http://www.hotelchatter.com/ Hotel Reviews, Hotel Ratings, Hotel Openings en-us Copyright 2008 - SFO Media 2008-10-07T10:18:34Z HotelChatter HotelChatter http://www.hotelchatter.com/images/hcwhite.jpg http://www.hotelhotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/local/13 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/14/221722/453 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/sapphireclub.jpg" align="right"><p>Despite the bad news that's been floating around in the hotel world (cough,<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/8/15/124611/560/hotels/Viva_Vegas_Hotel_Construction_Update_The_Downturn_Edition">Vegas</a>,cough) <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotels/city/us/NY/New%20York"><b>New York</b></a> hotels have had a pretty good week.<p> <a href="http://www.newyorkology.com/archives/2008/08/hotel_roundup.php">Average room rates are up</a> from last year, occupancy is skyrocketing and the Chelsea 'nabe may be getting a boutique hotel atop a strip club. Kinky! <p><b>The Sapphire Strip Club</b> is seeking approval from the Chelsea community board to bring their racy plans to New York. Oh, you haven't heard of Sapphire? Turns out it's the biggest strip club in Las Vegas. <p> Their future New York property currently houses the ramshackle remains of another former strip joint, while upstairs once sat the seedy old <a href="http://www.yelp.com/biz/terminal-hotel-new-york#hrid:xIu5UdGmUwXeVOmAZzJp_w">Terminal Hotel</a>, better known as a brothel JetSetCD 2008-08-15T16:11:23-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/5/12/225811/077 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/paulhance_sartorialist.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>Fancy a breezy spring bike ride around Chelsea? Hop one of the Schwinn Cruisers for rent at The <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/admin/hotels/2008/5/12/225811/077/add/local/13"><b>Maritime Hotel</b></a>, but be sure to dress your best as photoblogger populaire <a href="http://thesartorialist.blogspot.com/2008/05/on-street-w-16th-nyc.html">The Sartorialist</b></a> might be lurking `round the corner. <p> Last week one such lucky(?) guest found himself posing for the entire blogosphere on one of the rented rides just outside the Maritime entrance at 363 West 16th Street. He should be happy that the silver beach cruiser is so photogenic, because it has the <i>je ne sais quoi</i> needed to push his look into the rare realm of international-chic. <br> <p> If you find yourself hankering for some of The Sartorialist's treatment, a sure bet is JetSetCD 2008-05-13T09:53:37-05:00 40.742060 -74.003882 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/4/28/23410/2569 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/dreammaritime.jpg" class="imgborder"><p>Is what you see above: A) another nautical building sticking off the back of the Maritime Hotel? &nbsp;B) a homeless shelter? Or is it C) <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/vikram%20chatwal"><b>Vikram Chatwal's</b></a> $70 million dollar chunk of the Meatpacking District?<p> As is only proper in the business of building New York hotels, ALL THREE crazy statements are very true. The property at 346 West 17th Street, formerly The Covenant House homeless shelter, was purchased by Vikram's father's company <b>Hampshire Hotels</b> late last year. <p>Looking like The Maritime in drydock, the <b>Downtown Dream</b> so far has a gutted interior, a fully painted mud-grey exterior and construction that appears to be moving right along...for now. <p>According to Vikram's company website, his Downtown Dream is JetSetCD 2008-04-29T14:00:01-05:00 40.742293 -74.003428 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/12/14/112717/31 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/holidaycard_macgoode.png" class="imgborder"><p>Earlier this week as the flurry of rumors about a new hotel from <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/sean%20macpherson">Sean MacPherson</a> and <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/tag/eric%20goode">Eric Goode</a> were flitting about we received a holiday card from the duo in the mail. <p>Now, we know we are not VIP but rather we guessed that they had our address on file from when we stayed at the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Bowery+Hotel/local/220"><b>Bowery Hotel</b></a> last summer. The "card" also included a brochure on the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Lafayette+House+NYC/local/399"><b>Lafayette House.</b></a> Is that hotel hurting for business?<p>However, our holiday card was not as random as the gift they gave to another guest. Hotel Maven Claire wrote into us saying:<blockquote><p>I just got a deck of playing cards from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/The+Maritime+Hotel/local/13"><b>Maritime Hotel.</b></a> I've never even been juliana 2007-12-14T11:47:47-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2007/6/18/2365/62909 <![CDATA[<p><i>Fourth of July is just two weeks away so in case you are headed to a big city for some fireworks fun, we'll be taking a look at hotels with prime fireworks views. Have a favorite hotel for gawking at bombs bursting in air? <a href="mailto:tips@hotelchatter.com"><b>Send it our way</b></a>.</i><p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/admin/manhattan_fireworks.png" class="imgborder"/><p>Fun Fact: New York City is loaded with rooftop bars offering fabulous views of the Manhattan skyline-- perfect for watching Independence Day fireworks. Less-Fun Fact: Around July 4th, the city is also teeming with fanny-pack sportin' tourists eager to catch those fireworks, crowding the various rooftop bars so badly that you can barely get through the door, much less get your hot little hands on a drink.<p> Your best bet? Jenna 2007-06-18T09:04:53-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/