Aloft Archives - TravelSkills

Hotel news: Ritz in Atlanta, Marriott in Chicago, Hilton in NYC + Los Angeles, Austin

September 14, 2017

A luxurious suite overlooking Phipps Plaza at the Ritz-Carlton Buckhead in Atlanta. (Image: Ritz-Carlton)

In recent hotel news, a classic Atlanta property gets rebranded; Marriott cuts the ribbon on a big convention hotel in Chicago, and Viceroy Hotels adds a property there; a trendy independent property makes its debut in LA’s West Hollywood district; Hilton adds a major location in Manhattan, near the United Nations; and Marriott/Starwood adds a dual-branded hotel in Austin.

Atlanta’s Ritz-Carlton Buckhead, across the street from Lenox Square in Atlanta, has been a fixture of the city’s upscale Buckhead district for 30 years. It was even the brand flagship when the company had its HQ in Atlanta. But it will be rebranded within a matter of weeks. The hotel’s owner, Host Hotels & Resorts, has reached an agreement with Ritz-Carlton parent Marriott to take the property out of the Ritz-Carlton group and convert it into a property “under independent operation” called The Whitley. But it will still be part of the huge multi-brand Marriott family: The deal calls for The Whitley to be a part of Marriott/Starwood’s Luxury Collection when it changes its name December 1. Existing reservations will be honored, as will Ritz-Carlton Rewards and Marriott Rewards redemption nights, the companies said. Have you stayed at the R-C Buckhead lately? How was it?

The new Marriott Marquis near Chicago’s McCormick Place. (Image: Marriott)

The largest hotel to open in Chicago so far this year is the brand-new Marriott Marquis, located next to (and connected to) the huge McCormick Place convention center. The 1,204-room, 40-story Marriott Marquis Chicago is the city’s sixth-largest hotel; in addition to its modern glass-walled tower, the hotel also includes the historic red-brick American Book Company building next door. True to its convention-oriented location, the hotel boasts 93,000 square feet of meeting space, including a pair of 25,000-square-foot ballrooms. The hotel’s Woven & Bound Restaurant is an American brasserie open for three meals a day. Guest amenities include an M Club Lounge with workspace, snacks and drinks, open to Marriott Rewards members (or non-member guests for a fee); a 24-hour fitness center; a big grab-and-go market; business center and FedEx office; and fiber optic high-speed Internet. Rates start around $299, but can vary considerably based on the level of convention activity.

A room at The Viceroy in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood. (Image: Viceroy Hotels)

Farther north, in Chicago’s Gold Coast neighborhood, Viceroy Hotel Group has opened the 180-room Viceroy Chicago, a luxury property on the site of the former Cedar Hotel. It’s at the corner of Cedar and State streets, just south of Division Street. The 18-story Viceroy has a rooftop pool and year-round rooftop lounge, and an adjacent restaurant called Somerset run by chef Lee Wolen, a James Beard Award finalist. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, and the hotel will offer guests weekly classes in meditation and yoga starting in October. Opening rates start at $281 for bookings made by September 30.

The outdoor pool at The Jeremy in West Hollywood. (Image: The Jeremy)

At the corner of Sunset and La Cienega boulevards in Los Angeles is The Jeremy West Hollywood, a newly opened 286-room (including 50 suites) property. Its owners say the hotel has “an iconic cool presence that cultivates the best of WeHo’s notable culture.” The hotel’s all-day Etcho Café offers up “Cali-fresh cuisine” that is locally sourced and its JOAO Bar features “elements of old Hollywood.” The Jeremy also has a pool, fitness center, and a pair of large conference rooms. Rates start at $269.

A corner room at the Millennium Hilton at UN Plaza in New York. (Image: Hilton)

Members of Hilton’s Honors program have a new lodging option in New York City. A hotel at One United Nations Plaza on the east side of Midtown Manhattan (across from the UN Headquarters) has become a member of the Hilton family. The 439-room hotel opened as a Hyatt in 1976, then became the Millennium UN Plaza after it was acquired by Millennium & Copthorne Hotels in 2000. A few years ago, it was renamed the One UN New York, and now it is under Hilton Hotels management, and has been renamed the Millennium Hilton New York One UN Plaza. It’s the seventh Hilton Hotels property in New York. Rates start at $290.

The new Aloft/Element dual-branded hotel in Austin. (Image: Marriott/Starwood)

In downtown Austin, Texas, it’s one building but two new hotels. Marriott’s Starwood Hotels division has cut the ribbon on a dual-branded property that includes both an Aloft and an Element hotel, at Congress Avenue and Seventh Street, a few blocks south of the State Capitol. Both brands offer free Wi-Fi, and they share a 24-hour fitness center, business center, and 1,380 square feet of meeting space. The 32-story building includes a 278-room Aloft Austin Downtown along with a 144-room Element Austin Downtown. There’s also an on-site restaurant/coffeehouse/bakery called Caroline’s, and an “urban background playground” and bar called Upstairs at Caroline’s with live music. The Aloft offers high-ceilinged, loft-like accommodations with platform beds while the Element features studios and one-bedroom suites. Rates start at $349 at both hotels.

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New hotels: Stunning London luxury, Hip option in LA, Design-forward in NYC + 3 more!

April 19, 2017

A studio suite at The Ned in London’s Financial District. (Image: The Ned)

In news of hotel openings, a hot new business hotel comes to London’s financial district; InterContinental Hotels Group brings an Indigo to downtown L.A.; a British boutique property debuts in midtown Manhattan; a Baltimore pier is remade into luxury lodging; Atlanta welcomes another airport hotel; and Dallas gets a dual-branded Marriott property near Love Field.

The talk of the lodging scene in London is a new hotel called The Ned, located in the heart of The City (i.e., the financial district) in the stately 1920s-era Midland Bank building. (The building was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, known as Ned to his friends. Hence the name.) The building’s original design features have been preserved, with a 252-room hotel incorporated into them. A project of renowned hoteliers Andrew Zobler and Nick Jones, The Ned is slated to open April 27. No cookie-cutter rooms here: Rooms come in 13 categories, and the property boasts seven restaurants (including a 24-hour brasserie and a Jewish deli), six meeting rooms, a spa, men’s and women’s salons, and even a barber shop. The building’s former bank vault now contains a bar, and there’s also a rooftop grill. Pre-paid, non-refundable nightly rates for a small “crash pad” room start at $320, although the hotel offers a special discount rate of $230 for persons under 30.

