View allAll Photos Tagged Blackstone Community Review
© 2019 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
By the end of October, I have to adjust to a new shooting reality. September and October are saturated with rich autumn colors; it's a photographer's smorgasbord. As the leaves all fall and everything takes on a barren feel, and as as the blue skies of autumn turn to the flat platinum skies of winter, I have to become a little more creative on how to capture beautiful images. One of the tricks that I have learned is that I absolutely HAVE to get out to shoot in the narrow window of time where the rising sun shines underneath the cloud cover in the morning, for, as it rises above that cloud level, the day (and the light) will turn flat and grey. So was this day, but the early morning light skimming across the dried grasses and fallen leaves turned everything rich and golden...a color palette from a Dutch master painter. That's the power of light; it can turn the bland into riches. Golden hour indeed. I used the Canon EOS R along with an adapted Irix 15mm F2.8 Blackstone for this photo. See why the EOS R has gotten more interesting in the past year with my second look video on why I finally bought one:
EOS R Video: bit.ly/EOSRround2
Round 2 Image Gallery: bit.ly/EOSRgallery2
#photodujour #dustinabbott #dustinabbott.net #photography #2019 #canon #eosR #canoneosR #RF #irix #15mmBlackstone #wideangle #landscape #goldenlight #autumn #dawn #goldenlight
Technical Info | Canon EOS R + Irix 15mm F2.4 Blackstone | Check me out on: My Patreon | Dustin's Website | Instagram | YouTube Channel
© 2018 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
Today I share a photo from something else with Aurora in the name! In this case it is the Aurora Aperture PowerND filter kit. I tested it on an Irix lens, but it can also be used on a number of Canon wide angle lenses. This is a great filter solution, very compact, and it produces excellent results. This is a more than 5 minute exposure during a slightly stormy, choppy sequence where the water of the Ottawa River was splashing around these rocks. The end result was cool and moody! Check out the video review here: bit.ly/AAPowerND and the Image Gallery/Text Review here: bit.ly/AuroraPowerND
| #photodujour #dustinabbott #photography #canon #5DMarkIV #5D4 #irix #15mm #blackstone #powerND #auroraaperture
Technical Info | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone | Check me out on: Google+: | Facebook: | Twitter: | Flickr: | 500px: | Sign Up for My Newsletter :
Meet my newest Roommates. The one with the freckles on the nose is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Dresden for short. I have not come up with the perfect name for the other. I'm open to suggestions!! thanks to Jake Penrose Mary Jenkins, Bibodha Neupane and Admiral Potato for Joining me to photograph these little fellows
Strobist: 580EXii through a shoot through umbrella, high right.
Saturday's Blackstone Valley Tourism Council's 10/19/19 excursion using P&W passenger equipment bracketed by a pair of erstwhile GP38's in legacy paint is seen here in Worcester MA. A number of people chased this thing from Woonsocket RI to Worcester MA (via the Providence Main), then down to Putnam CT (via the Norwich Branch), and back. And with good reason - great power, peak foliage and a full blue dome. I had about a 2 hour window between 1500-1700 to maybe sneak in a shot or two. Knowing the train was leaving Putnam at 2:30, I planned accordingly, landing here at 3:15. The train showed after a 15 minutes wait. I hit the shutter, reviewed the results, nodded, and headed home.
