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    Back to Design and Architecture

    Design and Architecture

    Trump's 'American Idea' hotel chain

    As foreign dignitaries patronize Trump hotels, the president is being sued for violating the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. But that's not stopping the Trump Organization from launching new hotels.

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    By Frances Anderton • Jun 13, 2017 • 1 min read

    As foreign dignitaries patronize Trump hotels, the president is being sued for violating the Constitution's Emoluments Clause. But that's not stopping the Trump Organization from launching new hotels.

    Donald Trump, Jr. at a campaign stop at Iowa State on November 1, 2016

    Photo by Max Goldberg

    Last week they announced a new three-star hotel chain called American Idea. The Trump children were reportedly inspired by folks they met in small towns on the campaign trail. The first franchisee is Chawla Hotels in Mississippi, which already owns Holiday Inns and Comfort Inns. They plan to retrofit three existing properties.

    American Idea hotels are expected to feature decor and artifacts that celebrate American culture and American manufacturing. But they won't bear the Trump name. Why not? And how does Trump advance a brand that's become polarizing? We hear from a marketing expert who has studied the Trump brand.

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Trump's American idea, LACMA's expansion, the idea of home
    1. 0:38Trump's 'American Idea' hotel chainYou’re reading this
    2. 9:02LACMA is coming to South LA
    3. 21:00What 'home' means to Latino and Latin American artists
    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Frances Anderton

      architecture critic and author

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Avishay Artsy

      Producer, DnA: Design and Architecture

    • KCRW placeholder

      Tim Calkins

      Northwestern University

      Culture

    The full episode

    1 of 3
    Trump's American idea, LACMA's expansion, the idea of home
    1. 0:38Trump's 'American Idea' hotel chainYou’re reading this
    2. 9:02LACMA is coming to South LA
    3. 21:00What 'home' means to Latino and Latin American artists
    Back to Design and Architecture