NEW YORK Starwood Hotels & Resorts will hold a soft opening for the 511-room W Hotel Times Square at the end of this summer, with a grand opening slated for October 2001. This will mark the brand s fifth hotel in the city.
The property s interiors were designed by Yabu Pushelberg, and are very forward thinking, according to Diane Briskin, corporate director sales and marketing/Starwood.
HOTEL BUSINESS. has also learned that the 57-story property, which is located in heart of one of New York s busiest tourist areas, will feature a Zen-like feel with Japanese inspired furniture and indoor waterfalls, according to a spokesperson.
She added that guests will enter the hotel from 47th Street where a waterfall, contained in glass, will run over their heads and fall down on both sides. The ground floor will also feature water-filled terrazzo flooring.
The hotel s lobby will be located on the fourth floor, where there will be a 6,000-square-foot promenade with a Japanese interpretation of the W Living Room. The lobby will also feature a black lacquer bar and a retail shop selling W Catalogue items.
The new W Hotel will feature earthy colors, like white and beige, contrasted against bright hues, like cobalt blue. Guestrooms will offer, color gradations, featuring dark carpeting, against lighter walls, and a much lighter ceilings.
In addition, guestrooms will have mirrored headboards that stretch from floor to ceiling, floating glass desks, and king bedrooms that offer bathrooms with translucent doors and oversized, open showers with no door or curtain. It s a peek-a-boo feel, said a spokesperson.
She added that this feeling would also be extended to the underground floor, which will feature a very small peep-show room. This room will be made of inflatable materials and will not be functional; guests can merely look in as they would an art exhibit.
The W Hotel Times Square will also offer 43 suites, 3,200 square feet of meeting space, and a 3,500-square-foot bar that has yet to be named. There will also be a Steve Hanson restaurant; Hanson is best known for the existing Blue Water Grill in New York. (4/16/01) Diana M. Rodriguez