© 2018 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
Here in Canada the figure of a man made by piling stones is called an Inukshuk (an Inuit term). I found this interesting one piled out in the waters of the Ottawa River, and it provided a great subject to composed around in this image. I've been shooting extensively with the excellent Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone (the first Irix lens I've used) as a part of my review process. You can see more images here: bit.ly/irix2415ig | or see my breakdown of the image quality here: bit.ly/irix15ig | #photodujour #dustinabbott #photography #irix #15mm #blackstone #canon #5dmarkiv #5div #5D4
Technical Info | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone | Check me out on: Google+: | Facebook: | Twitter: | Flickr: | 500px: | Sign Up for My Newsletter :
© 2018 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
Some people don't think of visiting ski resorts in the summer, but they are often gorgeous places during the milder months. Such is the case with Mont Tremblant - one of my personal favorite destinations. I shot this through the glass of the gondola climbing Mont Tremblant. I love the unique blend of the beautiful background along with the rising gondola car in the foreground (and the hikers below). The Irix 15mm is an easy lens to use in this kind of environment, and, as you can see, produces beautiful resoluts. My review of it went live today. Text Review: bit.ly/irix15mmDA |Video Review: bit.ly/Irix15mmYT | Image Galleries: bit.ly/irix2415ig
#photodujour #dustinabbott #photography #irix #15mm #blackstone #canon #5dmarkiv #5div #5D4
Technical Info | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone | Check me out on: Google+: | Facebook: | Twitter: | Flickr: | 500px: | Sign Up for My Newsletter :
Supertramp - Goodbye Stranger
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bj2C4PVNzs
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Marlene Dietrich: Where Have All the Flowers Gone? (Live TV, 1963)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kveooWmqqr8
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Phil Collins - Another Day In Paradise
www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qt2mbGP6vFI
Location:Barcelona
Note: 50 ISO
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
INXS - The Stairs (Official Music Video) [HD]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=-rdbQ4wgMbs
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Soft Machine - Soft Space (1978)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IFdnMXeidQ
Quote : How You imagine a time travel machine ?
Time travel to the past is theoretically possible in certain general relativity spacetime geometries that permit traveling faster than the speed of light, such as cosmic strings, traversable wormholes, and Alcubierre drives.
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Location:Barcelona
Note: 50 ISO
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Second to Mars - Surreal Dimension
www.youtube.com/watch?v=APYSb4rPTmw&t=6s
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Reaching For The Sky · Peabo Bryson 1977
www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8RbRHD7n-A
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
Hotel del Coronado (also known as The Del and Hotel Del) is a historic beachfront hotel in the city of Coronado, just across the San Diego Bay from San Diego, California. It is one of the few surviving examples of an American architectural genre: the wooden Victorian beach resort. It is the second largest wooden structure in the United States (after the Tillamook Air Museum in Tillamook, Oregon) and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1977 and a California Historical Landmark in 1970.
When it opened in 1888, it was the largest resort hotel in the world. It has hosted presidents, royalty, and celebrities through the years. The hotel has been featured in numerous movies and books.
The hotel received a Four Diamond rating from the American Automobile Association and was once listed by USA Today as one of the top ten resorts in the world.
In the mid-1880s, the San Diego region was in the midst of one of its first real estate booms. At that time, it was common for a developer to build a grand hotel as a draw for what would otherwise be a barren landscape. The Hollywood Hotel in Hollywood, California, the Raymond Hotel in Pasadena, the Hotel Del Monte in Monterey, and the Hotel Redondo in Redondo Beach, California, were similar grand hotels built as development enticements during this era.
In November 1885, five investors went together to buy all of Coronado and North Island, approximately 4,000 acres, for $110,000. Those people were E. S. Babcock, retired railroad executive from Evansville, Indiana; Hampton L. Story, of the Story & Clark Piano Company of Chicago; Jacob Gruendike, president of the First National Bank of San Diego; Heber Ingle and Joseph Collett.
In April 1886, Babcock and Story created the Coronado Beach Company, after which they established a number of additional enterprises to support the development of Coronado. The Coronado Ferry Company built wharves and storage facilities and developed ferryboat service between Coronado and San Diego; The Coronado Water Company piped fresh water under San Diego Bay from the San Diego River; The Coronado Railroad Company provided rail lines in Coronado and eventually a "Belt Line" connected Coronado to San Diego via the Strand. Hotel del Coronado also boasted one of the largest electrical power plants in the state, providing service to the entire community of Coronado until the 1920s.
The men hired architect James W. Reid, a native of New Brunswick, Canada, who first practiced in Evansville and Terre Haute. His younger brother Merritt Reid, a partner in Reid Brothers, the Evansville firm, stayed in Indiana, but brother Watson Reid helped supervise the 2,000 laborers needed.
