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CitizenM Times Square Isn't Happening 'Til 2013 (And Other News)

October 23, 2012 at 9:00 AM | by | Comments (0)

There's tons of New York hotel news flying around this week and we don't have time to give each and every story the love and attention it may deserve, so you will have to settle for some news briefs.

· CitizenM Times Square Is On Track For Summer 2013: European-based budget hotel chain CitizenM have been circling for a while now on a yet-to-open CitizenM Times Square property on 50th and Broadway. At the beginning of 2011, we were told the brand was shooting for a 2012 opening in Times Square (which obviously never happened). Now, CitizenM executive Michael Levie tells USA Today that construction is well underway, and that the 24-story, 240-room tower is set to open by next summer. What else? The company is also planning a second NYC location in Soho, set to open the following year.

· Gansevoort Park Ave Really Hates Scaffolding: Gansevoort Park Avenue, the site of Chris Brown and Rihanna's recent rekindling, is in hot water with the developers of a new luxury condo project that's going up next to the hotel. The Real Deal reports that, in order for construction to start, the condo developers are required to install scaffolding and safety nets around the hotel—obviously, the thought of all that clutter obstructing views makes Gansevoort want to cry. So it is attempting to fend off construction by imposing a $5 million "rights deal". Needless to say, the condo developers are none too pleased.

· The Foo Dogs Will Arrive On Nov 1: As we mentioned back in August, one of Manhattan's newest hotels is the Wyndham Garden Chinatown going up on the Bowery, near the Manhattan Bridge. The WSJ is reporting that the 18-story, 106-room hotel is set to open on Nov 1, with floor-to-ceiling windows in all the rooms and a Japanese restaurant and lounge. Rates will start at $225/night.

· Virgin Can't Quite Make Up Its Mind On New York: Unsurprisingly, Richard Branson's Virgin Hotels is a newcomer hotel brand we've been following quite closely. Details about the Chicago property were announced last year, and while we know the company is planning something for New York, we don't really know what yet. Branson spoke to the NY Post on Sunday, dropping a few neighborhood names—Times Square, SoHo, Meatpacking District, Financial District and DUMBO—but not really committing to any one in particular. So, really, all we know for now is that Richard Branson is having a hard time choosing his favorite NYC nabe.

· Dorchester Making Its NYC Comeback: And finally, beloved luxury brand Dorchester Collection is also seriously eyeing New York as the site of a future opening. Though the Brunei-owned company unloaded its New York Palace Hotel last year, it hasn't given up on New York altogether, and CEO Christopher Cowdray tells AFP that the brand hopes to add six hotels by 2015 (they currently operate nine)—in places like Tokyo, Washington DC, Shanghai, Hog Kong, Dubai, Doha, and, yes, New York.

[Photos: CitizenM Hotels, HotelChatter]

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