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Sit Tight, The James Miami Will Open at The End of 2012

Where: 1545 Collins Ave [map], Miami, FL, United States, 33139

It looks like us and Forbes.com had the same idea today--listing the hotels that we are most excited to see open in 2012.

While Forbes added five more hotels than we did and their list spanned the whole year while we just focused on the next few months, we did have two similar picks--W Paris and Conrad New York. But Forbes also dropped a little nugget of info regarding the upcoming James Royal Palm Hotel in Miami.

As you may recall, the James brand announced their plans for the old Royal Palm Hotel back in April. And now, according to the hotel website, renovations on the 255 Royal Palm Tower rooms, which started in August, have been completed. But the rest of the hotel will be under renovation until late 2012 when it will then reopen as The James.

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Make Sure You're On the Inside for Tomorrow's Sale at James Hotels

Where: 55 East Ontario [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60610

We sung Chicago's praises last week when we named it Best Hotel Scene of 2011, and with good reason! The city's in the midst of a renaissance, and there are so many hotels to visit there now it makes your head spin. But here's one to keep in mind if you're visiting over the next few weeks: James Chicago is offering majorly discounted rooms, available during an exclusive Insider Sale that launches tomorrow.

The booking window lasts from tomorrow to January 15, and is valid for any reservations through March 31. How do $139/night guest rooms sound? As luck would have it, James New York is also getting a piece of the mid-winter action, with discounted Queens starting at $259, and Corner Kings starting at $339.

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What Does It Take To Be An Artist-in-Residence At the James Chicago?

Where: 55 East Ontario [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60610

A little over a year ago, we brought your attention to the James Chicago's "Room 28" art exhibit featuring a mismatched stack of old suitcases.

This month, the hotel made five artists compete for the chance to have their work permanently displayed somewhere inside the building—and then filmed a mini reality show to document the whole process! The end results: a mummified shrub, an abstract map of Chicago's grid system, and a Rio de Janeiro-inspired painting. To find out which one actually made the cut, see below!

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September In New York Doesn't Have To Put You In The Poor House

We've gotten a few requests this week for affordable hotels in NYC, and thought we'd take a minute to examine the crazy roller coaster that is September hotel rates. First off, three major overlapping events—a UN conference, two consecutive Jewish holidays (Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur), and the NYC WIne & Food Festival—make for a severely congested "back-to-school" season. Go figure.

As a result, almost all NYC hotels—including normally-affordable "budget" hotels (Holiday Inns, Fairfield Inns, Hampton Inns)—raise their rates during this time of year. But as we showed earlier this week in San Francisco, there are always exceptions to the rule—just as long as you're willing to hunt for them. Luckily for you, that's what HotelChatter is here for.

Starting with a 20%-off promotion at a few of the game-friendly Thompson Hotels...

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The 'True Fashion Week Meal' at The James New York? Celery and Champagne.

Where: 27 Grand Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10013

Okay people—as of tomorrow, we'll officially be one week away from Fashion's Night Out and even though it's technically an international event, the undisputed capital is New York. Thus, we've been running down some Fashion Week Hotel packages to get you right up close to the shopping and runway action, with a welcome side of pampering.

The James New York is taking things to another level, however; they're going native with a package including the "true Fashion Week meal." Celery and champagne!

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Where to Stay in NYC for Labor Day Weekend

Only one and a half weeks to go! Labor Day weekend is a game that every hotel wants in on (we know we'll be traveling!), but for this particular holiday roundup, we've chosen to highlight the NYC hotels that we've been following this summer. Either through openings, or news stories, we're sticking with the hotels we know about. Think of it as a "greatest hits" collection, minus the cheesy power ballads.

Almost one month into the game, The Nolitan has been generating some buzz, undoubtedly thanks to its unique, nabe-honoring name. Over Labor Day weekend, rates go as low as $341. And if you remember from our tour last month, almost all rooms include cozy little balconies that overlook much of the Soho area, plus views of the Williamsburg Bridge.

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Where Does New York's Most Androgynous Model Hang Out? The James, Of Course

Where: 15 Thompson Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10013

It was during a well-deserved coffee break and magazine-browsing session yesterday that we stumbled upon gender-defying supermodel Andrej Pejic's cover story in New York Mag. Unlike hotels, we don't keep up with the fickle day-to-day world of fashion, but sometimes it's nice to dive in and see what all the fuss is about.