Lobby of the new Hotel Indigo in downtown Los Angeles. (Image: InterContinental Hotels Group)

The mixed-use Metropolis development in downtown Los Angeles includes a newly opened, 350-room Hotel Indigo from InterContinental Hotels Group. The newly built, 18-story Hotel Indigo Los Angeles Downtown, at 899 Francisco Street, is within walking distance of the L.A. Live entertainment district, Los Angeles Convention Center and the Staples Center. It has a lobby-level restaurant/bar called Metropole; a top-floor cocktail lounge; a large outdoor pool terrace and bar on the fourth floor; 24-hour fitness facility; and 11 meeting rooms. Rates start at $263.

A terrace suite at Manhattan’s new Whitby Hotel. (Image: The Whitby)

Newly opened in Midtown Manhattan is The Whitby Hotel, an 86-room boutique property with a strong British influence from designer Kit Kemp, who created several similar properties in London along with the Crosby Street Hotel in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. The Whitby, at 18 West 56^th Street, is close to the Museum of Modern Art and a few blocks from Central Park. Guest rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows and free Wi-Fi, and some come with private terraces. The hotel has a restaurant/bar open for three meals a day, and an adjacent orangerie with high ceilings and a skylight. The hotel serves a traditional British afternoon tea. Rates start at $695.

Room with a waterfront view at Baltimore’s new Sagamaore Pendry. (Image: Pendry Hotels)

Baltimore’s century-old Recreation Pier building along the Fell’s Point waterfront, at 1715 Thames Street, has been totally renovated into a luxury boutique hotel called the Sagamore Pendry Baltimore. Along with 128 over-water guest rooms and suites, the new Pendry has a signature restaurant called the Chop House; the Cannon Room bar; a seasonal waterfront pool with a bar and grill; 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space; a water taxi service; 24-hour fitness center; and a spa. Advance purchase rates start at $375.

Lobby at the Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel, (Image: Renaissance Hotels)

In Atlanta, an early May opening is slated for the new Renaissance Atlanta Airport Gateway Hotel, accessible from ATL on the airport’s free SkyTrain. Part of the Gateway project (which already has a SpringHill Suites and a Marriott) near the Georgia International Convention Center, it’s on the west side of the airport, about three miles from the existing Renaissance Concourse Atlanta Airport Hotel on the north side. The 204-room Renaissance Gateway has a restaurant called Hickory & Hazel Southern Table & Bar and a fitness center. Rates start at $136.

Bar the the new Aloft Hotel near Dallas Love Field. (Image: Marriott)

Just a mile from Dallas Love Field, at 2333 W. Mockingbird Lane, is a new dual-branded property from Marriott that includes a 133-room Aloft hotel and a 91-room Element property. The two share a common entry and meeting space, along with a fitness center and outdoor pool. They’re part of the new retail/residential development called West Love. The Element Dallas Love Field’s guest units come with full kitchens and spa-style bathrooms, free breakfasts, and bicycles to ride on local trails. The Aloft Dallas Love Field offers a grab-and-go food market and drinks kiosk, and the property has musical entertainment at its W XYZ Bar. Rates start at $179 at the Aloft and $164 at the Element.

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Marriott innovates; Hilton adds a brand

January 25, 2017

Marriott’s innovation lab tests new lodging ideas.(Image: Marriott)

How do these new lodging concepts sound to you: a “communal room” for every four guest rooms; to-go food containers with customized contents; and a portable wine cart activated by the guest’s key card? Meanwhile, Hilton plans to add a 14^th brand.

To gather feedback on new lodging concepts, Marriott International has opened what it calls a pop-up innovation lab in downtown Los Angeles. And those are some of the ideas it is putting to the test for its fast-growing Aloft and Element brands.

The company said it will invite not only hotel professionals but also hotel guests and members of the public to check out innovations on display at the facility to gauge their reaction.

The initial round of new concepts includes a new floor layout that provides a communal room in the center of four guest rooms, “allowing travelers to share a kitchen, dining room and lounge area.” Such a design, the company said, is aimed at groups “who would like to spend time together in a more private setting.”

The company’s food and beverage team has its eye on more fresh and healthy items like spinach, quinoa and avocado. Guests would use a digital kiosk to order “customized ‘pots,’ a healthy meal in a colorful to-go container with food that reflects regional tastes,” Marriott said.

And bringing technology to beverage service, a proposed “portable wine cart” at Element properties would automatically dispense a glass of wine when activated by a room key card.

The Great Room at the M-Beta at Charlotte Marriott City Center. (Image: Marriott)

After Marriott gathers sufficient feedback at the pop-up lab, the new ideas could be seen in Aloft and Element hotels as soon as fall of 2017, Marriott said. It’s the second “test lab” that Marriott has opened recently; it is also trying out new concepts in real time at at a hotel in Charlotte, N.C.

Hilton, meanwhile – perhaps feeling pressure from the massive collection of brands at the newly merged Marriott/Starwood — announced it is adding a 14th brand to its family.

Called Tapestry Collection by Hilton (www.tapestrycollection.com), the brand will be somewhat like Hilton’s Curio Collection in that it will bring more independent properties into the Hilton reservations system and HHonors loyalty program.

The company said the new Tapestry brand “is positioned in the upscale segment just below Curio,” which is going into its third year with a membership of more than 30 “upper upscale” hotels in seven countries, and 45 more in the pipeline.

Hilton said the first Tapestry member properties will be in Syracuse, N.Y.; Chicago, Ill.; Nashville, Tenn.; Warren, N.J.; Hampton, Va.; and two in Indianapolis, Ind. It did not name the hotels. It added that it has 35 more potential Tapestry members in process, with the brand scheduled to kick off in the third quarter of this year.

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New hotels: Beverly Hills, LAX, New York, Miami, New Orleans

April 1, 2016

A guest suite at the Viceroy L’Ermitage in Beverly Hills. (Image: Viceroy Hotels)

In U.S. hotel news, a Beverly Hills classic gets a makeover and new management; Starwood adds an Aloft near LAX; a Spanish chain opens its first New York property; Hyatt is getting a new presence in Miami Beach; and Ace Hotels opens a New Orleans location.

The former L’Ermitage Beverly Hills has been renovated and rebranded as the Viceroy L’Ermitage Beverly Hills following a 10-month renovation. Viceroy also operates upscale properties in Miami, New York, San Francisco, Santa Monica and Abu Dhabi, along with some resorts. Guest accommodations at the luxury all-suite L’Ermitage start at 650 square feet. Besides redesigning the hotel’s 116 suites, Viceroy made over its meeting rooms and added a French bistro called Avec Nous. Rates in April start at $479.

