Exciting things are afoot over at Virgin America. We’re expecting to hear about new routes any day now, but in the meantime, Virgin America is hooking up with a new partner: Morgans Group Hotels.
Starting today, Virgin America’s Elevate Frequent Flyer program members can earn 1,000 points per stay at participating Morgans Hotel Group properties toward free Virgin America flights. The Morgans Group hotels have properties in New York, Miami, San Francisco, Boston, Las Vegas, and Los Angeles – all Virgin-served destinations.
Here’s how it works:
Stay at a Morgans Hotels property and earn 1,000 miles per stay, which can be used toward a Virgin America flight through December 31, 2010. To receive points, you’ll have to book via 800.606.6090 or morganshotelgroup.com.
[More information available here, via the company press release]
A new Manhattan hotel is marketing its proximity to Ground Zero as a selling point, and creating a stir among those trying to preserve the memory of friends and family lost during the September 11 terrorist attacks on the U.S.
The World Center Hotel, opened by Club Quarters Inc., is currently accepting reservations for its rooms that boast “floor-to-ceiling ‘window walls'” offering “unfettered views of the rising Freedom Tower and National 9/11 Memorial & Museum,” according to the hotel’s Web site.
In response to the controversy, the hotel issued this statement to Fox News:
“We at the World Center Hotel reference our location on our website and in our marketing because our location is an important part of our hotel’s identity. The World Center Hotel, being across from both the World Financial Center and the rising World Trade Center, was designed primarily for business travelers, but leisure travelers also appreciate our downtown location.
“Some guests may feel emotional about the proximity to the National September 11 Memorial and Museum, however, and choose not to stay at our hotel. Others are encouraged that, after so many years, the site is finally being transformed into a fitting Memorial, and they want to see the progress being made there.
“Either reaction is entirely legitimate. We feel strongly that business and economic growth is good for our city, and that the rebirth of downtown New York City does not in any way diminish the remembrance of the tragic events of nearly nine years ago. We are very respectful of the emotions involved, and we share them. But, we are also proud to be a part of the long-term revitalization of Lower Manhattan.”
While Manhattanites continue to protest the PR campaign put forth by the hotel, the 169-room hotel continues to market to the 7.1 million people that are estimated to visit the 9/11 Memorial Preview site when it officially opens.
Fashion 26, Wyndham hotel’s latest Chelsea, New York offering is located at West 26th and steps from the Fashion Institute of Technology. The hotel will open its doors on April 15, but rumor has it a few guests are already booked for the soft launch the weekend prior.
I caught up with Deirdre Yack, Director of Sales and Marketing for Fashion 26, and got the inside scoop on a few fashion-forward trends hotel customers will find when they check-in:
Is there one room in particular you’re very fond of in the hotel? Our rooms are all very consistent in decor and size. The top two floors of the hotel are Club Floors, filled with extra features like Frette Slippers, glass digital scales, fashion magazines, larger and additional bath amenities, plus incredible views. Uptown view is of the Empire State Building, while the downtown views show off a really unique view of residential buildings, rooftop gardens, water towers – really fun and not often seen NYC views. I would say my #1 favorite room is 2208 – a Club King – you feel like you can reach out and touch the Empire State Building. Plus, Club Floors offer complimentary breakfast in Rare offering a great value to guests.
I’d expect a fashion-focused hotel to have some trendy apparel. What is the staff dress code like and who designed it? Wow – our uniform program is unlike any I have seen in my 13 years in hotels. Think traditional, classic American-style. Our General Manager, the owner and our designer Glen Coben all literally went shopping for ideas one day. They scoured their favorite upscale retailers and came back with a really fresh, high-end concept for our uniforms. A company called Top Hat custom made the uniforms for each department, using these samples. Let’s just say, I wish sales could wear the concierge uniform (a really cute grey jumper with skinny belt over a white man-tailored shirt). The doormen have Kangol hats for cool weather days, and housekeeping attendants have a simple pinstriped black dress with a charming kick pleat. The quality for everything is incredible – a soft, light merino wool.
How will Fashion 26 pave the way for “designer” hotels in the future? Our design and unique concept are born from our location in the garment district. Our fashion concept, commitment to detail, interest in the arts, all come straight from ownership to management – direct to our guests. That said, we are more concerned with our service and delivering the best possible experience to each guest than we are to being a “design” hotel or starting a new trend. We simply aspire to create an experience that brings fashion, art, hospitality and impeccable service together in a way that will impress and delight each guest. In fact, we have quite a few guests arriving as early as March 31 for our soft opening.
The hotel is currently accepting reservations on its Web site and don’t worry — you don’t need to don a pair of Jimmy Choo’s or know how to keep a shirt ruffle from feathering in order to check into these rooms.
The Charles Hotel‘s recent small gesture may actually be a bold move. The hotel, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, has decided to add Skype and video cameras to the free computer station that occupy rooms once dedicated to ice machines. It doesn’t look like much more than a small concession to weary travelers who want to stay in touch with their loved ones, but it’s actually a fairly hefty commitment.
Though the proliferation cell phones has made using the hotel phones unnecessary, the Skype-equipped stations still undermine a hotel revenue stream, which is tantamount to the hotel’s announcing: “We’ll take money out of our pocket to keep our guests happy.
The stations obviate the need for guests to lug around laptops and cameras and such, which would seem like a natural benefit to the business traveler. Of course, I toted mine around on most of my trips because of the business need, and I don’t see many of that ilk dropping their laptops.Nonetheless, there is an upside for the road warrior. In addition to not having to deal with a camera, the stations obviate the need to install Skype on their business computers. This can help business travelers remain compliant with company IT policies while still having the opportunity to see their friends and family every night when they’re on the road.
Of course, this is only one gesture from one hotel. If it works, however, it won’t take long for the competition to notice – that’s when we’ll see it start to pop up everywhere.
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