NEW YORK— LXR Luxury Resorts & Hotels, which has been focusing on the resort portion of its portfolio, has unveiled its flagship urban hotel, the 560-room London NYC. The hotel, formerly the Righa Royal, has been redesigned by leading British designer David Collins and will feature a signature restaurant by British celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay. LXR, which is owned by affiliates of the Blackstone Group, was formed from assets belonging to Wyndham International, MeriStar Hotels & Resorts, and the Boca Resorts Collection, among others. LXR has concentrated on working with name designers on the renovation of the hotels in its portfolio. “Top designers have become brands in and of themselves. Associating with them lends prestige to our projects. The luxury guest today expects this high level of finishes and sophistication,” LXR CEO John Ceriale told HOTEL BUSINESS®. “We wanted entering the lobby of The London, for example, to be an experience comparable to entering Hermes or Cartier.” Speaking at the flag raising, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg cited the current strength of the citys tourism market, which expects in excess of 42 million visitors this year. “Hotels create good paying jobs for New Yorkers and are a vital part of the tourism industry,” he said. In late-2007, The London NYC will be joined in the LXR portfolio by The London LA, the new name of the existing Bel Age Hotel, now undergoing renovations.