Guest accommodations at the new Aloft Hotel near Los Angeles International Airport. (Image: Starwood)

Elsewhere in the Los Angeles area, Starwood Hotels has scheduled an April 12 opening date for a new Aloft hotel in El Segundo, just two miles from Los Angeles International Airport (although the website says it is taking reservations for stays starting May 1). Located at 475 North Sepulveda Boulevard, the Aloft has 246 rooms along with a pool, fitness center, and the brand’s signature W Xyz Bar and Re: fuel by Aloft market. Self-parking will be available for $14 a day. Rates start at $153.

The new RIU near Times Square adds 600 rooms to New York City's inventory. (Image: RIU Hotels)

The new RIU Plaza near Times Square adds 600 rooms to New York City’s inventory. (Image: RIU Hotels)

RIU Hotels & Resorts, a group based in Spain, is known mostly for its Caribbean resorts, but the company has started an urban hotel division, and it just opened a new property in New York City. The Hotel RIU Plaza New York Times Square is at 305 West 46^th Street, between Eighth and Ninth Avenues. It has 600 rooms on 29 floors, all equipped with mini-fridge, desk, and TV with multimedia connections. The new hotel’s restaurant and bar are still awaiting city licensing approval, but the property is offering “soft opening” rates as low as $109 a night!

The Thompson Miami Beach is joining Hyatt’s Unbound Collection. (Image: Thompson Hotels)

A subsidiary of Hyatt Hotels is buying the 380-room Thompson Miami Beach Hotel. Hyatt said that when the transaction closes later this month, the property will be rebranded as The Confidante, and will become a member of Hyatt’s recently-announced Unbound Collection. As a member of that group, The Confidante “will maintain its distinct character while providing guests and owners Hyatt’s award-winning customer loyalty program, robust operational and marketing resources and trusted, quality brand,” Hyatt said. (Other members of the new Unbound group include The Driskill in Austin and Hotel du Louvre in Paris.) Rates at the Thompson currently start around $239.

The lobby bar at the new Ace Hotel in New Orleans. (Image: Ace Hotels)

Ace Hotels, which has locations in Portland, Seattle, New York, Los Angeles and Pittsburgh, has opened its newest hotel in New Orleans. The 234-room Ace Hotel is at 600 Carondelet Street, in a 90-year-old repurposed art deco building; it’s part of the South Market development in the city’s Warehouse District. It has a music venue called Three Keys with events happening most nights of the week; a rooftop garden called Alto with dining, cocktails and a pool; an Italian osteria called Josephine Estelle; and a lobby bar. Rooms have free Wi-Fi. Rates start at $169.

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Newest hotels: NYC, San Francisco, DFW, Houston, Scottsdale

March 16, 2016

The new Renaissance Midtown in NYC has an interactive digital guest information board. (Image: Renaissance Hotels)

U.S. hotel openings this month include a high-tech Renaissance in Manhattan, a stylish boutique property near San Francisco’s Union Square, another Hyatt at Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, a Westin in a center for the energy industry outside of Houston, and a new Aloft in Arizona.

The newest Marriott property in the Big Apple is the Renaissance New York Midtown Hotel at 218 W. 35^th Street, near Seventh Avenue. That’s a short walk from Penn Station/Madison Square Garden, Macy’s, Herald Square, Javits Center and the Garment District (now called the Fashion District). Marriott calls it New York’s first “digitally enhanced hotel,” since its public areas feature interactive digital art installations; there’s also a four-story-high digital clock on top of the building. It has an all-day casual restaurant called Rock & Reilly’s, as well as a Planet Fitness health club. Non-prepaid rates start at $309.

Lobby bar with fireplace at San Francisco’s new Hotel Zeppelin. (Image: Viceroy Hotels)

The former Prescott Hotel in San Francisco – at 545 Post Street near union Square – has reopened following a renovation as the Hotel Zeppelin, a member of Viceroy Hotels. The 196-room property’s decor now sports a psychedelic/summer-of-love vibe. There’s a lobby-level café/bar/lounge, and guests can contact the concierge at any time, from anywhere via a downloadable app or SMS text. A 1,300-square-foot game room features a basketball wall, skeeball, shuffle board, and a giant electronic Bingo board. Rates start as low as $135.

The new Hyatt Place at the southern entrance to DFW Airport. (Image: Hyatt)

Hyatt already has a Grand Hyatt and a Hyatt Regency at Dallas/Ft. Worth Airport, and now it has opened a Hyatt Place there as well. The new 137-room Hyatt Place DFW is at 2350 Global Drive, near the airport’s south entrance in the Southgate Plaza development. It has a full-service restaurant and bar, a fitness center, indoor pool, meeting rooms, 24-hour market with freshly prepared and prepackaged food, free Wi-Fi, parking, and shuttle service to the terminals. Guests are entitled to free breakfast as well. Advance purchase rates start at $180, standard rates at $199.

Rendering of the lobby area at The Westin The Woodlands. (Image: Westin Hotels)

The Woodlands, Texas – located just north of metro Houston – is a hub for some giants of the oil and gas business, including ExxonMobil, Chevron Phillips, and Anadarko Petroleum. And now it’s the site of a new Starwood property called The Westin The Woodlands. The new 302-room Westin is located on Waterway Square, close to all kinds of shopping and dining options. Amenities include a fitness facility with infinity pool and spa, a bar and a restaurant with seasonal cuisine, meeting rooms, and guest rooms equipped with the usual Westin features like the Heavenly Bed, large work desk and so on. There’s also a Westin Executive Club with free food and drinks for Club-level guests. Rates start at $274.

The new Aloft Hotel in Scottsdale has the brand’s signature W Xyz Bar and Re:Mix Lounge. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

Starwood has set a March 29 opening date for a new Aloft hotel in Scottsdale, Arizona (although the website notes that no rooms are available until April 19). The new hotel at 4415 North Civic Center Plaza is Starwood’s third Aloft in the Phoenix area (others are in Tempe and at the airport). The new Aloft is in Scottsdale’s entertainment district, close to the old town and Fashion Square Mall. It has the usual Aloft amenities and services – W Xyz Bar, Re:fuel market, 24/7 pantry and Re:Mix lounge, along with free high-speed Wi-Fi throughout. Rates start at $148.

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New hotels: Boston, New York, West Palm Beach, Cleveland, Montreal

February 10, 2016

Starwood’s new Aloft is across from Boston’s convention center. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

New hotel openings in North America include a pair of Starwood brands at Boston’s convention center; a Four Points by Sheraton in New York’s financial district; a Hilton convention hotel in West Palm Beach, Florida; the conversion of an historic Cleveland building into a Kimpton; and a new Renaissance from Marriott in downtown Montreal.