Lo and behold! What peaked our interest, but a reference to a hotel party that the reporter had attended, along with Pejic, at none other than the James New York. And considering Jimmy's (the rooftop bar) reputation, this seems like an appropriate choice. Pejic is evidently quite specific about his recreational time, and at one point tells the reporter, "You know, I feel like at this age, [hard-core partying] is appropriate.”

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This Is Why You'll Never Get A Sunburn At The James New York

Where: 27 Grand St [map], New York, NY, United States, 10013-1618

You all seemed to enjoy the news of the W Scottsdale's tanning concierge, so we thought we'd bring this one to your attention. Your un-burnt skin will thank us later.

Word is that James New York is now asking pool attendants to issue a "turn-over call" as a reminder for guests who are laying out too long in the sun. We seriously hope this is someone's actual job—you know...lifeguard, cocktail waiter, towne pool crier. The feature is part of a new "Rooftop Retreat" promotion the hotel is pushing. Hmm. Only two days after we put them at the top of our NYC rooftop pool list? Looks like someone's been reading HotelChatter!

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Here's What The James Miami Will Look Like

Where: 1545 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

You can't stay in what will be The James Miami yet, but here's a little taste of what you'll see when you roll up Collins Ave in your Bentley (no?) in 2012.

As we reported in April, Denihan Hospitality will make its first splash into the SoFla market with this outpost of the eco-cool James brand--and will be playing in the big leagues on this stretch of South Beach, not far from the new SLS South Beach and the longtime leaders of this hotel gang, Delano and Raleigh.

Before Rottlet Studio turns the old Royal Palm into this slick spot and the room rates rocket, though, you can get in for a "before" look with some of the cheapest rates on the ocean. (Yes, it doesn't hurt that it's now 'low' season for Miami.)

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The James Chicago is Turning 5 But Guests Are Opening the Birthday Gifts

Where: 55 E. Ontario St. [map], Chicago, IL, United States, 60611

To celebrate its fifth birthday, the The James Chicago is giving you what you want. That's why we love hotel birthdays so much, they get older but we get all the gifts.

The James has created a Five of Your Favorite Things package that includes the amenities most frequently requested and best reviewed by guests.

The hotel already offers our favorite amenity—free WiFi—so we were curious to see which top five were most requested. We could definitely see why this one is popular: the 60-minute signature ASHA Massage at the hotel's Spa by ASHA. You and a lucky pal will get a massage with your choice of Aveda aromatherapy scents.

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The James Will Open in the Royal Palm Hotel in Miami Beach

Finally, something good is happening to the abandoned Royal Palm Hotel in Miami Beach--The James Hotels brand, with their NYC and Chicago properties, is set to reopen the hotel next year after a massive $42 million renovation.

Initially the hotel was set to become an Affinia Hotel but the hotel was sold yet again last month and the new owners decided on the James instead.

The WSJ reports:

Brad Wilson, Denihan’s chief operating officer, acknowledged that Miami Beach is a highly competitive market for hotels. It already features stylish hotels such as Morgans Hotels Group Co.’s Mondrian South Beach, the Fontainebleau, the Shore Club and the Gansevoort South. “It’s a market that really welcomes more independent and artistically minded brands,” he said in an interview. “We think it’s a perfect match for the James.”

Since we're huge fans of both the James Chicago and the James New York, we're excited to see what they bring to Miami. But we hope their staples of peekaboo bathrooms, carefully cultivated art and of course free WiFi remain.

[Photo: WhitneynMatt]

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On a Clear Day in Soho, You Can See the W Hoboken

Where: 27 Grand Street [map], New York, NY, United States, 10013

There's yet another reason to request a higher floor at The James New York--the views. Once you get past looking at the worker bees going in and out of Holland Tunnel below and once you get past staring at the gargantuan Trump Soho, you can take in the rest of the western Manhattan.

You can even see all the way across the Hudson River into Hoboken where the W Hoboken is beckoning you to visit with it's giant red W.

This view was snapped from room 1405 which has a king bed inside (about 315-sq.ft.) We found rates for this weekend going at $314 a night for this room but if you opt for a room with a queen bed, that drops the rate to $284 a night (as well as the square footage to 280 sq.ft.)

Interestingly, the James has no rooms with two beds. So...you know...love the one you're with.

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