Manhattan's Biz Properties: The New And Improved

<B> Manhattan's Biz Properties: The New And Improved</B>

By Robert Selwitz

As they continue to spruce up and build new digs for business travelers, Manhattan hoteliers are introducing some innovative trends to further attract business and fill their hotels. For instance, the ribbon is about to be cut on a unique, 92-suite transient property called the Phillips Club.

Located across the street from New York's Lincoln Center, and not to be confused with the nearby 96-room extended-stay property also called the Phillips Club, the soon-to-be-opened upscale hotel at some time in the near future will become a timeshare property, no longer accepting transient guests. According to a spokesman, the property will be run as a hotel until the timeshares are sold in order to get some revenue flowing in during the interim.

Phillips, for now, is offering business travelers a new bunking option in the midst of one of the New York's most exciting cultural sectors, while being just three subway stops, or an under-ten-minute cab ride, from Times Square.

Through October, Phillips will offer rates of $270 for a junior suite and $300 for a one-bedroom suite. Come November, however, minimum rates will rise to $400 and $500, respectively.

Though each Phillips suite will offer the typical business amenities--a fully equipped kitchen, dual-line telephone with dataport, fax machine, voicemail and in-room Internet access via T-1 lines--on hand and rentable by the day are fully equipped office suites, plus a conventional business center available at no additional charge, and guests will receive complimentary access to the nearby and very trendy Reebok Sports Club.

Miles to the south of the Phillips Club, and here for the long haul, the Holiday Inn Wall Street is taking fitness, as well as its other amenities, a step further. In addition to offering guests complimentary access to the nearby Cardio Fitness Center, certain fitness equipment--stair masters and exercise bicycles, for example--can be delivered to a guest's hotel room.

The Holiday Inn Wall Street--actually located at 15 Gold Street--features 138 rooms, 15 suites and an executive board room that has been described as "very James Bond." Amenities include high-speed T-1 Internet connectivity, an eight-ft. L-shaped work desk and a 24-hour business center. The hotel also offers another attractive option: Along with conventional meal service from the in-house Platinum Cafe, the Holiday Inn Wall Street allows guests to order meals from nearby restaurants and adds the charges to the hotel bill.

Another alternative lodging option--with no minimum stay--is Hospitality House at 145 East 49th Street. It features 36 fully furnished and equipped apartments ranging from 700 square feet for a one-bedroom to 1200 square feet for a two-bedroom.

According to Elizabeth Calogero, director of sales and marketing for A Hospitality Co., "corporate accounts seek us out because we're so much more cost-effective than hotels for long-term employee business trips." She added that Hospitality House accommodations are "two to three times the size of an average hotel room." Rates range from $175 to $275 per night.

By the end of the year, the 60-room Library will debut at 288 Madison Avenue at 41st Street. What will be an upscale boutique hostelry is emerging following a $9 million renovation of an 87-year-old office tower. The new rendition will feature a ground floor restaurant, a second floor library, two stories of rooftop public space and a greenhouse leading to an outdoor terrace.

Another planned conversion involves the former Chemists Club at 52 East 41st Street, which is being transformed into a107-room property. It is expected to be named the Dylan Hotel.

New York City's largest hotel--the 2,041-room Hilton--is in the midst of $100 million makeover. Highlights include a reconfigured lobby, two new dining venues, two new lounges, a spa, more than 15,700 square feet of added meeting facilities and 37 new guest rooms. All work is scheduled for completion by January.

The Shoreham, one of five Unique Hotels & Resorts Manhattan properties, has completed an extensive upgrade. Work included 88 new guest rooms and four penthouse suites with terraces, bringing the total room count to 178. The Shoreham also will introduce a new restaurant, bar, business center and fitness center.

Other midtown additions to New York's hotel stock include a return of the once-famous Hotel Knickerbocker to some of its earlier glory. Opened in 1908, the hotel was initially quite popular during the first two decades of the 20th century. However, despite its location in the midst of Times Square, the Knickerbocker was converted into office space in 1921.

Plans call for the structure to reopen at some future date, probably with something less than its original complement of a thousand rooms. There's also talk of a former jewelry manufacturing loft at 130 West 46th Street being converted into a Times Square boutique hotel.

And Promus Hotel Corp. is getting ready for the May 2000 debut of its $123 million Embassy Suites World Financial Center, billed as the first all-suite hotel in downtown Manhattan. It is expected to feature 463 two-bedroom suites.

In other news, NorthStar Capital Investment Corp. is expected to invest $100 million renovating the somewhat downtrodden St. Moritz Hotel. For decades, its Central Park South location has been the property's prime asset.

NorthStar Capital in January will begin the refurbishment process and reintroduce the hotel as a "chic urban property with a spectacular modern design." The 689-room hotel is expected to be completed in January 2001.

Down the same street, the oft-exchanged former Ritz-Carlton Hotel--most recently operated by Starwood Hotels and Resorts--has been sold to Bass Hotels & Resorts. Bass has re-dubbed the 208-room hotel the Central Park Inter-Continental New York. Opened in 1929 as the Navarro, the Central Park South site was a Ritz-Carlton from 1988 to 1997. Then it became part of the Sheraton Luxury Collection, where it remained until Sheraton was acquired by Starwood. Starwood then made the hotel a Westin.