THE VIEW FROM NEW YORK
Manhattan’s hotel scene is experiencing turbulence, but when travel returns, visitors will have a host of new options to try out
Before Covid-19 brought almost all travel to a halt, we had a look at the latest in hotel development in New York City: recent openings, renovations, and future arrivals planned for the Big Apple. Welcoming more than 60 million domestic and international visitors per year in normal times, the city was on track to add 20,000 further hotel rooms, taking total inventory close to 140,000 by the end of next year. The future is uncertain as New York deals with the devastating impact of the pandemic. We’re sharing the overview written at the time below, without estimates of opening dates for new arrivals, in the hope that it can perhaps provide some inspiration for when it will be possible to travel again. Note that some properties may be temporarily closed or access to some facilities may be limited at the time of reading.
NEW MOXY EAST VILLAGE
In the space of a few years, Marriott International’s millennial Moxy brand went from opening its first New York hotel in Times Square to having more than 1,200 rooms on Manhattan across three properties, with additions Downtown (298 rooms) and in Chelsea (349 rooms).
In September last year, it continued with a 286-room hotel in the East Village, each floor drawing inspiration from the surrounding area’s history. Rooms pack a lot into their footprints, and food and drink options include an all-day bar and café and a French-Mediterranean restaurant. Moxy properties in the Lower East Side and Williamsburg are due to follow in the next few years. moxy-hotels.marriott.com
RENAISSANCE NEW YORK CHELSEA HOTEL
In February, Marriott also added the Renaissance Chelsea in a new 39-storey tower on West 25th Street with 341 rooms and suites. On the site of a former flea market, it’s the brand’s third Manhattan hotel. Art is a major theme, with video projections in the hallways and a two-storey installation featuring more than 2,000 antique knobs, locks and keys.
Still to open are Restaurant Cotto, serving Italian food, and Somewhere Nowhere, a rooftop lounge and bar with an outdoor pool. Marriott also has a Le Méridien under development on Fifth Avenue. renaissance-hotels.marriott.com
THE ARTEZEN
An office conversion two blocks from One World Trade Center, the Artezen opened in April last year. Its 89 rooms are decked out in a contemporary mix of greys, whites, blues and tan leather, and some have terraces. Its two-storey lounge and restaurant at the top of the building is still to come. artezenhotel.com
TWA HOTEL AT NEW YORK JFK
In May last year, the 1962 Eero Saarinen-designed TWA Flight Center at JFK airport finally began its new life as part of the TWA Hotel, flanked by two new wings containing 512 rooms with midcentury furniture. The former terminal has restaurants and lounges, and the 1958 Lockheed Constellation aircraft outside houses a vintagestyle cocktail bar. The observation deck has a pool for plane watching. twahotel.com
HOTEL HENDRICKS
Opened in summer last year, Hotel Hendricks is a few blocks from Bryant Park and is part of the Fortuna Collection, which includes Hotel Hugo in Soho. Interiors in the property’s 176 rooms mix mahogany panelling with bursts of animal print. Restaurant Paloma serves pan-Latin cuisine, while Hendricks Rooftop offers views Downtown towards One World Trade Center. hotelhendricksny.com
HYATT PLACE NEW YORK CITY/ TIMES SQUARE
In November, Hyatt cut the ribbon on Hyatt Place Times Square, the second property for its upscale select service brand on Manhattan and its largest worldwide. In addition to its 520 contemporary guestrooms, there is the Market, which offers all-day dining plus sandwiches and salads to go, the Bar serving hot drinks, wines and cocktails, and the Breakfast Bar, plus a gym. hyattplace.com
CONRAD NEW YORK MIDTOWN
Taking over what was the London NYC, Hilton’s Conrad Hotels opened its second Manhattan property on West 54th Street in October after a full renovation. There are 562 suites in the 54-floor hotel, starting at 39 sqm. All-day dining is available at Dabble. conradhotels.com
EQUINOX HOTEL NEW YORK
Part of Hudson Yards, the largest development in New York since the Rockefeller Center, the first hotel for this high-end fitness chain opened in July last year. The 212 rooms and suites feature floor-toceiling windows and are designed to be “dark, cool respites” to optimise rest. There is a 5,574 sqm Equinox club with both indoor and outdoor pools that guests can access, as well as Electric Lemon restaurant and bar. Equinox is also planning hotels in Chicago, Houston and Los Angeles. equinox-hotels.com