Babcock's visions for the hotel were grand:
"It would be built around a court... a garden of tropical trees, shrubs and flowers,... From the south end, the foyer should open to Glorietta Bay with verandas for rest and promenade. On the ocean corner, there should be a pavilion tower, and northward along the ocean, a colonnade, terraced in grass to the beach. The dining wing should project at an angle from the southeast corner of the court and be almost detached, to give full value to the view of the ocean, bay and city."
Construction of the hotel began in March 1887, "on a sandspit populated by jack rabbits and coyotes". If the hotel were ever to be built, one of the numerous problems to overcome was the absence of lumber and labor in the San Diego area. The lumber problem was solved with contracts for exclusive rights to all raw lumber production of the Dolbeer & Carson Lumber Company of Eureka, California, which was one of the West's largest. Planing mills were built on site to finish raw lumber shipped directly from the Dolbeer & Carson lumber yards, located on the shores of Humboldt Bay. To obtain brick and concrete, Reid built his own kilns. He also constructed a metal shop and iron works.
Labor was provided largely by Chinese immigrants from San Francisco and Oakland.
The Crown Room was Reid's masterpiece. Its wooden ceiling was installed with pegs and glue. Not a single nail was used.
Landscaping for the hotel was completed by Kate Sessions.
Reid's plans were being revised and added to constantly. To deal with fire hazards, a freshwater pipeline was run under San Diego Bay. Water tanks and gravity flow sprinklers were installed. He also built two giant cisterns with concrete walls a foot thick in the basement to store rainwater. Although these cisterns were never used for rainwater, they were reputedly very handy for storing alcoholic beverages during Prohibition. Reid also installed the world's first oil furnace in the new hotel, prompting a Los Angeles oil company to build tankers to carry the oil to Coronado. Electric lighting in a hotel was also a world first. The electric wires were installed inside the gas lines, so if the "new-fangled" electricity didn't work, they could always pipe gas in to illuminate the rooms. Contrary to popular rumor, Thomas Edison was not involved in the installation of The Del's electrical system. The electricity was installed by the Mather Electric Company out of Chicago (sometimes referred to as Mather-Perkins Company). An early Del brochure touted its "Mather incandescent electric lamps, of which there are 2,500." Electricity was still new to San Diego, having been first introduced in 1886.
In 1904, Hotel del Coronado introduced the world's first electrically lit, outdoor living Christmas tree. From the San Diego Union, December 25, 1904: "The tree selected for the honor is one of the three splendid Norfolk Island pines on the plaza [grassy area in front of the hotel]. It has attained a height of fifty feet and its branches stand proudly forth. All day yesterday electricians were busy fitting it up and by night 250 lights of many colors gave beauty to the fine old pine. Lanterns, great and small, hung from its boughs. And now that an open-air Christmas tree had been introduced, it is likely that another Christmas Eve will find many California gardens aglow with light scattered from living foliage."
When the 399-room hotel opened for business in February 1888, 1,440 San Diegans traveled across the bay. Reports of the new grand hotel were wired across the country, but just as the hotel was nearing completion, the Southern California land boom collapsed. Babcock and Story needed additional funds at a time when many people were deserting San Diego. Babcock turned to Captain Charles T. Hinde and sugar magnate John D. Spreckels, who lent them $100,000 to finish the hotel. The Coronado Beach Company was then capitalized with three million United States dollars. The company directors at this time were E.S. Babcock, John Diedrich Spreckels, Captain Charles T. Hinde, H.W. Mallett, and Giles Kellogg. By 1890 Spreckels bought out both Babcock and Story. The Spreckels family retained ownership of the hotel until 1948.
The original grounds had many amenities, including an Olympic-sized salt water pool, tennis courts, and a yacht club with architecture resembling the hotel's grand tower. A Japanese tea garden, an ostrich farm, billiards, bowling alleys, hunting expeditions, and deep sea fishing were some of the many features offered to its guests.
