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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.

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To Secure The Future of 'Edition' Hotels, Marriott's Putting Its Money Where Its Mouth Is

Though we felt some faint ripples in the Edition pond back in October, it looks like things are moving along at a pretty steady clip. The WSJ is reporting that Marriott has invested $800 million of its own money into three of the five new Edition hotels it hopes to open over the next three years (Hmm, haven't we heard this one before?).

Those three properties include: the Berners hotel in London; the Seville Beach Resort in Miami; Abu Dhabi; Bangkok, and, of course, New York's Clock Tower (above). Consider Waikiki and Istanbul the "test drives" of the Edition brand. Now, it kind of comes down to a do-or-die situation. Either the five new hotels soar, or they sink fast. But with so much of its own money at stake, and Ian Schrager's reputation on the line, Marriott should certainly have the momentum it needs for lift-off.

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Edition Hotels is Finally Coming to New York...Maybe

On Monday, we heard that the troubled Edition Hotels brand was still moving forward with their New York, London and Miami Beach hotels which was some much-needed positive news for the brand after the recent Waikiki Edition takedown.

While we're not quite sure what the status of construction is in Miami, we do know that Edition has a London hotel lined up (they are renovating the old Berners Hotel) and now it looks like they are squared away in the Big Apple as well.

The WSJ reports that Marriott has ponied up $165 million to buy Madison Ave's Clock Tower. Remember, this is building that fashion designer Tommy Hilfiger was looking into back in May. And coincidentally, Ian Schrager himself was a part owner in this property way a few years ago as well. Given that he's one half of the Edition brand, we bet he had some say in the purchasing process.

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Finally, Work is Beginning on The Edition Miami Beach (Or Is It?)

Update, 10.28.11: A HotelChatter operative rode by the property today and reports: "There is a huge crane at work and they've torn down one entire side -- wall and windows etc. so yes, progress is afoot!"

Last month we gave you a nifty little guide to the Shiny New Hotels Coming to South Beach and on it we mentioned that Edition South Beach would be happening, someday, inside the old Seville Beach Resort.

The plan for Edition South Beach to rise from the ashes of the Seville were announced back in July 2010 but as of March of this year, there was still no work happening on the hotel, leading us to wonder if the timeline of three years of "significant renovations" would be pushed back even further.

But thanks to a tipster, we think we spy some movement. Check out the scaffolding going up along the exterior. Exciting! Update: Some neighborhood folks actually say that work hasn't been happening on the hotel for a while. So who knows what's really going on here. If you do, let us know!

Yet given that the Waikiki Edition recently crashed and burned and the only one out there now is all the way in Istanbul, we wonder how well will the next Editions fare?

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The Modern Honolulu is Keeping Rates Low at $195 a Night

Where: 1775 Ala Moana Boulevard [map], Honolulu, HI, United States, 96815

It's been about a month since the Edition Waikiki was kicked out of their own hotel and The Modern Honolulu ushered in but the dust from the fracas has just about settled down. More importantly, the Modern Honolulu has a real deal website now.

The site is chock-full of gorgeous photos, taken when the hotel was still an Edition, and while it lacks the sophistication of the old Edition site, the new site definitely feels more approachable with big easy to read fonts and exciting copy. (Ok, some of it does feel a little too cheerleader peppy.)

But perhaps the biggest improvement here is the room rate for the month of October. Rates at the Modern are just $195 a night all next month for city view rooms. Interestingly, that's how much the Edition offered as its special opening rate a year ago before jumping up to $375 a night. So, um...anyone up for a trip to Hawaii next month? If you are, just be prepared for some awkward employee interactions.

Ritz-Carlton Hotels / Bangkok Hotels / Edition Hotels / Hotel Architecture / → All Tags

The Tallest, Most Expensive Building in Bangkok Will Have You Living in a Hotel

Staying for a few nights in a hotel is one thing, but buying into that lifestyle and staying for a portion of your life in one is another matter entirely. Fortunately for hotels, people dream of doing this very thing, hence the rise of hotel-style apartment living (beaucoup amenities), or just plain hotels with condos thrown on top.

When they're completed next year, Bangkok's Ritz-Carlton Residences should steal the top spot in the luxury dream of those who would give their right arm to occupy a hotel suite. In addition to the being the tallest and most expensive skyscraper in Bangkok's skyline, the 200 Ritz-Carlton Residences at Maha Nakhon will compliment an actual "boutique hotel"—ah hem The Edition Bangkok—also housed in the architecturally mindboggling building.

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The Save Waikiki Edition Team is Keeping Score on Facebook

We mentioned last week that even though the Waikiki Edition has been unceremoniously replaced by The Modern Honolulu, employees were still holding out hope that Edition would one day rise again by creating a Facebook page.

And judging from this recent update, it looks like quite a few people are holding out hope that Edition will rise again. About 525 now to be exact. Compared to 59 for Modern Honolulu, an Aqua Hotels and Resorts property.

Sadly, we're not so sure when or even if this will ever happen. The hotel owners M Waikiki LLC filed for bankruptcy late last week which actually protected them from having to turn the hotel back over to Edition's parent company, Marriott, despite a New York judge's ruling to do so. Sigh. It could be a really long time before all this gets sorted out and we're just afraid the damage to Edition is probably already done.

Let's hope the upcoming Editions--Bangkok, London, Mexico City and South Beach--fare much better.

