holdings Buys Big Machine The saga began on June 30, 2019, when the news dropped that Scooter Braun, then-manager to stars like Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande, had bought Scott Borchetta's Big Machine Label Group for $300 million through his company Ithaca Holdings. With the deal, Ithaca got the rights to music from acts like Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett, Reba McEntire, and of course of Swift, who was Big Machine's biggest act until she left the label for Universal Music Group's Republic Records in 2018. Swift quickly voiced her displeasure with the sale, taking to her Tumblr that day to say she learned of the deal 'as it was announced to the world,' calling it 'my worst case scenario,' while citing 'incessant, manipulative bullying' from Braun for years. 'Any time Scott Borchetta has heard the words 'Scooter Braun' escape my lips, it was when I was either crying or trying not to,' Swift wrote at the time. 'He knew what he was doing; they both did. Controlling a woman who didn't want to be associated with them.' Borchetta responded with a long missive of his own that day, denying Swift's claim that she hadn't heard about the sale before the announcement while also adding he'd 'never experienced' seeing Swift's negative reactions about Braun. August 2019 — Swift Confirms Plans to Re-Record Her Big Machine Era Music Within two months of the sale, Swift confirmed that she planned on re-recording her music so she could gain control of the masters on at least a version of her first six albums. In an interview with Robin Roberts on Good Morning America in front of scores of Swifities, Swift said 'It's something I'm really excited about doing, because my contract says that starting November 2020, I can record albums one through five all over again.' November 2019 — Swift Said Braun and Borchetta Wouldn't Allow Her to Play Old Songs at AMAs Swift took to Twitter on November 14, claiming that as part of the American Music Awards honoring her as artist of the decade, she wanted to perform a medley of her hits, but that Braun and Borchetta were blocking the use of those songs 'because they claim that would be re-recording my music before I'm allowed to next year.' Braun posted that he and his family received death threats, further stating that 'as the world now knows you can and should perform any song you would like at the AMAs. I have never and would never say otherwise. You do not need anyone's permission to do so legally but I am stating it here clearly and publicly so there is no more debate or confusion.' Swift played the medley at the AMAs. 2020: Ithaca Sells Swift's Catalog to Shamrock Capital On Nov. 16, 2020, Shamrock, a private equity firm founded by Roy Disney, purchased Swift's catalog from Braun and Ithaca for about $300 million, netting Braun as much as he paid for the entirety of Big Machine the year prior. Swift came forward about the sale that day, writing that 'this was the second time my music had been sold without my knowledge.' Swift claimed that her team had attempted to enter into negotiations with Scooter Braun, writing: 'Scooter's team wanted me to sign an ironclad NDA stating I would never say another word about Scooter Braun unless it was positive, before we could even look at the financial records of BMLG (which is always the first step in a purchase of this nature). So, I would have to sign a document that would silence me forever before I could even have a chance to bid on my own work.' As Shamrock sold the catalog to Swift nearly five years later, Swift thanked the company Friday for 'being the first people to ever offer this to me.' That assertion has come under scrutiny by people with knowledge of the initial Shamrock acquisition, with a source close to Braun telling The Hollywood Reporter, 'There's documented proof, by way of verified emails, confirming Taylor Swift was offered the opportunity to buy back her masters prior to Shamrock Capital's acquisition. This has been reported on at length over the last several years.' A 2023 report from Music Business Worldwide also revealed conversations between Braun and Swift's camps for a deal before going to Shamrock, though that clearly never happened. 2021 — 2023: The 'Taylor's Version' Era Takes Over On Feb. 11, 2021, Swift confirmed that Fearless, her first No. 1 album, would be the first album she'd re-record from the Big Machine era, launching her famed 'Taylor's Version' series. 'I've spoken a lot about why i'm remaking my first six albums, but the way I've chosen to do this will hopefully help illuminate where i'm coming from,' Swift wrote at the time. 