On April 7, 1920, Edward, Prince of Wales was honored with a grand banquet in the Crown Room. There has been speculation that it was at this event that he first met his future wife Wallis Spencer, later known as Wallis Simpson, who lived in Coronado at the time. However, most historians believe they did not meet at that time, and both Edward and Wallis wrote in their memoirs that they met much later.
The popularity of the hotel was established before the 1920s. It already had hosted Presidents Harrison, McKinley, Taft, and Wilson. By the 1920s Hollywood's stars and starlets discovered that 'the Del' was the 'in place' to stay and many celebrities made their way south to party during the 1920s and 1930s, specifically during the era of Prohibition. Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Rudolph Valentino, Clark Gable, Errol Flynn, Mae West, Joan Crawford, Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis and Ginger Rogers were a few of the many great players (actors) who stayed at the hotel.
On New Year's Day 1937, during the Great Depression, the gambling ship SS Monte Carlo, known for "drinks, dice, and dolls", was shipwrecked on the beach about a quarter mile south of the Hotel del Coronado.
During World War II, many West Coast resorts and hotels were taken over by the U.S. government for use as housing and hospitals. The Hotel del Coronado housed many pilots, who were being trained at nearby North Island Naval Air Station on a contract basis, but it was never commandeered. General manager Steven Royce convinced the Navy to abstain from taking over the hotel because most of the additional rooms were being used to house the families of officers. He pointed out that "the fathers, mothers, and wives were given priority to the rooms because it may be the last time they will see their sons and husbands." Ultimately the Navy agreed, and the hotel never was appropriated.
Barney Goodman purchased the hotel from the Spreckels in 1948. From the end of World War II until 1960, the hotel began to age. While still outwardly beautiful, neglect was evident. In 1960, local millionaire John Alessio purchased the hotel and spent $2 million on refurbishment and redecorating.
Alessio sold the hotel to M. Larry Lawrence in 1963. Lawrence's initial plan was to develop the land around the hotel and ultimately, to demolish it. Lawrence later changed his mind. During his tenure, Lawrence invested $150 million to refurbish and expand much of the hotel. He doubled its capacity to 700 rooms. He added the Grande Hall Convention Center and two seven-story Ocean Towers just south of the hotel.
The Lawrence family sold the hotel to the Travelers Group after Lawrence's death in 1996. The Travelers Group completed a $55 million upgrade of the hotel in 2001, which included seismic retrofitting.
The hotel was designated as a "wartime casualty station". It began a victory garden program, planting vegetables on all spare grounds around the hotel.
While retaining its classic Victorian look, the hotel continues to upgrade its facilities. In July 2005, the hotel obtained approval to construct up to 37 limited-term occupancy cottages and villas on the property. They also received approval to add up to 205 additional rooms.
The hotel has been sold in several transactions between financial institutions. In 2003, Travelers sold the property to CNL Hospitality Properties Inc. and KSL Recreation Corp (CNL/KSL). This ownership group completed a $10 million upgrade of 381 rooms in June, 2005. The hotel was then owned by the Blackstone Group LP (60%), Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. (34.5%), and KSL Resorts (5.5%). When Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. bought its stake in 2006, the hotel was valued at $745 million; as of 2011, the hotel was valued at roughly $590 million.[29] In 2014, Strategic Hotels & Resorts became full owners of the hotel.[30] In December 2015, Blackstone purchased Strategic Hotels & Resorts.
In March 2016, Blackstone sold Strategic Hotels & Resorts to Anbang Insurance Group, a Beijing-based Chinese insurance company, in a $6.5 billion deal involving multiple resorts. Anbang thus bought 16 luxury American hotel properties including the Hotel del Coronado. Fifteen of the 16 were immediately transferred to Anbang. However, the sale of the Hotel del Coronado was held up because of concerns expressed by the federal inter-agency Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, which reviews acquisitions of U.S. businesses by foreign investors for possible national security risks. The agency was concerned about the hotel's proximity to major Navy bases. In October 2016 it was reported that the deal had fallen through and the hotel would remain in Blackstone's ownership.
