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What Will It Cost to Sleep in This Week's Newest Hotels?

The Belgraves as seen last week.

Today is a huge day today for several hotels as it's their first (or second) day in business. Here's a quick round-up of the hotels that have just opened and what their room rates are for tonight:

· Trump Toronto: Trump took Toronto yesterday when they opened their seventh eponymous hotel. Last we checked opening rates were nearly $600 but we were relieved to see that rates tonight are down to $474 a night and that includes a deluxe king room starting at a whopping 550-sq.ft., breakfast for two, internet, local calls and a suite upgrade for an extra $50. The offer is good through February 29.

· The Belgraves: The very first Thompson Hotel has opened in London today. Last we checked room rates were a $381 night but yesterday, Jetsetter.com began offering rooms for just $275 a night. If you're thinking of staying there, you better get on it before rooms go above the 400 pound mark. Or you could wait to see what we think of the place. Wink, wink.

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Hotel Openings / Budget Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Costa Rica Hotels / Starwood / → All Tags

Aloft Costa Rica Won't Cost-a You Too Much

Where: Forum 2 Business Park, Lindora, Radial a Santa Ana, San Jose, Costa Rica

Aloft launches its second Latin American hotel this month with the opening of Aloft San Jose in Escazú, close to the Juan Santamaria airport. Though Aloft Bogota opened last year, this is the company's first location in Costa Rica. The budget, easy-in-easy-out appeal of Aloft must have outweighed its flashier big sister, W when it came time for Starwood to decide which brand to introduce.

A quick TripAdvisor search reveals that until now, Escazú has boasted little in the way of hotels. While Real InterContinental Costa Rica and Marriott San Jose are both viable options (and also both boast killer spa servies) $149/night rates will make Aloft very attractive to cost-conscious travelers.

And all the usual Aloft trimmings (w xyz bar, re:fuel snack station) are here. The website is also showing photos of a "backyard" space with tables and chairs—since we know how much Aloft loves its social butterfly guests...

Hotel Events / Photo Gallery / Brooklyn Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Starwood / Portlandia / → All Tags

Last Night, Aloft Brooklyn 'Put a Bird on It' for 'Portlandia' Season 2

Where: 216 Duffield Street [map], Brooklyn, NY, United States, 11201

Okay you guys. Last night was awesome. We already told ya what was up if you were near Brooklyn, and that was a sneak preview screening of Season 2 of IFC's show "Portlandia." Two of the HotelChatter team made it to scope out the place and naturally get a peek at the series, and we happened to learn something else: another hotel screening has been added, TONIGHT.

So this evening, if you're in Portland, Oregon or near the Bolingbrook suburb of Chicago, you can go see several (currently unreleased) hilarious bits from the new series, plus get free Portlandia swag (we scored Portlandia hats, a "Put a Bird on it" tee, an Aloft tote and the entire Season 1 on DVD). Swag may vary, but the awesomeness won't. Here's what's up:

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Two Aloft Hotels to Screen Sneak Peek of 'Portlandia' Season 2

Where: 216 Duffield Street [map], Brooklyn, NY, United States, 11201

A few quick questions: Do you like hotels? Did you watch (and laugh at) any of the first season of IFC's show Portlandia? Do you like free stuff? If you answered yes to at least two of these questions and you're anywhere near Brooklyn, NY or Portland, OR this week, you should totally head to Aloft Hotels' screenings of the first episode of Portlandia Season 2.

The new season officially begins this Friday on IFC at 10pm EST, and sure you can already watch preview sketches online, but going outside your place and seeing the whole first ep (for free) while scoring drink specials and Portlandia swag while having the opportunity to meet other local hipsters beats out the internet.Here's the screening schedule:

Wednesday, January 4, 7pm: Aloft Brooklyn 216 Duffield Street

Thursday, January 5, 7pm: Aloft Portland 9920 NE Cascades Parkway

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Hotel Music / W Hotels / Aloft Hotels / Hotel Trends / Hotel News / DC Hotels / Rock n Roll Hotels / → All Tags

Are Hotels Becoming The Next Rock 'n Roll Venues?

Where: 515 15th St Nw [map], WASHINGTON, D.C., United States, 20004

Yesterday, the widely-read indie music blog Stereogum published a second installment of their new "Stereogum x W Hotel Suite Session" video series, which features up-and-coming bands performing at a W Hotel of their choice. No fans, no stage, not even any fancy lighting or effects. Just a regular old rock band taking over a regular old hotel room—and making you wish you could be snuggled up in bed for a front row seat.

But this isn't the first time we've seen this. Back in April, Aloft hotels were running a near identical partnership with Pitchfork called the Video Surveillance Series, where the "footage" was made to look as though it "caught" the bands in action. Same idea, different effect.

And while the trend is certainly proving a success, we have to ask: what's going on here? Is this the next generation of live music? Will bands eventually give up on the traditional venues and just embark on national chain hotel tours?

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Hotel News / Aloft Hotels / Detroit Hotels / → All Tags

A Burnham Building Will Be Born Again as the Aloft Downtown Detroit

There is hope after all for Detroit! Late-breaking news today brings the excellent announcement that Starwood's Aloft chain of hotels will add a Motor City location come 2013/2014. Just as you'd suspect, they'll be utilizing one of the city's many abandoned buildings, but not one that's been left to rot; the lucky structure is the David Whitney Building, a 19-story architectural piece of pride and joy.