'Artists should own their own work for so many reasons, but the most screamingly obvious one is that the artist is the only one who really knows that body of work.' Fearless (Taylor's Version) officially released in April of 2021. She released Red (Taylor's Version) that same year, then released Speak Now (Taylor's Version) and 1989 (Taylor's Version) in 2023. The re-recordings became immensely successful as well; 1989 (Taylor's Version) managed to sell 1.3 million units in the first week alone, besting 1989's debut from a decade prior, even as record sales have fallen since then amid the streaming era. According to Luminate, in the U.S. alone, Fearless (Taylor's Version) has sold 3 million units, Red (Taylor's Version) sold 5.2 million, Speak Now (Taylor's Version) has sold 2.7 million and 1989 (Taylor's Version) has sold 4.9 million. May 30, 2025: Liberation Day Swift rocked the industry once again Friday as she announced she'd closed the deal with Shamrock, bringing 'my entire life's work' back into Swift's possession. Swift didn't disclose financial details of the sale. Billboard reports the deal was worth about $360 million, while a Page Six report from earlier this suggested it could be worth twice that. 'I've been bursting into tears of joy at random intervals ever since I found out that this is really happening,' Swift said. 'I really get to say these words: All of the music I've ever made… now belongs… to me.' Following the reveal, Braun told THR he was 'happy for her.' As for the two remaining Taylor's Version albums, Swift revealed in her letter that she hadn't recorded more than a quarter of Reputation (Taylor's Version), but that the remake of her debut album was done. 'Those 2 albums can still have their moments to re-emerge when the time is right, if that would be something you guys would be excited about,' Swift wrote. 'But if it happens, it won't be from a place of sadness and longing for what I wish I could have. It will just be a celebration now.' Best of The Hollywood Reporter Most Anticipated Concert Tours of 2025: Beyoncé, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar & SZA, Sabrina Carpenter and More Hollywood's Most Notable Deaths of 2025 Hollywood's Highest-Profile Harris Endorsements: Taylor Swift, George Clooney, Bruce Springsteen and More
Forbes
11-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Taylor Swift's ‘Evermore' Stands Out From Her Chart Successes
Taylor Swift is always present on the Billboard charts – always. At times, the superstar is everywhere, thanks to the release of a new single or a hotly-anticipated album drop. But even during quieter frames, like this current one, when there's no just-released material or promotional campaign fueling momentum, Swifties are still busy streaming and buying her past releases. This continued fan loyalty ensures that several of her full-lengths remain on the charts at all times. This week, Swift once again proves her popularity as 10 albums appear on various Billboard rankings. Among that bunch, one title rises above the rest and manages a feat none of the others can claim: climbing on more than one list. This frame, 10 of Swift's albums find space somewhere on the Billboard charts. Most of them land on more than one list, though nearly half are present on just a single tally. Across the board, the general trend is downward, with most of her full-lengths losing ground. That's not really a bad sign, though – it just means this isn't a busy period for the singer-songwriter. A few projects do manage to gain slightly, but just one title defies that pattern and stands out for climbing on multiple charts simultaneously. Evermore is the only album in Swift's discography that improves its standing on more than one Billboard chart this week. The set jumps two rungs on the Billboard 200, moving from second-to-last place to No. 197. On the Top Rock & Alternative Albums tally, Evermore also improves, stepping up one position No. 45. That roster ranks the most-consumed rock and alternative-only collections in the U.S., while the Billboard 200 includes all genres and styles. Only three other Swift albums manage to rise at all, and each one surges on just a single list. Fearless (Taylor's Version) appears on only one tally, the Top Country Albums ranking, where it moves from the lowest position to No. 49. 1989 (Taylor's Version) continues to perform fairly well, though this week is a mixed bag for the re-recorded take on 1989. On the Billboard 200, the bestseller drops a few spots, but on the Top Album Sales chart, which counts only pure purchases, the project pushes north by a single space, No. 50 to No. 49. Red (Taylor's Version) is steady on the Billboard 200, though it does manage a minor bump on the Top Country Albums chart. On that style-specific roster, it climbs from No. 29 to No. 27. While a few titles manage to grow or remain steady, the rest of Swift's catalog is on the decline on Billboard's lists. The Tortured Poets Department, Lover, Folklore, Midnights, and Reputation all appear on the Billboard 200, with several of them also featured on other rankings, but not one of them is rising.