In August 2017, Hilton Hotels and Resorts took over the management of Hotel del Coronado as part of their Curio Collection. The resort is still owned by Blackstone and the name Hotel del Coronado has not changed.
Notable guests have included Thomas Edison, L. Frank Baum, Charlie Chaplin, King Kalakaua of Hawaii, Vincent Price, Babe Ruth, James Stewart, Bette Davis and Katharine Hepburn. More recently, guests have included Kevin Costner, Whoopi Goldberg, Gene Hackman, George Harrison, Keanu Reeves, Brad Pitt, Madonna, Barbra Streisand, and Oprah Winfrey.
The following presidents have stayed at the hotel: Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, and Barack Obama.
Another famous resident of the hotel is the purported ghost of Kate Morgan. On November 24, 1892, she checked into room 302 (then 3312, now 3327). She told staff she was awaiting the arrival of her brother who was a doctor. She said he was going to treat her stomach cancer, but he never arrived. She was found dead on the steps leading to the beach three days later. The case was declared a suicide; she had shot herself. Another tragedy took place on the beach at the hotel in 1904 when actress Isadore Rush drowned.
The hotel was first featured in a film when it was used as a backdrop for The Flying Fleet (1927). Since then, it has been featured in at least 12 other films, including: Some Like It Hot (1959), starring Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon, and Tony Curtis, where it represented the "Seminole Ritz" in southern Florida; Wicked, Wicked (1973), which was completely filmed on location there; The Stunt Man (1980), starring Peter O'Toole; and My Blue Heaven (1990), starring Steve Martin and Rick Moranis.
The science historian James Burke filmed his special The Neuron Suite at the Coronado.
The Hotel del Coronado was the primary location for the filming of the fantasy-comedy feature film Daydream Hotel, which had its world premiere at the 1st Annual Coronado Island Film Festival in January 2016.
(Wikipedia)
Das Hotel del Coronado, von den Einheimischen auch kurz „The Del“ genannt, ist ein berühmtes altes Luxushotel am westlichen Strand der Halbinsel Coronado im US-Bundesstaat Kalifornien, die an der Bucht von San Diego liegt. Es ist eines der wenigen erhalten gebliebenen Exemplare eines hölzernen victorianischen Strandhotels. Es ist das älteste und zugleich größte Holzgebäude in Kalifornien. Am 5. Mai 1977 wurde das zuvor bereits unter Denkmalschutz stehende Hotel als National Historic Landmark anerkannt. Von USA Today wurde es in die Top 10 der Urlaubshotels der Welt aufgenommen.
Das Hotel del Coronado wurde 1888 von James Reid erbaut und war seinerzeit das größte Urlaubshotel der Welt. Als erstes Hotel überhaupt wurde es schon beim Bau mit elektrischem Licht ausgestattet. Die Elektroleitungen wurden aber vorsichtshalber in Gasrohren verlegt, damit man, falls die neuartige Elektrizität nicht funktionieren würde, sofort auf Gas umstellen konnte. Nach der Fertigstellung wurde die Installation von Thomas Edison höchstpersönlich überprüft. 1904 kam er noch einmal ins del Coronado, um den ersten im Freien aufgestellten elektrisch beleuchteten Weihnachtsbaum vor dem Hotel zu begutachten. Im Zweiten Weltkrieg wurde das Haus von Piloten der nahe gelegenen Navy Base genutzt. Am 14. Oktober 1971 wurde das Hotel als Baudenkmal in das National Register of Historic Places aufgenommen.
Das Hotel hat im Laufe seiner Geschichte zahllose prominente Persönlichkeiten als Gäste begrüßen können.
Am 7. April 1920 weilte Prince Edward, der Prince of Wales, im del Coronado. Später entstanden Gerüchte, dort habe er sich zum ersten Male mit Wallis Simpson getroffen, die zu dieser Zeit im Hause wohnte.
