September 2, 2008

NY hotel news: Morgans reopens, Jane pods for $129

Morgans New York has just reopened with a new look from designer Andrée Putman. Rooms for tonight start at $369.

The Jane Hotel is open. And yes, the reservation page indeed was offering $99 rooms over the Labor Day weekend, but that’s over. A “standard cabin” pod-like room with a shared bathroom down the hall, is now priced at $129 per night until December 14, when the price drops to $119 per night. (Plus, it’s getting a new Thursday night party downstairs.

(Update: HotelChatter notes that the $99 rate does pop up for the Jane if you click all the way through to make the reservation.)

The Ace Hotel is targeting “winter ‘09” for the opening one of its hip outposts at Broadway and 29th, and Curbed has a photo gallery of the plans. And like at its Portland HQ, (pictured at right,) Ace plans to host an outlet of Stumptown Coffee Roasters, according to the New York Times.

The Peninsula plans to reopen its 22-floor indoor pool on September 8, HotelChatter reports. The Peninsula’s website also states it plans to open a spa by Espa come December.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts said it has signed on to manage the new 9-story, 102-room Best Western Bowery Hanbee Hotel, located at Bowery and Grand. The hotel is owned by Ben Wong, founder and principal owner of NY-based Wok and Roll Restaurants. Standard rooms for tonight start at $274.

Apple Core Hotels plans to invest $15 million to improve its Manhattan budget hotels — The Hotel @ Times Square, The Ramada Inn Eastside, The Red Roof Inn Manhattan and the Comfort Inn Midtown — HotelChatter reports

Marriott has launched an online travel community - Marriott Rewards Insiders — strictly for its frequent travelers to share travel tips with each other, the company announced. It will be only “lightly moderated.”

About 86 percent of US. hotels say they provide wi-fi to guests, according to a new study by the American Hotel & Lodging Association. A separate report said only 16 percent of hotels are charge for in-room Internet access.

Peter Greenberg, author of “The Complete Travel Detective Bible” tells the San Diego Union Tribune that the best way to get the best rate is to call but not with the 800 number. “Call the hotel directly and ask for the manager on duty, who is motivated to fill rooms,” the paper states.

Image source: Morgans NY website (top, left) and Ace Portland hotel room (right) by Amy Langfield/NewYorkology.

September 2, 2008 9:16 AM in Downtown, Hotelology, Midtown

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