The living area in a unit at Boston’s new Element Hotel. (Image: Element Hotels)

Starwood has cut the ribbon on a pair of new hotels in Boston’s Seaport District, on D Street just across from the Boston Convention & Exhibition Center. The dual-branded project includes the 330-room Aloft Boston Seaport and the 180-room Element Boston Seaport. In addition to 10,000 square feet of meeting space and free Wi-Fi hotel-wide, the Aloft offers the usual features of that brand, like a Re:fuel grab-and-go market, a 24-hour fitness center, the signature W XYZ Bar and a swimming pool. The new Element has studio-style guest accommodations with full kitchens, 1,000 square feet of meeting space, an indoor salt-water pool and a fitness center. The two hotels, less than three miles from the airport, are separated by a new driveway off D Street that provides access to the front entrances of both properties. Rates start at $235 at the Aloft and $313 at the Element.

5 new business class hotels in Boston

A guest room in the new Four Points by Sheraton in lower Manhattan. (Image: Four Points by Sheraton)

The newest hotel in New York City’s Financial District is Starwood’s Four Points by Sheraton New York Downtown, located at 6 Platt Street – a short walk from the New York Stock Exchange. The 261-room Four Points offers free Wi-Fi, 2,000 square feet of meeting space, a 24-hour fitness center, a business center, a full-service restaurant called the Ketch Brewhouse, and a rooftop lounge serving up local beers and barbecue. Nightly Rates start at $260.

The new Hilton at the convention center in West Palm Beach. (Image: Hilton)

Florida’s Palm Beach County Convention Center has a newly opened hotel connected to it by an enclosed walkway: The Hilton West Palm Beach. It’s a 400-room (and 43 suites), 12-story convention hotel at 600 Okeechobee Boulevard with more than 24,000 square feet of function space, including a 5,800 square foot ballroom. Rates start at $199. The new Hilton has “an in-house panel of experts” who put together team-building exercises and games for corporate groups. Its restaurant, called Manor, serves up farm-to-table American cuisine under Matthew Byrne, owner of the Palm Beach restaurant called Kitchen and former chef for Tiger Woods. It also has a lobby bar and a marketplace with locally sourced food and gifts.

Cleveland’s historic Schofield Building is now a Kimpton hotel. (Image: Kimpton)

The historic Schofield Building in downtown Cleveland at 2000 East Ninth Street will get a new life next month when Kimpton Hotels opens it as The Schofield Hotel. Kimpton kept the building’s original terra cotta façade, but spent $50 million converting the inside into 122 hotel rooms and 52 apartments. The rooms are decorated with reminders of Cleveland’s industrial history, and Karma Rewards members get free Wi-Fi. In April, the hotel will open a 120-seat restaurant and bar called Parker’s Downtown. Kimpton’s Schofield Hotel will offer guests free use of bicycles and yoga mats as well as a nightly wine hour, occasional craft beer nights and “a loaner guitar program.” Rates start at $150 (although when we checked the availability calendar, there wasn’t any until May).

The lobby of the Renaissance Montreal has an urban contemporary theme. (Image: Marriott)

In the heart of downtown Montreal, at the corner of Robert-Bourassa Boulevard and Cathcart Street, Marriott has cut the ribbon on the new Renaissance Montreal. The 142-room Renaissance has a Pan-Asian restaurant called East, as well as a 12^th-floor rooftop terrace (covered and heated) with a bar, a bistro kitchen, and a plunge pool. The lobby is decorated y a local street artist, and serves up live DJ music and cocktails. The new Renaissance has a business center, a fitness center, high-speed Wi-Fi and a Nespresso machine in every room. Introductory rates start at $199 (Canadian) through April 23.

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New hotels: Amsterdam, Dubai, Casablanca, Taipei

January 5, 2016

The new Hilton at Schiphol is in the heart of Amsterdam’s airport. (Image: Hilton)

In overseas hotel developments, there’s a new Hilton in the middle of Amsterdam’s airport; Four Seasons breaks into the Morocco market; Starwood cuts the ribbon on a new luxury property in Dubai; and Taipei adds a pair of new hotels.

The old Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol, which opened in 1972 right in the middle of the airport property, has closed down and been replaced by a brand new property right next door. The new one is also called the Hilton Amsterdam Airport Schiphol. It has 433 rooms including 12 suites; 96 of them are Executive rooms, with access to an Executive Lounge. And it has 23 meeting rooms, with a ballroom that accommodates up to 640 persons. There’s also a lobby bar, a restaurant called The Bowery, a 24-hour fitness facility, and a spa. Rates start at $235.

Sumptuous guest accommodations at the Four Seasons Casablanca. (Image: Four Seasons)

Four Seasons Hotels recently cut the ribbon on a new property in Casablanca, Morocco. The Four Seasons Casablanca’s oceanside location in the upscale Anfa neighborhood is 10 minutes from the city center and its financial district. The hotel has 186 rooms, 12,400 square feet of flexible meeting space, a French brasserie restaurant called Bleu, a spa and a 1,600 square foot pool. Rates start at $319.

Starwood’s new St. Regis Dubai is modeled after the New York St. Regis. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood’s newest property in the Middle East is The St. Regis Dubai, in the “urban resort” development called Al Habtoor City on Sheikh Zayed Road. The St. Regis will eventually be joined by a W and a Westin in the same location. The architecture and interiors of the 234-room (with 54 suites, including the two-story, thee-bedroom Royal Suite) St. Regis are a tribute to the St. Regis in New York. Dining options include a steakhouse, a brasserie and a cafe. The hotel also has two bars, a spa, 24-houir fitness facility and a pair of rooftop pools. Nightly rates begin at $416.

The lobby of the new Courtyard by Marriott in Taipei. (Image: Marriott)

There’s a new Courtyard by Marriott in Taipei, Taiwan: The 465-room property occupies the seventh through 30th floors of a skyscraper above the CityLink Shopping Mall, the Nangang metro station and Taiwan High-Speed Rail station. Rooms start at 36 square meters, and the hotel offers an all-day dining restaurant with international cuisine, a Cantonese restaurant, a tea/cocktail lounge and a fitness center. Rates start at $140.

The distinctive profile of Starwood’s new Aloft in Taipei. (Image; Starwood)

Another newly opened hotel in Taipei is Starwood’s Aloft Taipei Zhongshan, the first Aloft in Taiwan. Ten minutes from Taipei Songshan Airport (TSA), it’s in the city’s northeast downtown area, close to the Zhongshan Elementary School metro station. The new 88-room Aloft offers SPG Keyless room entry, and rooms come with free Wi-Fi and 42-inch LCD TVs with plug and play connectivity. The Aloft also offers its signature WXYZ bar, and Re:Fuel grab-and-go market. Introductory rates start at $163 including breakfast.