Etliche Hollywood Größen aus der Stummfilmzeit wohnten zeitweise im del Coronado, so z. B. Tom Mix, Rudolph Valentino und Charlie Chaplin. Besonders während der Prohibitionszeit war es ein beliebter Rückzugsort.
Auch zahlreiche US-Präsidenten waren Gäste des Hotels: Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft, Woodrow Wilson, Franklin D. Roosevelt, Dwight D. Eisenhower, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson, Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, George Bush, Bill Clinton, George W. Bush und Barack Obama.
Eine gewisse Berühmtheit erlangte auch eine Frau namens Kate Morgan, die am Thanksgiving 1892 unter falschem Namen eincheckte und fünf Tage später tot mit einer Schusswunde aufgefunden wurde. Nach den amtlichen Feststellungen soll es Selbsttötung gewesen sein. Seitdem soll ihr Geist im Hause spuken. Spätere Gäste des Zimmers 304 (heute Zimmer Nr.: 3312) in dem sie übernachtete, berichteten von flackerndem Licht, unerklärlichen Stimmen und Windstößen sowie Geistererscheinungen.
Das Hotel wurde immer wieder als Kulisse für Hollywood-Produktionen benutzt. Am bekanntesten dürfte der Auftritt in Billy Wilders Komödienklassiker Manche mögen’s heiß (1959) sein, der im Sommer 1958 mit Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis und Jack Lemmon in den Hauptrollen gedreht wurde. Das Hotel wird im Film als das fiktive Seminole Ritz Hotel in Miami, Florida bezeichnet, in dem sich große Teile der Handlung abspielen. Tatsächlich handelt es sich aber um das del Coronado.
Der Film „Der lange Tod des Stuntman Cameron“ (1980), mit Peter O’Toole und Steve Railsback, wurde zu einem Großteil in und um das Hotel gedreht. Unter anderem ist es auch in Mein Partner mit der kalten Schnauze (1989) mit James Belushi zu sehen, der auf der Hotelterrasse einen Drink nimmt.
Im Laufe der Zeit wechselte das Hotel mehrmals den Besitzer und wurde mehreren Umbauten und Erweiterungen unterzogen. Die klassische Holzfassade wurde aber stets gewahrt. Im Jahre 2005 wurden eine Reihe Strandvillen im gleichen historischen Baustil hinzugefügt. Das Haus verfügt heute über etwa 900 Zimmer, einen großen Ball- und Konferenzsaal sowie südlich gelegen die zwei siebenstöckigen Ocean Towers.
(Wikipedia)
Starship - We Built This City (Official Music Video) [HD]
www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1b8AhIsSYQ
Location:Barcelona
Irix 11mm F/4 Blackstone
www.pentaxforums.com/reviews/irix-11mm-f4/construction-an...
© 2019 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
It's an amazing thing to watch an amazing scene slowly come alive. I used a three minute long exposure to bring this scene to life. I used a combination of the Irix 15mm F2.4 Blackstone along with the Irix EDGE ND1000 filter. I was blessed to have a room high above Niagara Falls that afforded me an amazing panoramic view of the Niagara river and both Horseshoe and the American falls. I love the dramatic result that is loaded with detail. My review coverage can be seen here:
Text Review: bit.ly/EDGEfilterDA
Video Review: bit.ly/EDGEfiltersYT
Irix 15mm F2.4 Review: bit.ly/irix15mmDA
#photodujour #dustinabbott #dustinabbott.net #photography #2019 #canon5dmarkiv #eos5div #irix #irix2415blackstone #EDGE #ND1000 #longexposure #sunrise #dawn #portrait #ontario #canada #niagarafalls #winter #snow
Technical Info | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Irix 15mm F2.4 Blackstone + EDGE ND1000 filter | Check me out on: My Patreon | Dustin's Website | Instagram | <a href="http://bit.ly/DLAyt" target=
© 2018 Thousand Word Images by Dustin Abbott
The traditional problem with wide angle lenses has been using filters on them. Fortunately there are more and more clever solutions coming out all the time. This photo attests to a clever solution from Aurora Aperture for some wide angle lenses like the Irix 15mm f/2.4 that I used it on. It allows you to use ND filters at the rear of the lens, and I've been impressed by how low the vignette and color cast (two traditional problems for ND filters) are. It allowed me to go out in the middle of the day and get a killer image like this.