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It Turns Out The Edition Waikiki Was 'Just a Job' to Some

We all had a three-day weekend thanks to the Labor Day holiday but down at the Waikiki Edition (or Edition Waikiki or Modern Honolulu, whatever team/side you're on), the employees were still working--both to serve guests and to fight against their new bosses, Aqua Hotels and Resorts.

As far as we know, Aqua is still running the hotel as the Modern Honolulu and Marriott is begrudgingly respecting the hotel owners, M Waikiki's recent bankruptcy filing. In the meantime, Marriott plans to sue M Waikiki up the wazoo, or for tens of millions of dollars in damages for breaking the management contract. As for the guests, Marriott is now urging them to call the Marriott reservations center and make reservations at other nearby Marriott hotels.

On the bright side, even though there are miserable employees on the property, the booze is free. The hotel is no longer selling alcoholic drinks because it needs to apply for a new liquor license in Aqua's name as the old one belonged to Marriott. That sounds crappy but reports say they are giving away the alcohol. Whee!!

Now onward with the next chapter in this story..

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Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Hotel News / Edition Hotels / Aqua Hotels / Honolulu Hotels / Hotel Woes / → All Tags

What It's Like For a Guest at The Waikiki Edition aka Modern Honolulu Hotel

It's not so peaceful here anymore.

All this week, we've been watching the drama of the Waikiki Edition Takeover unfold at a rapid pace. The hotel owners, M Waikiki LLC, fired the first shot by dumping the Edition brand and anyone affiliated with Marriott Hotels overnight on Saturday and installing a new brand, Aqua Hotels and Resorts to run the place with a new name, The Modern Honolulu.

Marriott struck back by winning an injunction from a New York court to reinstall their Edition brand. But so far no changes have been made. Except that M Waikiki filed for bankruptcy yesterday making it harder for Marriott to take any further legal action against them.

All week long we've been posting commentary from the hotel's Edition employees who were forced to sign with Aqua Hotels or else be fired. Needless to say it's not a happy place there. (The employee have also set up a Facebook Page called Save the Waikiki Edition. 347 likes and counting!

But today, we have a different perspective to share with you--that of a longterm guest at the hotel who has stayed nearly 110 nights at the hotel this year alone. They write:

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The Waikiki is Now The Waikiki Edition Once Again (But For How Long?)

Some late-breaking news yesterday--a New York judge has ordered M Waikiki LLC, the owners of the The Waikiki Edition who dumped the brand in favor of The Modern Honolulu, to reinstall the Edition team which is owned by Marriott Hotels.

The Wall Street Journal reports:

On Wednesday, a New York state judge issued a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction that stated that Marriott should be allowed to return to its management role at the hotel by 2:30 p.m. local time, replacing Aqua Hotels & Resorts, the management company installed by the owners on Sunday, according to a copy of the judge's order.

But despite the ruling, the WSJ said that by late Wednesday Aqua was still in place and that a bunch of Marriott executives had arrived but then later left the hotel.

Still Marriott says they are accepting reservations for the hotel through Marriott.com and over the phone as well as through "numerous online and other travel providers." (Also of note; anyone who booked a spa deal through PlayHawaii.com are welcome back as well.) But will it still be a Marriott/Edition hotel when you get there? That remains to be seen.

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Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Edition Hotels / Aqua Hotels Hawaii / Hotel Employees / → All Tags

More Edition Employees Talk About 'Invasion Day'

It looks like the takeover of the Edition Waikiki is not quite the "peaceful coup" the hotel owners has boasted about to the Wall Street Journal.

Just days after the owners locked out Edition's parent company, Marriott, and installed Aqua Hotels and Resorts as well as gave the hotel a new name, The Modern Honolulu, more employees are telling HotelChatter what's really going on behind the scenes.

We're keeping their names anonymous because while they might not like the new changes, they can't afford to lose their jobs either, which drives home the real frustration of this takeover situation.

Now, here's what an employee working the night the switch was made had to say:

First off I just want to say, is Hang in there Edition...

I was working the night when Aqua decided to come in and take over. It was such a shock to all the employees, and they had no information as to what was going on. All they told us was that it's under new management and if we didn't sign we would not be given our jobs back. So I signed on and was not happy about it, and told new management the guest deserve to have the same great service no matter who is running the hotel now..

To all my fellow coworkers and managers. Hang in there and never forget what you did for the hotel and the hotel did for all of us.. And to never forget your ETHOS!!

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Edition Waikiki Lawsuit / Marriott Hotels / Edition Hotels / Aqua Hotels Hawaii / Hotel Employees / Hotel News / → All Tags

Edition Waikiki Employees are Holding Strong During These 'Modern' Times

The fallout from the Edition Waikiki/Modern Honolulu switcheroo continues today with a moving testimony from an actual employee at the hotel. There's no need for any further commentary so let's just get right into it:

I work for Edition. The employees here are more than that, we are a tight knit family. We built that place, we are the face of Edition. We are proud to be part of the Marriott family. We are loyal to Marriott. We said no to the union coming in. It takes quite a bit for employees to trust a company, and turn away union representation. So this situation has really brought us that much closer.

Every day we are meeting up, and talking, waiting to see what is going to happen. This group, Aqua, can't come in and try to ride out what we worked so hard for. We won't just move on, and work our hotel job like nothing happened. WE are Editon. We were trained by the best of the best, and the reviews reflect that.

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