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New hotels: Starwood in Vegas, SF + Hyatt in Houston + NYC, Austin, more

November 10, 2015

The huge SLS Las Vegas is joining Starwood’s Preferred Guest program. (Image: Starwood)

In U.S. hotel developments, Hyatt has a new location in Houston; one of San Francisco’s top properties finished a major renovation; Manhattan gets a new independent hotel; Starwood adds a big Las Vegas affiliate and opens a pair of new Alofts; and Marriott expands its Autograph Collection.

Starwood Preferred Guest members headed to Las Vegas will soon have plenty of rooms to choose from. The lodging giant said that the 1,600-room SLS Las Vegas on the Strip at Sahara Boulevard will become a part of its Tribute Portfolio by the end of this year. That means the property will participate in Starwood’s reservations system and its loyalty program. And the company said that one of the three towers at SLS Las Vegas — the 289-room LUX Tower — will be converted into a W Hotel in 2016 after a renovation. Nightly rates at the SLS start at $49 (hey–it’s Las Vegas), plus a $29 resort fee.

The new Hyatt Regency at Houston’s Galleria. (Image: Hyatt)

Hyatt has cut the ribbon on a 14-story, 325-room Hyatt Regency next to Houston’s Galleria, the largest shopping center in Texas. Guest rooms feature 55-inch TVs with plug-and-play options for personal electronic devices, and free high-speed Internet. The hotel has a heated outdoor pool and adjacent fitness room as well as 11,000 square feet of meeting space. Rates start at $229. And Hyatt says a new Hyatt Place hotel will open next door in early 2016.

The new State Suite at The Palace, Starwood’s San Francisco Luxury Collection hotel. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood said that its Luxury Collection member in San Francisco, the 556-room, 55-suite Palace Hotel, has finished a $40 million overhaul. Redesigned guest rooms include some spectacular new suites, like the corner State Suite and the 1,000-square-foot Royal Suite. The skylit Garden Court was divided into the GC Lounge and the 120-seat Garden Court restaurant, and the fitness center was expanded to 3,000 square feet with new equipment, spa showers and more. Rates start around $295.

A guest room at The Renwick in midtown Manhattan. (Image: The Renwick)

Hotels just keep opening in Manhattan, and the newest is an independent luxury property called The Renwick, at 118 E. 40th Street, a short walk from Grand Central Station. Its 173 “loft-style” rooms and suites feature design elements inspired by an artist’s studio. The new hotel offers free high-speed (200 Mb/s) Wi-Fi, a business center, fitness center, and a signature restaurant called Bedford & Co. from chef John DeLucie. Rates being at $459.

Austin's new Granduca Hotel has overtones of an Italian villa. (Image: The Granduca)

Austin’s new Hotel Granduca has overtones of an Italian villa. (Image: Hotel Granduca)

Tuscan villas served as the inspiration for the new Italian-themed Hotel Granduca Austin, on a 38-acre site at 320 S. Capital of Texas Highway. It has 194 rooms ranging from 480 to 1,350 square feet, featuring full-sized baths with walk-in showers, kitchenettes and huge closets. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the Granduca has a fitness center, sauna/massage rooms, a pool and a billiards room as well as a restaurant featuring northern Italian cuisine. Rates begin at $299.

The new Aloft Louisville Downtown. (Image: Aloft)

Starwood also has opened a pair of new Aloft hotels in Raleigh, N.C, and Louisville, Ky. The Raleigh hotel is at 2100 Hillsborough Street across the street from the North Campus of North Carolina State University. Rates start at $170. The new Aloft Louisville Downtown is set along Whiskey Row a short distance from the Kentucky International Convention Center. The Louisville hotel’s bar takes on a local flair by offering more than 60 kinds of bourbon. Rates begin at $174.

Marriott’s Autograph Collection is the equivalent of Starwood’s Tribute Portfolio — an affiliated collection of independent properties that take part in Marriott Rewards and the Marriott reservations network. Marriott has just added three more hotels to that group, including The Envoy, a newly built, 136-room hotel in Boston’s so-called Innovation District; the Grand Bohemian Hotel Mountain Brook in the Birmingham, Alabama suburb of Mountain Brook; and The Citizen, a Sacramento, California hotel that occupies the 90-year-old California Life Insurance Building downtown.

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Shiny new hotels in: London, Munich, Taipei, India +

October 9, 2015

The Distillery Bar at Hilton’s new London Bankside hotel. (Image: Hilton)

In overseas hotel news, Hilton adds another property in London; Starwood debuts a pair of Alofts in Germany; there’s a new Marriott in Taipei; Marriott and Shangri-La have openings in India; China gets a new Marriott; and Bogota adds a new property from Four Seasons.

The new Hilton Bankside in London. (Image: Hilton)

The newest Hilton property in London is the 292-room Hilton London Bankside, in the Bankside district near the Tate Modern gallery. it offers executive-level rooms with access to an Executive Lounge; a restaurant called OXBO Bankside, and a bar called The Distillery, as well as a pool and fitness center. Rates range from $228 to $527.

The new Aloft in Munich has a new sister property in Stuttgart. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood’s fast-growing Aloft brand, aimed at younger, tech-savvy business travelers, has added a pair of locations in Germany. The new 184-room Aloft Munich is across the street from the city’s central train station, not far from the Pinakothek Museum and the Oktoberfest grounds. In Stuttgart, the new 165-room Aloft is located in the Milaneo mixed-use project, within walking distance of the main train station and the Schlossgarten park. Both properties offer SPG Keyless mobile room access, free Wi-Fi and the usual Aloft signature features, like a WXYZ Bar, Re:fuel grab-and-go market, and a 24-hour fitness center. Rates at both hotels start around $180 a night.

A guest room at the Taipei Marriott. (Image: Marriott)

Marriott International has cut the ribbon on the 320-room Taipei Marriott in Taiwan, in the city’s new Dazhi commercial area. It’s about 10 minutes from Songshan Airport and five minutes by car from the Neihu Technology Park. Guestroom sizes start at a generous 430 square feet, and function rooms include the largest ballroom in Taipei. The hotel has five restaurants and a lobby lounge with free Wi-Fi, a 24-hour fitness center, and a spa. Rates start at $213.

A panorama-view room at the Shangri-La in Bengaluru. (Image: Shangri-La)

The newest hotel in India’s tech mecca of Bengaluru (Bangalore) is the 397-room Shangri-La. The 19-story property is located in between the business center and the city’s upscale suburbs, with views of Bangalore Palace. The Shangri-La offers six food and beverage outlets, along with a lobby lounge, an outdoor pool, a health club and spa facilities, and a ballroom that can accommodate up to 900 persons. Introductory rates start at $150.

