W New York - the court * the tuscany: Starwood's Newest Brand Triples New York Presence, Adding Two Properties Transformed Hotels Officially Open November 1999
NEW YORK – W New York - the court * the tuscany (formerly the Doral Court and Doral Tuscany) officially join the ranks of W Hotels, the newest brand of Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. on November 29, 1999. Acquired by W Hotels in 1996, the two properties have undergone an extensive, multi-million-dollar renovation of guestrooms and reconfiguration of public spaces.
Among Manhattan's most fashionable addresses, the historic properties on East 39th Street, between Lexington & Park Avenues, have enjoyed a heritage of innovation in hotel services. Frequented by the city's celebrated personalities of their day, the two hotels were widely chronicled in the city's social columns for nearly half a century. The properties are expected to reemerge as a popular venue for New Yorkers in-the-know, and choice luxury accommodations for the 21st century traveler.
Set on a quiet, tree-lined street just three blocks from Grand Central Station, both properties deliver the W hallmark of spacious, innovative guestrooms. W New York - the court offers 198 rooms, with an average room size of 384 square feet, while W New York - the tuscany features 122 rooms at an average of 480 square feet. Suites at both properties average 720 square feet.
On the heels of a tremendously successful launch of W Hotels' premier property, W New York in December 1998, W New York - the court at 130 East 39th Street will feature 155 deluxe rooms and 43 one-bedroom suites, and W New York - the tuscany at 120 East 39th Street will offer 106 deluxe rooms and 16 parlor suites. Including the 722 rooms of W New York at 541 Lexington Avenue, the three W properties will represent a combined total of 1,042 guestrooms in Manhattan.
A HISTORY OF INNOVATIONBuilt in 1927 as apartments, the two buildings were converted to hotels in the 1950s. The Tuscany was dubbed "New York's Biggest Little Hotel," widely known for introducing many firsts in hotel amenities. Noted as the world's first hotel to provide color TVs in each guestroom, the Tuscany offered a host of popular "extras" such as bathroom phones and other in-room amenities, plus a Dow Jones news ticker in the lobby. The Doral Court and the Tuscany were joined together in 1969 under the same management company.
W Hotels now feature amenities and services for today's travelers, and as the brand's newest hotels, the tuscany and the court will provide the latest in modern amenities and high-tech capabilities. Meeting the needs of business travelers, guestrooms will feature the latest in cutting-edge technology, including a 27" color TV equipped with ultra-fast Internet access (via an infrared keyboard). High-speed dataport connectivity is available at speeds up to 100 times faster than conventional data modems. Guests can also set up their own personal, secure E-mail addresses while staying at W Hotels. Each room also has two phones (one with dataport and speakerphone capabilities and another 900MHz cordless dual-line phone). In keeping with W's whimsical touch, guests of W New York - the court * the tuscany will be surprised and delighted to discover such details as gumball machines in each room, and nightly turndown service with fortune cookies.
W trademarks include an oversized desk, upholstered chaise lounge, specially designed room accessories and natural fabrics throughout. The focus of all guestrooms is the luxurious W bed, with a pillow-top mattress, 250 thread-count linens, and goose down comforters and pillows. In addition to the amenities one would expect in an upscale hotel, the W guestroom includes a W CD; a coffeemaker with W's own blend of coffee; a lush terry-lined, cotton pique W bathrobe; and custom-formulated Aveda bath products.
Above and beyond the customary amenities of a sophisticated business hotel, W Hotels have a service commitment that provides "whatever you want, whenever you want it." Whether it be a laser printer at 2 a.m., a last-minute tuxedo fitting or a bath filled with chocolate milk, guests need only ask, and their special requests come to life.
For years, The Tuscany Room restaurant was frequented by celebrities and " icons" of their time, from Gregory Peck to Marilyn Monroe, and Gloria Vanderbilt to Groucho Marx. As restaurant impresario Drew Nieporent spearheads W Hotels' newest restaurant, "Icon New York" at the court, these hotels will again be placed among the city's top settings to see and be seen. Drew Nieporent's unique creation, Icon New York draws upon the strengths of The Myriad Restaurant Group. Joining Mr. Nieporent will be Chef Paul Sale, formerly of the Four Seasons' Fifty Seven Fifty Seven and Le Bernardin. The new restaurant promises to draw a smart crowd of locals, hotel guests and today's "icons," a setting that sets the pace for culinary innovation. Combining the nightlife options of fine dining and elegant environs for a cocktail or social rendezvous, W Hotels' new venues promise to follow the W tradition of making a mark on today's fast-paced "A-List" circuit, raising eyebrows while drawing a "who's who" clientele.
W New York - the court's WETBAR, the brother bar to Whiskey Blue at W New York, will be a unique creation inspired by cutting-edge Gotham cocktail venues, with cool, smoked glass window-walls overlooking Lexington Avenue. W New York - the tuscany will be home to the intimate W Cafe, featuring coffee, drinks and a menu of lighter fare throughout the day.
The W Atlanta opened in February 1999, followed by W San Francisco in May, W Seattle on September 1 and W Honolulu - diamond head in October. Nine additional W Hotels are scheduled to open through 2001, in Boston, Chicago (two properties), Denver, Los Angeles, New Orleans (two properties) and Washington, D.C., as well as the company's first international property in Sydney, Australia.
W Hotels are managed (and in some cases, owned) by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., which operates more than 700 hotels in 72 countries and 130,000 employees at its owned and managed properties.
In addition to W Hotels, Starwood owns some of the world's most renowned hotel and casino brands including Sheraton, Westin, The St. Regis/Luxury Collection, Four Points Hotels by Sheraton and Caesars.
For reservations and information on W Hotels, call toll-free 877-WHOTELS or visit the W website at www.whotels.com.
