In U.S. hotel news, InterContinental Hotels Group has cut the ribbon on a pair of new hotels from its newest brands in Manhattan; Hyatt opens a dual-branded hotel in the heart of Denver as well as new properties in New Orleans and near Miami’s airport; Marriott adds a big extended-stay option in Chicago’s Loop along with an upscale JW property in the Twin Cities; and Four Seasons has started taking reservations for a renovated Hawaii resort.
InterContinental Hotels Group’s (IHG) new EVEN Hotels brand — designed to appeal to “wellness-minded travelers” — has opened its third U.S. property, this one in the middle of Manhattan. The new EVEN Hotel New York-Times Square South is at 321 W. 35th Street. It offers healthy eating options in its Cork & Kale Market; sleep aids like mood lighting in guest rooms; a fitness center plus in-room workout items; and ergonomic work spaces (you can even get a stand-up desk in your room). A rate search finds rooms in mid-January for as little as $151.

The bar in New York’s new Indigo Hotel has sweeping city views. (Image: InterContinental Hotels Group)
In lower Manhattan, meanwhile, IHG has also cut the ribbon on a new hotel in its Indigo brand. The 293-room Hotel Indigo Lower East Side New York is at 171 Ludlow Street, with a design that preserves elements of that historic neighborhood. The lobby, with floor-to-ceiling city views, is on the 14th floor; an outdoor terrace, pool, bar and restaurant are on the 15th floor. The hotel also has a fitness center and four suites, including a duplex penthouse loft on the 25th-26th floors. Rates start at $225.
The Hyatt Regency Denver in the heart of that city has been joined by a new Hyatt property — the dual-branded, 361-room Hyatt Place/Hyatt House Denver Downtown. It’s located at 440 14th Street, a block and a half east of the city’s convention center. Hyatt Place is the company’s brand for “tech-savvy travelers,” with free Wi-Fi and 24-hour food options, while Hyatt House is its extended-stay product with apartment-style, kitchen-equipped accommodations. Rates begin around $192 at the Hyatt House, $184 at Hyatt Place.
There’s also a new Hyatt House in New Orleans, at 1250 Poydras Street, in the city’s downtown BioDistrict. The Hyatt House New Orleans/Downtown has 114 studio and one-bedroom accommodations, all with kitchens, and 80 “Den” guestrooms without kitchens. The hotel offers free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, a bar, workout room, and 24-hour market. Rates start at $243.
And there’s a new Hyatt Place in Miami at 3549 LeJeune Road, just south of the Airport Expressway and just east of Miami International. The 135-room Hyatt Place Miami Airport-East has free Wi-Fi, free hot breakfast, a “coffee to cocktails” bar, and 24-hour meal service and market. Rates start at $234.

Chicago’s newest Residence Inn occupies an historic building in the financial district. (Image: Marriott)
The largest property in Marriott’s Residence Inn brand has opened in downtown Chicago. The 380-unit Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/Loop is inside a 100-year-old landmark structure, the Roanoke Building, at Madison and LaSalle Street in the city’s financial district. The property’s accommodations offer 10-foot ceilings, 55-inch TVs, free Wi-Fi, kitchen, and ergonomic work spaces, and free breakfast is included. Rate start at $169.
The newest upscale JW Marriott hotel from Marriott is at the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn., just south of Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport and 11 miles from downtown Minneapolis. With 342 rooms and a soaring three-story-high lobby area, the hotel has a signature restaurant called Cedar+Stone, Urban Table where all the ingredients are locally sourced, i.e., from no more than 200 miles away. The lobby bar also carries a big selection of local craft beers. The JW has an indoor pool, fitness center, Executive Lounge and meeting rooms Rates start at $289.
Four Seasons Hotels has started accepting reservations for stays March 1 or later at its Four Seasons Resort Lanai in Hawaii. The property has undergone a multi-million dollar, floor-to-ceiling overhaul that includes all 217 guest rooms and suites. Accommodations now offer 75-inch LED TVs, wearable key wristbands, BluRay players, in-room iPad Airs, and a new mobile app linked to hotel services. The resort also got new restaurants (including a Nobu), a renovated spa, and an updated pro shop at its signature golf course. Rates start at a cool $960 a night.
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