Lobby lounge at the new Renaissance in Lucknow, India. (Image: Marriott)

In the northern Indian city of Lucknow, Marriott has opened a new Renaissance hotel — only the second Renaissance in India. Located in the city center, the 112-room Renaissance has 26,000 square feet of meeting rooms, a rooftop infinity pool with poolside bar, a fitness center, Jacuzzi, and even a yoga studio, as well as two restaurants and a pastry shop. Rates begin at $131.

Executive lounge at the Chongqing Marriott. (Image: Marriott)

In the heart of Chongqing, China — near the Nanping business district — is the newly opened Chongqing Marriott, occupying the 30th to the 48th floors of the city’s landmark Guorui Centre. The 341-room Marriott offers three restaurants, considerable meeting and ballroom space, a heated indoor pool and 24-hour gym, and guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and panoramic views, as well as a 47th-floor Executive Lounge with concierge services. Rates start around $110.

A suite at Four Seasons’ new hotel in Bogota. (Image: Four Seasons)

In Colombia, an October 15 opening is set for the Four Seasons Hotel Casa Medina Bogota. It’s a restoration of a 1940s-era building with modern technology installed throughout its 62 rooms and suites. The hotel has a Spanish-cuisine restaurant, a 24-hour fitness area and a full-service spa, along with meeting space for up to 200 persons. Rates begin at $399.

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New hotels: Silicon Valley, Wall Street, Miami, Charleston, Pittsburgh

October 1, 2015

Aloft Hotels has new locations in Silicon Valley and lower Manhattan. (Image: Starwood)

Starwood’s Aloft brand — hotels designed with the younger generation of business travelers in mind — has just passed the 100-property mark, and two of its new hotels are in key business markets: Silicon Valley in California, and Wall Street in New York City; meanwhile, the upscale Sixty Hotels group cut the ribbon on a Miami location, Hyatt opened a pair of properties in Charleston, S.C., and InterContinental Hotels Group added a new Indigo in Pittsburgh.

The “backyard” is open to guests at Aloft’s Santa Clara hotel. (Image: Starwood)

In California, Starwood’s newest Aloft property is in Santa Clara just a few miles from Mineta San Jose Airport, off Highway 237 in the America Center corporate campus. It’s just down the street from Yahoo!’s headquarters and close to Intel’s offices. The 175-room Aloft has an outdoor pool, 24-hour gym, grab-and-go gourmet food and beverage market and signature cocktail bar. Like other Alofts, it offers keyless room entry for guests. Rates start around $265.

The new Aloft in New York’s financial district has a signature “re: mix” lounge. (Image: Starwood)

That hotel’s new sister property in New York City is the 125-room Aloft Manhattan Downtown-Financial District, the first Aloft in lower Manhattan (others are in Harlem and Brooklyn). Located on Ann Street, it’s a short walk from the New York Stock Exchange and One World Trade Center, as well as companies like American Express and Goldman Sachs. Like other Alofts, it has a 24-hour gym, W XYZ bar, re:mix lounge and grab-and-go food and beverage area. Rates range from $200-$400.

Guest accommodations at Sixty Hotels’ new Nautilus in Miami Beach. (Image: Sixty Hotels)

Sixty Hotels, an upscale lodging group with properties in Beverly Hills and New York City, has added a South Florida location called Nautilus, a SIXTY Hotel. The 250-room Miami Beach property is a remake of the old 1950s-era Nautilus Hotel at 1825 Collins Avenue, designed by Morris Lapidus and stretching from Collins Avenue to the beach. It has 250 rooms, a signature restaurant, and a spa and pool (as well as “Bolivian hammocks amongst the palm trees”). Opening rates start at $195 a night.

Two new Hyatts ae in Charleston, S.C.’s historic district. (Image: Hyatt)

Hyatt Hotels has cut the ribbon on a pair of properties in the heart of Charleston, S.C. — the Hyatt Place and Hyatt House Charleston/Historic District. The Hyatt Place has 191 rooms, free Wi-Fi throughout, free hot breakfast, coffee/cocktail bar, 24/7 venue for fresh meals and a 24-hour gym. The Hyatt House offers 113 apartment-style kitchen suites, also with free Wi-Fi, a bar, a market, free hot breakfast and a common lounge for socializing. Average daily rates are $249 at the Hyatt Place, $269 at the Hyatt House.

A guest room at the new Indigo Pittsburgh East Liberty. (Image: Indigo Hotels)

The newest property in InterContinental Hotel Group’s Indigo brand is the Hotel Indigo Pittsburgh East Liberty, at 123 North Highland Avenue in a neighborhood known for a thriving cultural, shopping and historic vibe. The hotel is an “adaptive reuse and new build property comprised of four buildings representing four different eras of Pittsburgh’s history,” the company said, including the former Governor Hotel. The boutique property’s guest rooms recall “the majestic theater era,” and the hotel has a restaurant/bar called Wallace’s TapRoom. Rates start at $180.

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Shiny new hotels for you in NYC, Austin, St. Louis, California

August 1, 2015

Starwood is opening a new Aloft in Manhattan’s Financial District. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

In hotel news, Manhattan’s Financial District is getting a new Aloft hotel; Starwood cuts the ribbon on a Westin in downtown Austin; Marriott adds a Courtyard in St. Louis; and Hilton debuts a Garden Inn at Orange County Airport and a Doubletree in San Bernadino.

An August 20 opening is planned for a new Aloft Hotel in Manhattan’s Financial District, according to Starwood’s website. The property at 49-53 Ann Street will offer Aloft’s trademark XYZ Bar, a 24/7 pantry, and a Re-Mix bar. It also has free hotel-wide high-speed Wi-Fi. Rates start at around $350.

The Westin Austin Downtown has a rooftop pool. (Image: Westin)

The 366-room Westin Austin Downtown is now open at the corner of San Jacinto Boulevard and Fifth Street in the Texas capital. It’s the second Westin in Austin, and the action here is on the rooftop of the 19-story property, where you’ll find a pool/bar called Azul as well as a 24-hour Westin Workout fitness center. Rates begin around $233.

Lobby area at the Courtyard by Marriott in downtown St. Louis. (Image: Marriott)

The former Hotel Lennox in downtown St. Louis, closed for the past four years, gets a new lease on life when it reopens September 2 as the Courtyard by Marriott St. Louis Downtown/Convention Center. The property’s 165 suites have been converted into extra-large guest rooms with wet bars, refrigerators and 55-inch smart HDTVs. The building, which dates back to the 1920s, is on the National register of Historic Places. Rates start at $149.

