VIRGIN TAKES FIRST BITE OUT OF BIG APPLE
Virgin Hotels New York City has opened its doors to guests, though an official inaugural event is still to come this Spring. Located on Broadway, Virgin’s sixth US property (and seventh in the portfolio) takes up an entire block between 29th and 30th streets in the booming NoMad neighbourhood.
The hotel features 460 guest rooms, suites, and penthouses; plus entertainment-anchored spaces, including Everdene – a 370-sq.-m. of indoor/outdoor dining and cocktail experiences paired with nightly music and entertainment programming. Additionally, there is an outdoor Pool Club exclusive to hotel guests, and extensive meeting and event spaces – all with a picturesque backdrop of the city.
“We’ve wanted to open a hotel in New York City since Virgin Atlantic first flew here in 1984,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder of the Virgin Group. “We have had so many milestones in this city, from opening America’s biggest record store to driving a tank through Times Square to lighting up the Empire State Building. I’m looking forward to even more adventures in the city and having a place to call home at the end of the day…”
The hotel will go well beyond offering a comfortable place to sleep, promises GM Candice A. Cancino. “With stunning views, delicious food and beverage, convivial spaces to work or play, and exciting happenings from day-to-night, the hotel is poised to become a cultural epicenter for both local New Yorkers and guests from around the globe,” she enthuses.
Design
The hotel’s design is luxurious, but “playful and authentic to New York City,” while maximizing views of the city throughout accommodations and public spaces. The hotel also features an impressive art collection with over 100 different pieces.
Accommodations
All ‘chambers’ (as the rooms are quaintly dubbed) in the 39 storey hotel include floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the cityscape, including certain chambers affording views of the Empire State Building, the New Year’s Eve Ball Drop, and Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
The chambers feature Virgin Hotels’ signature layout with two distinct spaces: The Dressing Room, which includes a full vanity desk with a mirror, a closet for two, and an extra-large shower with a bench; and The Lounge features the brand’s patented ergonomic lounge bed, mini-fridge stocked with street-priced comforts, smart TV, yoga mat, and a café worktable.
Guests will also find sensor-activated lighting that automatically illuminates when they walk by, as well as pet-friendly amenities for their furry companions.
Travellers seeking a more luxurious overnight experience can book a stay in Sir Richard’s Flat, a 260-sq.-m. suite spanning the hotel’s 35th and 36th floors. The expansive duplex offers two bedrooms, including a spacious master bedroom; walk-in bathroom with luxe amenities like a rain-head shower and bench, a soaking tub, and a vanity; a kitchenette; 7-m. windows with panoramic views of the city; and a curated art collection within the suite.
Amenities
The hotel offers multiple culinary destinations onsite on the third and fourth floors, including the sprawling dining and drinking venue Everdene, which offers sweeping views of the city in an indoor-outdoor seating.
The Pool Club on the fourth floor also combines indoor and outdoor space and is available exclusively to overnight guests.
Portfolio
Beyond New York, Virgin’s current hotel portfolio also includes properties in Chicago, Dallas, Nashville, New Orleans, Las Vegas, and Edinburgh. A second Scottish location in Glasgow is scheduled to debut later this year, followed by Miami and Denver in 2025. In addition, Virgin Hotels continues to explore hotel, conversions, and ground-up development in Boston, Los Angeles, Austin, Philadelphia, Seattle, London, and elsewhere.
First published at Travel Industry Today
