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It's Probably Never A Good Idea To Sneak Up On A NYC Hotel Maid
The New York Times ran an interesting piece today on a contract reached between union members and the major NYC hotels that employ them. Among other tidbits, we learn that hotels will soon be providing employees with their own personal panic buttons.
The decision, clearly influenced by a certain scandal at Sofitel New York involving a certain IMF chief last year, is a sure victory for housekeepers and room-service waiters and waitresses everywhere.
As long as they don't get button-happy, of course, and start panicking every time a door slams shut. But still, the less we see of this kind of thing, the better.
Hotel Breakfasts / Rooftop Bars / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Deals / Hotel Food / Killer View / → All Tags
The Kimberly Will Send You Sky High For Breakfast This Month
We've never known a hotel to be modest about showing off its awesome views. Still, we usually reserve our best window-gazing for later in the evening, when skylines are a-twinkle and sunsets are killer. But guests at the Kimberly Hotel in Manhattan get to enjoy awesome views of the city first thing in the morning, with free breakfasts in the rooftop lounge, Upstairs.
A buffet spread will offer French toast, pancakes, oatmeal, pastries, omelets, bacon and hash browns. Though the usual cost of the meal is $25 per person, all guests will get it for free through the end of the month. Turns out February isn't such a bad time to stay in hotels after all.
Hotel History / Vintage NYC Hotels / Historic Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Hotels / → All Tags
Before the Empire State Building, There Was a Hotel at 5th Avenue and 34th Street
Here's a fun fact for today: Did you know that the original Waldorf-Astoria Hotel was in the spot where the Empire State Building now stands? It's true! The first version of the ritzy hotel was a combination of the Waldorf and the Astoria Hotels at 5th Avenue and 33rd/34th Streets, which stood and welcomed the most well-heeled guests from 1893 to 1929, when it was knocked down to begin the skyscraper ESB we now know and love.
You won't hear much about that first building of some 1,300 rooms (with bidets) unless you pick a nice documentary from your Netflix queue; we recommend "Modern Marvels: The Empire State Building."
Of course, history is history and we all know that the Waldorf-Astoria found a new home further uptown, in its art deco digs at Park Avenue and 50th Street. Craving a little more NYC hotel history? Check out our category for it.
[Photo: NYC-architecture]
POTUS Hotels / Hotel News / Hotel Bathrooms / Bathroom Tuesdays / Hotel Snapshots / Historic Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Waldorf-Astoria Collection / → All Tags
The Veil Has Been Lifted From Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Now What?
Barring the possibility that you're a former President—or that you don't mind spending $10,000/night—then you've likely never caught a glimpse of the Waldorf-Astoria's Presidential Suite. Why? Because until recently, the hotel has never allowed photography inside the suite.
Lucky for us, the NY Daily News has taken on the oppressive task of video touring the entire space—from gleaming top (the crystal chandelier in the master bedroom) to well-polished bottom (the black-and-white tiled bathroom floor).
Now, the goods are out in the open for all to see. So, what do you think?
Fashion Week Hotels / W Hotels / Starwood Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Fashion Hotels / Hotel Parties / Hotel Bars / Hotel Food / → All Tags
The Saddest Cupcakes That Ever Graced A Hotel Bar
We showed up to a pre-Fashion Week party last night at W Union Square and, as usual with these types of events, made a beeline for the bar. Planning on ordering a quick cocktail, we then noticed something that made us chuckle. At one end of the bar on a silver tray were rows of mini cupcakes—thick with icing, delicious looking, and virtually untouched.
But what else did we expect? This is Fashion Week, after all, where anything more than a stick of celery is considered an indulgence.
Not that these sugar bombs put a damper on anyone's fun. Indeed, with guest appearances by DJ Chelsea Leyland, W Global Fashion Director Jenné Lombardo, and man-about-town Waris Ahluwalia, the music was loud and the paparazzi bulbs were a-flashin'. Boy, were we glad for that drink.
Hotel Rebrandings / Manhattan Hotels / Viceroy Hotels / Hotel News / → All Tags
The Cassa Hotel in NYC is Now a Viceroy
Well this is a very bit of surprising news--The Cassa Hotel on West 45th Street in Manhattan now belongs to the Viceroy Hotel Group. Looks like the Year of the Dragon is getting off on a good foot for the hotel!
Management of the Cassa (whose owners filed for bankruptcy last April) was officially transferred to the Viceroy Hotel Group on January 20th and the hotel now belongs to Viceroy's Urban Retreat Collection. This also marks the first NYC hotel for the Viceroy group (finally!)
It doesn't appear as if much will change throughout the hotels 165 rooms and suites but the hotel is getting a new restaurant from Chef Laurent Tourondel--BLT American Brasserie which will serve classic American fare for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We reported on that opening back in Aprilbut it looks like it's really happening this time, and soon.
Interested in staying at the new, improved and Viceroy-ized Cassa Hotel? Rates for next weekend were going for just $279 a night for a deluxe room with a queen bed. Suites were starting at only $479 a night.
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Whatever They're Planning, It Better Not Be Another Westin Times Square Eyesore
Two weeks ago, we learned that Host Hotels had purchased the New York Helmsley and was planning on re-making it into a Westin. Now, we find out that $65 million is being poured into the building for what they're calling an "extensive re-branding initiative."
