The Marrakech Hotel on New York’s Upper West Side isn’t just putting out a donation jar or donating a few spare percentage points to breast cancer research this October, they’ve taken it a leap further and gone pink! I headed over there with my camera to see what their pink-ified room was really like.
I was impressed with the hotel itself; you get a lot of charm for a very reasonable price for NYC — during the low season, you can get a room as low as $109. The building is on a historic block just 13 short streets south of Columbia University, and very near all kinds of shopping and nightlife, as well as the 1 train. The decor is decidedly Moroccan, with many elements like the chandeliers and some artwork imported specially for hotel. There’s a comfortable lounge area with a view of Broadway which is bright all day and which turns into a nightclub, the Kazbar Lounge, in the evening (open to the public), where you can enjoy Moroccan-themed cocktails like the Marrakech Martini and Morrocan Manhattan.
And this month, in the Kazbar Lounge, you can purchase a “Cause-mopolitan,” from which the proceeds will be donated to the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Avon supplied the hotel with its fabulous pink linens, including sheets, blankets, pillows and towels. The effect, as you can see, will make you VERY AWARE of breast cancer for your entire stay. Hey — it’s for charity. The BCA room starts at $129 per night and a portion of the proceeds benefit the Avon Walk for Breast Cancer. Furthermore, guests have the option to donate directly to the cause at the front desk, and a donation of $100 will get you a 10 percent discount on your next visit to the Marrakech Hotel.
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Nearby Broadway Hotel & Hostel has the same pink linens from Avon, but good luck getting in there! In the fall, you’ll need a reservation at least a month in advance to stay, even in the two-person dormitories with shared bathrooms (which start at $30 per person — a killer deal).
[Photos by Annie Scott.]