Tensions brewed, for instance, when she organized a golf-themed 21st-birthday party for a student at University of Virginia under orders from his mother in Epsom, England.

WSJ: Forget the Old College Try, Ring the Concierge

The concierge ordered floral arrangements for centerpieces, decorated the restaurant with golf-themed library books, commissioned a cake (topped with a picture of the student as a child) and created bookmark party favors with yet more childhood photos.

WSJ: Forget the Old College Try, Ring the Concierge

In addition to the world's biggest airport, largest man-made islands, longest indoor ski slope and some of the biggest shopping malls and hotels anywhere, it is also building a mega theme park, Dubailand, which consists of some 45 separate projects, including such brand-name attractions as Legoland, a Tiger Woods golf course, a Six Flags fun fair, a Formula One park, and themed attractions from DreamWorks (a Hollywood film studio) and Marvel Comics.

ECONOMIST: The Gulf��s plans for its petrodollars