renaissance

After decades as a must-dine spot for tourists and a must-book location for benefits and parties, New York's famous Tavern on the Green will serve its last meal on New Year's Eve.

Fast food restaurants and grocery stores test-market products all the time by slipping them onto the shelves. So often, in fact, that average consumers may not even notice when they've tried something impermanent. But hotel rooms are a different beast. Renovations are expensive, so they can't just...