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Chatwal New York to open in Manhattan’s theatre district

17 May 2010 by BusinessTraveller
The 88-room Chatwal New York will occupy a landmark Stanford White-designed building on Manhattan’s West 44th Street, and will feature interiors designed by Thierry Despont. It's the first property by The Chatwal brand, created by Sant Chatwal, chairman and CEO of Hampshire Hotels and Resorts, with plans for future developments in locations outside London and in India. The Chatwal New York is due to open in July, and will be the first member of the Leading Hotels of the World group in Manhattan’s theatre district. The hotel will occupy a building formerly housing the Lambs Club, America’s first professional theatre club, and interiors will evoke “the glamour of early 20th century travel and New York Empire Art Deco”. General manager Joel Freyberg said that architect Thierry Despont wanted the hotel to “feel familiar, as if it had always been there”. “If you look at the design it could be the Chrysler Building, it could be the Empire State Building – it’s really what was going on in the 1930s, the Gotham chic era. And the design of the guest rooms is almost what you would expect if you were on an ocean liner back in the 1930s, with leather handles, and beautiful wardrobes with compartments. I took a travel agent on a tour of the hotel and she said that she felt like she was in a Louis Vuitton trunk!” Room amenities are high spec, with 42-inch flatscreen TVs, Blueray DVD players, in-room stereo system with iPod docking station, suede walls and leather-wrapped double closets, handmade mattresses, Frette linen, Kashwere bathrobes, bathrooms with rain shower heads and spa baths, Asprey amenities and free wired and wifi internet access. “There are three different colourways throughout the hotel floors – blue, brown and red – extending to the guest hallways,” said Freyberg. “The bathrooms are fully mirrored so you must love how you look, as there’s not an inch you don’t see. They’re beautifully designed, with integrated 19-inch TVs and polished nickel handles.” The 90-seater Lamb Club grill restaurant will feature the original limestone fireplace, with dark, lacquered wood wall panels, built-in red leather banquettes and bright chrome light fixtures. The menu will focus on traditional American cuisine and seasonal ingredients, overseen by Geoffrey Zakarian. Other facilities include a cocktail bar, and a spa with three private treatment rooms, private changing suites with steam showers, lap pool, two plunge pools and a fitness centre. For meetings and events there is the restored 1,500 square foot Stage Room which seats up to 120 guests, and the Stanford White Studio, a suite which can be used for board meetings and events of up to 40 people. Freyberg said that rates at the hotel would start at US$695, with The Chatwal New York looking to compete with the likes of The Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, The Carlysle and The Peninsula. For more information visit thechatwalny.com. Report by Mark Caswell
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