What do businessmen and businesswomen look for in a conference room? Good coffee, a strong wi-fi signal, and probably some comfy chairs. What about an antique Steinway piano? We're guessing not.

Back in July, we happened upon this neglected beauty in the mezzanine level of The Algonquin, where one hotel staffer admitted the piano had sat unattended for the past three years. Now, we know large, unwieldy pianos have a way of becoming part of the furniture—but surely there's got to be a better place for a lonely Steinway than next to the fire exit? ]]> ASchechter 2011-09-14T13:30:01-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/12/8/91459/3961 <![CDATA[<P> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/SurreyRug.jpg" class="top"><p> You know how pissy we get about <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/3/18/12710/4059/hotels/Why_Are_Hotel_Carpets_So_Ugly_"><b>fugly hotel carpets</b></a> but this time around, we decided to look at the positive side of things. We've put together a gallery of <b>Five Non-Fugly Hotel Carpeting</b> where the design beneath your feet looks just as sweet as the rest of the room. <p>What's interesting to note, however, is that these hotels on this esteemed list are all new hotels (well, we count <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/THE+SURREY/local/1608">The Surrey</a>, above, as new because it got a top to bottom makeover.) The oldest photo we have is from the <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/W+South+Beach/local/126">W South Beach</a> which just opened in July. <p>Hopefully, more and more new hotels will start to do away with their crazy juliana 2009-12-08T09:48:50-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/7/28/155939/925 <![CDATA[<p> <img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/1425/LALive_Guestroom.JPG" class="top"><i><p><b>UPDATE:</b> The JW Marriott LA Live just <a href="http://twitter.com/JWLALIVE/status/3171855001">tweeted</a> about the carpet installation on the 5th floor. Guess it's too late!</i><p>We've been riding a sort of high about the upcoming <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/6/17/11549/1182/hotels/The_Ritz_Carlton_and_J_W_Marriott_in_Downtown_LA_Are_Looking_Good"><b>JW Marriott and Ritz-Carlton</b></a> coming to downtown Los Angeles' LA Live entertainment complex. Downtown LA has been struggling for a long time to pull visitors away from the action of Hollywood and the fun of the Venice/Santa Monica beaches and LA Live looks like their best shot. <p>Next to the Staples Center (home to the Lakers and big ticket concerts), LA Live has a Nokia Theater, a small intimate venue called Club Nokia, an ESPN Zone, the Grammy Hall of Fame and several restaurants and bars.<p>So juliana 2009-07-28T17:49:25-05:00 34.0458254 -118.26682 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2009/3/18/12710/4059
Fugly carpet found at Paris' Four Seasons George V.

We'll admit it: we rag on ugly hotel carpeting with a fair bit of frequency. But in an honest effort to embrace our softer sides, we will attempt to do what our mothers always taught us to do before mocking something: we'll make an attempt to understand it. And we'll be starting with the fuzziest victim of our sometimes-vicious scrutiny; a hotel design element we tend to walk all over frequently (ha! See what we did there?)

So, we ask because we want to understand: why is hotel carpeting so ugly? ]]> Jenna 2009-03-18T15:20:55-05:00 http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/19/155314/80 <![CDATA[<p><img src="http://www.hotelchatter.com/files/6929/westincastle2005.jpg" class="top"> <p>We've already covered the<a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/story/2008/12/5/31221/9250/hotels/The_Five_Ugliest_Types_of_Hotel_Lobby_Christmas_Decorations"> grossest holiday hotel decorations</a> (hello, fake snow, old friend...) but if you're getting into the holiday spirit and wanting to hit up hotels nearby to take in some festive feasts for the eyes, <a href="http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=12404">Hotel Interactive</a> put together a <a href="http://www.hotelinteractive.com/article.aspx?articleid=12404">list</a> of the most killer hotel holiday displays that are sure to make you get into the Christmas spirit. Presumably, their intention was to inspire other hotels to do the same sorts of things &#151; but ours is to inspire you to get in and check 'em out. <p>&#183; <a href="http://www.hotelchatter.com/hotel-reviews/Four+Seasons+New+York/ian/131734"><b>Four Seasons, New York</b></a> <blockquote>Four Seasons New York located in midtown Manhattan. The I.M. Pei-designed hotel has a three-story tall lobby and Jenna 2008-12-19T16:19:39-05:00 Search HotelChatter string http://www.hotelchatter.com/search/