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Entry lounge area at Hilton’s new DoubleTree in San Bernardino. (Image: Hilton)

In southern California, what was formerly the Hotel San Bernardino, an independent property in the city of the same name, has been converted into the 251-room DoubleTree by Hilton San Bernardino following a $10 million overhaul. Work on the hotel, which is 17 miles from Ontario International Airport, included all guest rooms, all 10,000 square feet of meeting spaces, and all public areas. Rates begin at $129.

Hilton’s new Garden Inn near Orange County Airport. (Image: Hilton)

There’s also a newly opened Hilton in southern California — the Hilton Garden Inn Irvine/Orange County Airport. It’s close to the 405 Freeway, a short walk away from the Irvine Business Complex, and not far from the South Coast Plaza mall. It’s got a 24-hour business center, a fitness center, free Wi-Fi and an indoor pool. Rates start at $110.

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Shiny new hotels for you in: Denver, Miami, Detroit, Chicago, Baltimore

June 25, 2015

Downtown Denver’s new ART Hotel. (Image: ART Hotel)

Denver’s newest luxury lodging is at the ART Hotel, located downtown near the Denver Art Museum and Civic Center Park. The newly-opened, 165-room property is like a museum itself, with works of art everywhere, and its own curator (who formerly worked at the Denver Museum of Art). Rates start at around $335.

Historic lobby of the new Detroit Aloft. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

The David Whitney Building in downtown Detroit, a 19-story former office building that dates back to 1915, is now the home of Starwood’s new Aloft Detroit. The restored public areas includes historic detail and a soaring atrium with a check-in desk in the middle. But the rooms are all contemporary and modern. Rates begin at $179.

There’s also a new Aloft hotel in Miami’s South Beach. The 235-room Aloft South Beach has waterfront views, access to Lake Pancoast and the Collins Canal, and it’s close to the Miami Beach Convention Center. Of course there’s an outdoor pool, a roof lounge and a fitness center, and the hotel allows keyless room entry via smartphone. Rates start at $199.

Starwood’s new Aloft South Beach in Miami. (Image: Aloft Hotels)

InterContinental Hotels Group has cut the ribbon on the new Hotel Indigo Baltimore-Mt. Vernon. The 162-room property at 24 West Franklin was once the first YMCA in Baltimore. it’s in downtown Baltimore’s historic and cultural district, close to the Amtrak station. Guest rooms have 112 different floor plans, and there’s a 24-hour fitness facility. Rates begin at $114.

Hyatt has opened a new Hyatt Place near Chicago’s close-in Midway Airport, 13 miles from downtown. The 148-room Hyatt Place has a free airport shuttle, free Wi-Fi everywhere, a 24-hour guest kitchen and a fitness center. Rates begin at around $212.

Meanwhile, Virgin Hotels said it has selected Dallas as the site for its fourth U.S. hotel. Virgin opened its first property in Chicago earlier this year, and has other projects in the works in New York and Nashville. The company said the Dallas hotel will be located in the city’s Design District and should open in 2018.

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Mileage switch begins + Etihad mess + Marriott’s Mi-Fi blocking policy + Free Wi-Fi at NYC airports

January 4, 2015

Delta Connection flight for mileage item (Photo: Jim Glab)

Delta’s big SkyMiles changes now in effect (Photo: Jim Glab)

AIRLINES

Big mileage switch starts. On January 1, Delta became the first of the Big Three U.S. legacy airlines to transform the basis of earnings in its loyalty plan from distance flown to money spent. Under the new regime, non-elite SkyMiles members will get five miles per dollar spent on air fare, Silver Medallions earn seven miles per dollar, Golds get eight, Platinums nine and Diamonds 11. Delta has an online comparison calculator so you can figure how much a given flight would earn in the old vs. new structures. United will put the same spending-based structure in place for MileagePlus members starting March 1. (American/US Airways for now is sticking with the traditional mileage scheme, although during 2015 it has new mileage bonuses based on fare class, elite status and distance flown.) Some observers say the change to spending-based programs is a logical development following the hotel industry’s lead, but others see it as the latest step in a class warfare where airlines disproportionately cater to big spenders at the expense everyone else. Readers: Have you run any numbers to see if you’ll be better off under the new criteria vs. the old? What did you find?

Etihad mess. Etihad, which launched San Francisco-Abu Dhabi nonstops using Jet Airways B777s in November, took a big hit over the weekend when fog struck in Abu Dhabi. SFO-bound flight 183 had started its taxi toward take off when the flight was halted due to foggy conditions. Passengers ended up stuck on the tarmac for about 12 hours with no opportunities to get off the plane– and lots of bickering between passengers and flight crews according to various reports. After that ordeal, passengers endured the 16-hour flight to SFO. Luckily, the only damage from this incident is frayed nerves on the part of travelers and a big black eye for an airline just getting started in SFO. Regrettably, an elderly passenger on a Dusseldorf-bound flight facing a similar delay died. Since US rules (or fines and compensation) for such delays do not apply foreign airlines operating overseas, it will be up to Eithad to determine how it will compensate passengers and repair its image. Stay tuned….

Alaska lifts bag fee temporarily. All members of Alaska Airlines’ Mileage Plan who fly on the carrier during January will get a break from the carrier’s $25 fee for a first checked bag during that month. If you booked a January flight at an earlier date and your Mileage Plan number is in the reservation, the fee waiver will kick in automatically during check-in. What’s the purpose of the month-long fee waiver? “To encourage new and existing members to experience the benefits of Alaska’s award-winning frequent flier program,” the company said. For details, go to www.alaskaair.com/FirstBagFree.

Routes: Virgin, American, Spirit. Virgin America Airlines has kicked off new seasonal daily flights between New York JFK and Ft. Lauderdale … American reportedly plans to revive American Eagle service between Cleveland and New York LaGuardia on March 29, with three ERJ-140 flights a day — the same day United plans to trim its CLE-LGA schedule from eight daily roundtrips to six … Spirit Airlines is growing in southern California; it will launch daily San Diego-Denver service January 6, Los Angeles-Cleveland flights April 16 and a daily LAX-Denver roundtrip on the same date.

