NYC Hotel introduces guests to life on Lexington Ave.

by Melanie Nayer on

If living the life of a Park Avenue socialite intrigues you, one New York hotel is willing to feed your curious mind. The Renaissance New York Hotel 57 recently renovated its suites to look like a typical Manhattan luxury home, and the results would make even a Hilton sister proud.

The Renaissance New York Hotel 57, a Marriott boutique hotel, redesigned its carriage house suites to resemble the “ambiance of a private New York City residence.” Make no mistake: you won’t find shower curtains separating a 300-square-foot room into two bedrooms, or a kitchen table that pulls out from the wall. These newly designed “carriage houses” are meant to give guests a glimpse of what living on Lexington Avenue must be like.

The carriage house suites are located on floors 4 and 5 of the hotel, with hardwood floors throughout, wooden shutters for plenty of natural light, plush bedding and marble-tiled bath and walk-in shower. The ‘homes’ look out on the southwest corner of East 57th Street and Lexington Avenue.

Located near some of New York’s best art galleries, you can walk out of your “house”, grab your cup of coffee and mosey your way into the latest exhibit on the East Side.
A far cry from today’s speckled NYC apartments, but a beautiful glimpse of what living the high life must be like in Manhattan.

Nearly 100 new hotels to open across the U.S. in 2010

by Melanie Nayer on

If you build it, will they come? Hotels from Hyatt to Starwood – and all the boutiques in between – are prepared to put that question to the test this year. While some hotels continue to drop prices in an effort to fill rooms, other popular brands prepare to introduce travelers to new hotels in 2010.

The New York Times is reporting a slew of new hotels launching state side in 2010, with 46 of those properties residing in New York. Houston will open doors to approximately 30 new hotels and Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami and Washington are also getting into the game.

On deck: Marriott will launch their boutique brand, The Autograph Collection; Hyatt opens its new Andaz properties; InterContinental will open four hotels, including a 592-room hotel in Times Square; Starwood will open six new hotels and others like Holiday Inn and Sheraton are planning new properties.

One of the more anticipated openings of the year happens next months in Los Angeles when the 878-room J.W. Marriott opens it doors at L.A. Live. It’s Ritz-Carlton neighbor is scheduled to start taking reservations for a March opening.

Former New York Times building to become hotel, condos

by Melanie Nayer on

Who said print was dead? It’s just ‘reinventing’ itself…

The iconic New York Times building at West 43rd Street in Times Square (which was once slated for office space) will be renovated into hotel and condo living, according to the New York Times.

Building owners Africa Israel USA (AFI USA) announced redevelopment plans, including a 397-room hotel, 26 condo residences, and an entertainment complex complete with Discovery Times Square Exhibitions. There will be bowling, restaurants and entertainment areas for guests on the lower levels of the building. The 15-story building will also invite luxury boutiques to rent space.

The hotel will take over seven floors (5 through 11) and include a spa, gym with pool, restaurant and other amenities. Condos will be located on the top three floors (12 through 15). AFI USA is currently in discussions with several hotel operators to takeover the planned hotel space.

The New York Times building has been vacant since 2007, when the newspaper moved its offices to Eighth Avenue. Now, with more than $525 million invested into the building and AFI USA’s restructuring of the debt on the property, plans to turn the old printing establishment into a luxury hotel and condominium palace are underway.

One must wonder: As newspapers fold and the collapse of publications cause a publishing crisis around the nation, could those millions of dollars have saved print? Or, will the status of staying a night in the New York Times building help replenish the economy and revitalize the soul of Times Square?

Photo credit: AFI USA