The plan for more than just the revitalization of the Daniel Burnham-designed building with an Aloft, but also apartments and retail. If you've ever been in downtown Chicago and looked up at some of the classic Burnham structures (many of which also house hotels) and felt the desire to live in one, it may be possible soon in Detroit, likely for cheaper than in the Windy City.

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Reader Reviews / Aloft Hotels / Phoenix Hotels / Airport Hotels / → All Tags

This Guest is High On Aloft Hotels

Where: 4450 East Washington [map], Phoenix, AZ, United States, 85034

We rarely ever get such glowing reviews of a hotel (that aren't planted by a PR person) but this one from a business traveler lady is really, really, really enthusiastic. She writes about a recent stay at the Aloft Hotel by the Phoenix airport:

Omg I love this place! Had to zip in and out of Phoenix for a quick business trip and unfortunately no budget for a great hotel and had to stay close to the airport. What a pleasant surprise! A cool and comfortable hotel that far surpasses your choices in the same price range. Beautiful room layout, fluffy beds, a hip and trendy lobby bar, better than average bathrooms, not to mention wall mounted tvs...... I will definitely be checking out if there are other Alofts when I travel!

Agreed. Aloft is a nice surprise for an airport hotel especially with free WiFi and a lively social scene downstairs. It's not always in the same price range as other airport hotels (sometimes it can be higher) but we found room rates at this Aloft for $124 this weekend, which, FWIW, beats the Courtyard By Marriott by $15.

Love or hate Aloft? Sound off in comments below!

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It Was at Aloft Excel in London Where They Were 'Fighting' with Photoshop

Where: One Eastern Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, United Kingdom, E16 1FR

Well, clearly our Guess the Hotel was not as difficult as we thought! Within a matter of hours not one but three people guessed it right: we were at the opening party of Aloft London ExCel where folks were doing a live-art battle with photoshop.

Having started to welcome guests on October 31st, Aloft offers 252 rooms in the Royal Victoria Docks, a hop and a skip from London City Airport. As we mentioned, this is the second Aloft in Europe, following Aloft Brussels Schumann in Belgium, and the first in the United Kingdom. The hotel is connected to the ExCel International Exhibition and Convention Center; the easiest way to get to London is to jump on the DLR (overground) and change to the Jubilee (tube) line at Canning Town station.

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ExCeLlent: Aloft London Excel is Open and Actually Affordable

Where: One Eastern Gateway, Royal Victoria Dock, London, United Kingdom, E16 1FR

Ladies and gents, there's another new hotel in London but this one is actually affordable and comes with free WiFi! Yup, we're talking about Aloft London Excel near the ExCeL international exhibition and convention centre in London's Docklands which opened on time, like it said, it would on November 1. (And it looks like they dropped the awk random capitalization too.)

The hotel has all things Aloft inside like the re: mix lobby lounge, the WXYZ bar, the re:fuel 24-hour grab-and-go mini-market, the re:charge fitness center, the splash swimming pool, a touch-n-go check-in kiosk and the arf program which allows guests to bring their pets along with them. The four-legged friends will get an Aloft-branded bowl, bed and complimentary treats and toys.

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52 Aloft Hotels Down, A Million To Go

Where: United States

After the consecutive openings of Aloft Brooklyn, Aloft Zhengzhou Shangjie, Aloft Haiyang and Aloft Coimbatore Singanallur, Aloft has now passed its 50th hotel milestone (52 to be exact). Though that number is way off from an original target made back in 2006, they don't seem to be slowing down anytime soon. The brand hopes to add another 20 hotels in just two years.

So what's their secret? Are they just interested in being the fastest chain to put up new properties around the world? As we saw yesterday, culture is an important part of any emerging brand. But are scalability and intellect two compatible qualities for a hotel to have?

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Look What Aloft Brooklyn Caught On Surveillance Tape

Where: 216 Duffield St [map], Brooklyn, NY, United States, 11201-5303

When idle hotel guests are left to their own devices...

Aloft hotels in New York have partnered up with indie music blog Pitchfork to create a a "video surveillance" live music series, featuring different bands performing in the rooms. While this is conceptually very reminiscent of Yotel's 100 Under 2 Festival, there is one big difference: you can't actually attend the performances in the hotel.

Instead, everything takes place on the screen. In fuzzy, distorted images—so you feel like you're spying on a private rehearsal, which is actually the opposite of a performance. Kinda cool!

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Hotel Hopping On The East River

If you haven't already tried it, the East River Ferry is a great way to get around NYC—especially in the summer. For $4 a ride, you can zip between lower Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Queens, and get to enjoy stunning views of the city while you're at it.

But for hotel geeks, this efficient cruise also poses another possibility: hotel hopping on the East River! Believe it or not, more than half of the eight ferry terminals are within walking distance of some of the neighborhood's essential hotels. And given NYC's blatant oversaturation these days, this is a great way to enjoy the city's diversity of hotels, without ever spending too much time in one particular neighborhood. Off to sea!

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