Meeting room at Phoenix Marriott Mesa Hotel (Photo: Marriott)

HOTELS

Marriott explains Mi-Fi blocking. Remember a few months ago when Marriott was slapped with a $600,000 fine by the FCC after its Gaylord Opryland Resort in Nashville was caught blocking the personal Wi-Fi mobile hotspots (also known as Mi-Fi) that some guests were using at meetings there? Marriott and the American Hotel and Lodging Association are asking the FCC for a ruling that such blockages do not violate federal rules, and last week Marriott sought to clarify its position on the issue. Marriott said it will never block guests’ Mi-Fi signals in guestrooms or lobbies — in fact, it encourages such activity. Instead, it only wants to block “rogue and imposter Wi-Fi hotspots used in our meeting and conference spaces that pose a security threat to meeting or conference attendees or cause interference to the conference guest wireless network.” (But if you read through the AHLA/Marriott petition to the FCC, it doesn’t say anything about limiting hotels’ Mi-Fi blockage authority only to meeting rooms.) Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft, along with other respondents, have jumped into the debate, urging the FCC to continue barring hotels from imposing any restrictions on Mi-Fi hotspots. Do you ever use your own Wi-Fi hotspot in a hotel? Will this be unnecessary as the big chains roll out free standard Wi-Fi at all their hotels? Post comments below.

Hilton, Marriott cancellation policies start. Just a reminder: January 1 was the effective date for new policies and Hilton and Marriott that require guests who won’t show up to cancel their booking no later than the day before their expected arrival. Otherwise, they’ll forfeit the cost of a night’s stay. (Some say the purpose is to stop guests from looking for better rates on last-minute booking sites.) We haven’t seen other major lodging groups match the policies yet, and if too many guests book away from Hilton and Marriott in favor of more lenient cancellation rules, the new policies might not last. Do cancellation policies affect your choice of hotels? Add comments below.

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Lobby of Aloft Denver Downtown Hotel (Photo: Starwood Hotels)

Starwood adds three Alofts. Are you a tech-minded Millennial? Then you’re the target market for Starwood Hotels’ trendy Aloft brand, and the company just opened three of them in key domestic business destinations. In Detroit, the historic David Whitney Building at One Park Avenue has been converted into a 136-room Aloft Hotel; another new Aloft has opened at 16th and Stout in the heart of downtown Denver; and the third has made its debut at Buffalo, N.Y.’s airport. Here’s our take on the Aloft near San Francisco International airport.

AIRPORTS

Free Wi-Fi coming to NYC airports. By the end of the first quarter of 2015, travelers in all terminals of the three major New York City-area airports should be able to enjoy 30 minutes of free Wi-Fi with no ads. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey is working with Boingo Wireless to upgrade Wi-Fi technology at LaGuardia, JFK and Newark so that free high-speed 30-minute sessions can be offered in all of them. Currently, the amenity is in EWR’s Terminal C, LGA’s Central Terminal and JFK’s Terminal 4. For more time online, the system will offer hourly, daily or monthly fees.

In Case You Missed It…

Here’s why San Francisco’s airport is prone to lengthy flight delays.

Delta plans to redefine cabin/seating categories as of March 1.

+++

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10 things about new Aloft hotels

August 7, 2013

Over the last year, I’ve been hearing a lot about the new Aloft hotel brand from Starwood. Since I have not had the chance to sleep over in one yet, I asked for a tour of the Aloft San Francisco Airport, one of the three Aloft hotels in the Bay Area—all of which have opened in the last year. Currently there are no Aloft hotels in Atlanta… but one is slated to open downtown this winter.

With my camera and notepad I met up with hotel sales & marketing manager Janfred Agarao who showed me around the hotel located on Millbrae Ave just south of SFO.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

Here’s what I saw and learned.

>The Aloft brand is billed as “A Vision of W Hotels” and it’s clear that the W is from where the new chain’s quirky and colorful spirit comes. The SFO property was the 62^nd Aloft hotel to open—Starwood expects to have 80 by the end of this year. The other Bay Area locations the Aloft Silicon Valley, located in Newark, which used to be the old W Silicon Valley, and the Aloft Cupertino, near the Apple campus.)

>Most Aloft hotels are built new-from-the-ground-up, but this building started out in the 60’s as the Thunderbird Hotel (which starred in the film, Bullitt), and most recently was a Clarion hotel. Starwood came in and took the building down to the studs and added brand new space, so the look and feel is brand spanking new.

>The six story Aloft at SFO opened last September with 252 rooms. Its average rate is about $239 per night. Occupancy is healthy—the hotel regularly sells out on midweek on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, but struggles to fill up on weekends (which is when rates take a tumble to the $150 range).

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

>Most Aloft hotels are located in suburbs, near airports or on the fringes of major downtown areas. For example, New York City locations are in Harlem and in Brooklyn.

>The lobby of the Aloft at SFO is big, bright and lively—the hotel calls it the “remix area” and there’s room for small groups to gather, communal tables, an unusual blue pool table, free wi-fi, and electrical outlets all over the place. Stationary iPads are available for browsing or making reservations via OpenTable. There are also two desktop computers and a printer.

>Food service is “grab and go” with a wide variety of snacks, such as prepared salads and sandwiches Butterfingers, trail mix or Doritos, Ben & Jerry’s ice cream or It’s It bars are available for sale. Guests who want a full service meal can walk across the parking lot to the Westin hotel.

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>Agarao said that the busiest time in the lobby is morning and during happy hour, from 5-8 pm when there’s live acoustical music and discounts on snacks, beer and designer cocktails at the WXYZ bar– muddled watermelon martinis anyone?

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

>While Starwood is clearly trying to cater to a younger crowd with the Aloft brand, Agarao said guests generally range from 20 to 50 years old.

>Beds in nearly every room at the Aloft are placed opposite the window instead of lining up along side it as they do in most hotel rooms. Good feng shui? Who knows? But rooms appear modern, comfortable and well appointed with Bliss bath products, coffee makers and quirky touches like retro-clocks.

>Rooms located on the hotel’s 6^th floor offer excellent views of planes taking off and landing on SFO runways…a hypnotizing sight…and only minimal rumbles from jet blasts.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

Have you stayed at an Aloft hotel yet? Let us know what you think! Please leave your comments below!

—Chris McGinnis

*****

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10 things about new Aloft hotels

July 22, 2013

With my camera and notepad I met up with hotel sales & marketing manager Janfred Agarao who showed me around the hotel located on Millbrae Ave just south of SFO.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

Here’s what I saw and learned.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

>Most Aloft hotels are located in suburbs, near airports or on the fringes of major downtown areas. For example, New York City locations are in Harlem and in Brooklyn.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

>While Starwood is clearly trying to cater to a younger crowd with the Aloft brand, Agarao said guests generally range from 20 to 50 years old.

>Rooms located on the hotel’s 6^th floor offer excellent views of planes taking off and landing on SFO runways…a hypnotizing sight…and only minimal rumbles from jet blasts.

(click here for my Google+ slideshow of the Aloft at SFO)

Have you stayed at an Aloft hotel yet? Let us know what you think! Please leave your comments below!

—Chris McGinnis

***

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