Fine. The part that gets us, though, is when they mention that the entire facade of the building is gonna be transformed as well. Ah, real monsters! We desperately hope Westin isn't sketching out a repeat of their purple-and-blue stripey Times Square mess (which we once upon a time dubbed one of the ugliest hotels alive). For a 774-room hotel in midtown Manhattan, we're not sure what kind of "statement" Westin will be going for, but hopefully nothing big. A nice scrub-down and maybe some window replacements should do the trick nicely.
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While New York's Oak Room Closes, Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Starts A Music Festival In Vegas
Two main players in the hotel music world are really getting the shake-up this month, and all we can do for now is sit back and watch (or, you know, listen) as the changes come to pass.
For starters, let's face the awful truth that The Algonquin is saying bye-bye forever to the Oak Room, its famed piano lounge that has hosted cabaret legends from Barbara Carroll to Julie Wilson to Steve Ross. According to the NY Times, audiences there have been "declining."
But it's not all doom and gloom! Head west—about 2,200 miles west—and witness a positively burgeoning indie music scene when Sports Illustrated Swimsuit hosts its first-ever music festival at The Cosmopolitan (where else?). The two-day lineup will feature indie acts like The Black Lips (above), Delta Spirit, and Elan Atias among others, and will hopefully do for the Strip what SI's Swimsuit issue has traditionally done for non-sports fans—make everyone sit up and pay attention.
Hotel Openings / Wyndham Hotels / DoubleTree Hotels / Hilton Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Tryp by Wyndham / → All Tags
Wyndham Trades In A Garden For A Tryp
The new lobby at DoubleTree Times Square South
We told you last month that DoubleTree was planning on taking over the Wyndham Garden Times Square South—which, we can safely report, officially transpired. However, the rooms remain intact, as well as the ground-floor cafe, Greenhouse 36, so not much has really changed except for the name. And the added bonus of a welcome cookie.
But this neighborhood hasn't seen the last of Wyndham! Oh, no. Just one block south, this month the brand is launching Tryp by Wyndham Times Square South. So we thought we'd do a little compare/contrast to see which of these two (verrry similar) hotels is worthy of your dollar.
For starters? The price. For a random date (we picked a one-night stay on Feb 22nd), Tryp's lowest starting rate is $179, which offers a queen bed, iPod dock, and free WiFi. Meanwhile, DoubleTree will do you one better with starting rates of $152, and pretty much all the same amenities.
Hotel News / Hotel Openings / Manhattan Hotels / Marriott Hotels / Edition Hotels / Public Hotels / Hotel Construction / King and Grove Hotels / → All Tags
From A Hotel Standpoint, New York Is Pretty Much Done With the Recession
New York, New York—so great they named it twice. But, hey, don't just take our word for it (we live here, so we're a little biased). Talk to all the hotel developers who are buying up hotels left and right. Because of them, New York City alone accounted for 20% of hotel transactions across the entire country in 2011, announced The Real Deal.
In some ways, we already knew this. Well. We didn't know the exact numbers ($3.5 billion in sales, to be exact), but we did know that there were some major hoteliers sniffing out the next NYC locations for their brands. At a glance: Public New York is on its way, Edition New York has already found a location, and two other Marriotts (a Courtyard and a Springhill Suites) will be popping up in Herald Square.
Further downtown, Andre Balazs' Standard empire is steadily expanding eastward. And let's not forget about King & Grove, who recently burst onto the scene with two well-established NYC properties firmly under their belt.
Celebrity Scoop / Florence Welch / Bad Celebrity Behavior / Manhattan Hotels / Kanye West / → All Tags
Florence Welch Set Fire to Her Room at The Bowery Hotel After Drinking with Kanye West
That might be one of the oddest headlines we've ever written but it's all true. Flame-haired (heh) singer Florence Welch, the frontleader of Florence and the Machine known for her powerhouse voice and questionably retro bathing suits, nearly burned down the Bowery Hotel in Manhattan.
The rocker recently told Britain' Q Magazine that she accidentally left a cinnamon tea light burning:
“I came back to the hotel, passed out in my ripped dress – no phone, chipped tooth – came round and there was black stuff all over the wall, my book had melted on the bedside table and there was a bucket of water on the floor. Actually the last scene you want to wake up to with a hangover. Half the room was singed.”
Valentine's Day Hotels / Manhattan Hotels / Hotel Love / → All Tags
Hotels Are Getting Sexy, Er, Ready for Valentine's Day in NYC
It's just two weeks now until Valentine's Day and if you haven't made plans with your schmoopie, well then you better get started. We've been inundated with a ton of Valentine's Day hotel deals and promotions and we're trying to keep up with them all. Here are a few more romantical options for NYC since we know that's a fave destination for you lovers. We'll have more cities to come throughout the week. Got a particular location in mind for V-Day? Let us knowLet us know and we'll tell you what sort of love connection is happening there.
New York
· The London NYC: The all-suite hotel on West 54th Street is offering two Valentine's Day packages--the Classic and the Modern. The Classic is pretty standard--flowers, champagne, bath salts and chocolates while the Modern offers a 60-minute in-suite couples massage, along with Gordon Ramsay Martini and assorted canapés prepared by the culinary team of Gordon Ramsay. Rooms start at $547 a night for the Modern package and $564 for the classic. Both packages include a stay in a London suite.
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