PESTANA PARK AVENUE
Portuguese hotel group Pestana opened its 100th property, and its first in New York, in early February. On East 39th Street, near the Empire State Building, the 28-storey newbuild has 95 rooms, including a limited number with balconies and one junior suite. A 24-hour Grab and Go in the lobby offers healthy snacks and meals. pestana.com
REFRESHED THE RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, CENTRAL PARK
In June last year, this hotel completed a year’s worth of renovations, tackling all rooms and suites, as well as the public spaces. An all-day “gastro lounge” now occupies the ground floor, while the mezzanine is dedicated to wellness with a gym and studio. Being right on Central Park South, many of the 253 rooms and suites have park views, with telescopes by the windows. ritzcarlton.com
THE CARLYLE, A ROSEWOOD HOTEL
Towering over the corner of Madison Avenue and 76th Street on the Upper
East Side, the Carlyle is undergoing a refurbishment of its rooms and suites. Full details are yet to be released, but the Tony Chi design will offer a modern take on art deco with geometric carpets, soft golden panelling, and contrasting marble in the bathrooms. A number of suites will keep their individual designs. rosewoodhotels.com
COMING SOON HYATT CENTRIC 39TH AND FIFTH NEW YORK
Hyatt will open a 162-room Hyatt Centric on 39th Street and Fifth Avenue, the second Manhattan property for its lifestyle brand. One of its six suites will have a balcony with Empire State Building views; there will also be a restaurant and rooftop bar. hyattcentric.com
ARLO MIDTOWN
Arlo Hotels will expand its New York presence with a property on West 38th Street and 9th Avenue. It will have 489 rooms designed by Meyer Davis, taking “design cues from the natural world”. Its Midtown property is the budget-chic brand’s third on Manhattan; it is also working on a second Miami property and one in Washington DC. arlohotels.com
PENDRY MANHATTAN WEST
The third hotel for this luxury boutique brand is planned as part of the Manhattan West mixed-use development, located in between the redeveloped Penn station and Hudson Yards. The property will comprise 134 rooms and 30 suites, with facilities including a restaurant, a lounge and an open-air terrace bar. pendry.com
SIX SENSES NEW YORK
Six Senses will add another temple to health and wellness on Manhattan’s westside, housed in the twisting XI towers designed by architect Bjarke Ingels, about ten blocks south of Equinox Hotel. There will be a total of 136 rooms – dressed in neutrals and natural materials – spread across ten floors, as well as private residences. It will have a restaurant just off the High Line elevated park and a café with an outdoor terrace, while a 4,181 sqm spa will be equipped with such essentials as a vibroacoustic meditation dome and magnesium pool. sixsenses.com
AMAN NEW YORK
Aman New York will bring 83 rooms and suites – all with fireplaces – to the 1921 Crown Building on Fifth Avenue and 57th Street. Standout features of the luxury property will include a tenth-floor terrace with Central Park views and a three-storey spa with pool. aman.com
VIRGIN HOTELS NEW YORK
First launched in Chicago in 2015, Richard Branson’s Virgin Hotels also has a property in Dallas with more to come in cities including Nashville, Las Vegas and New York. Located on 29th and Broadway in Manhattan’s NoMad neighbourhood, the brand-new, glassy tower will pack in 500 rooms (or Chambers, in Virgin speak) as well as the brand’s Commons Club and a whole host of facilities. virginhotels.com
THE RITZ-CARLTON NEW YORK, NOMAD
In addition to refurbishing its Central Park hotel, Ritz-Carlton is planning a 250-room NoMad hotel. Part of a US$500 million, Rafael Vinoly designed tower, it will have interiors by Yabu Pushelberg, a signature restaurant, a Club Lounge, a spa, a rooftop bar and a public garden, as well as 16 branded residences. ritzcarlton.com
WALDORF ASTORIA NEW YORK
Closed since 2017, Waldorf Astoria is undergoing a huge refurbishment. In addition to a full restoration of its public spaces, there will be about 350 rooms and suites – a significant reduction from before – and a similar number of private residences. hilton. com/en/waldorf-astoria