#photodujour #dustinabbott #photography #canon #5Div #irix #15mm #blackstone #auroraaperture #PowerND
Technical Info | Canon EOS 5D Mark IV + Irix 15mm f/2.4 Blackstone + Aurora Aperture PowerND ND4000 filter | Check me out on: Google+: | Facebook: | Twitter: | Flickr: | 500px: | Sign Up for My Newsletter :
The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3 million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.
The structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Its height was surpassed by the 160 metres (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, the 165 metres (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008, and the 167 metres (548 ft) High Roller (Las Vegas) in 2014. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, unlike the taller Nanchang and Singapore wheels, the Eye is described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel".
The London Eye used to offer the highest public viewing point in London until it was superseded by the 245-metre-high (804 ft) observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard, which opened to the public on 1 February 2013.
The London Eye adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens (previously the site of the former Dome of Discovery), on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nearest tube station is Waterloo.
The London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.
Mace was responsible for construction management, with Hollandia as the main steelwork contractor and Tilbury Douglas as the civil contractor. Consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners designed the foundation works while Beckett Rankine designed the marine works.
Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners assisted The Tussauds Group in obtaining planning and listed building consent to alter the wall on the South Bank of the Thames. They also examined and reported on the implications of a Section 106 agreement attached to the original contract, and also prepared planning and listed building consent applications for the permanent retention of the attraction, which involved the co-ordination of an Environmental Statement and the production of a planning supporting statement detailing the reasons for its retention.
The spindle, hub, and tensioned cables that support the rim
The rim of the Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spoked bicycle wheel. The lighting was re-done with LED lighting from Color Kinetics in December 2006 to allow digital control of the lights as opposed to the manual replacement of gels over fluorescent tubes.
The wheel was constructed in sections which were floated up the Thames on barges and assembled lying flat on piled platforms in the river. Once the wheel was complete it was lifted into an upright position by a strand jack system made by Enerpac. It was first raised at 2 degrees per hour until it reached 65 degrees, then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift. The project was European with major components coming from six countries: the steel was supplied from the UK and fabricated in The Netherlands by the Dutch company Hollandia, the cables came from Italy, the bearings came from Germany (FAG/Schaeffler Group), the spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic, the capsules were made by Poma in France (and the glass for these came from Italy), and the electrical components from the UK.
The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. The capsules are numbered from 1 to 33, excluding number 13 for superstitious reasons. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of the London Boroughs, and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 km/h or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes, giving a theoretical capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.
In 2009 the first stage of a £12.5 million capsule upgrade began. Each capsule was taken down and floated down the river to Tilbury Docks in Essex.
On 2 June 2013 a passenger capsule was named the Coronation Capsule to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London. The experiences included a pub in a capsule, a west end theatre pod and a garden party with flower arrangements to represent the eight London Royal parks.
Ownership and branding
Marks Barfield (the lead architects), The Tussauds Group, and British Airways were the original owners of the London Eye. Tussauds bought out British Airways' stake in 2005 and then Marks Barfield's stake in 2006 to become sole owner.
In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group which was then the owner of the Eye; Tussauds was merged with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments and disappeared as an entity. British Airways continued its brand association, but from the beginning of 2008 the name British Airways was dropped from the logo.
On 12 August 2009, the London Eye saw another rebrand, this time being called "The Merlin Entertainments London Eye". A refurbished ticket hall and 4D cinema experience were designed by architect Kay Elliott working with project designer Craig Sciba, and Simex-Iwerks as the 4D theatre hardware specialists. The film was written and directed by Julian Napier and produced by Phil Streather.
In January 2011, a lighting-up ceremony marked the start of a three-year deal between EDF Energy and Merlin Entertainments.
Coca-Cola began to sponsor the London Eye from January 2015. On the day the sponsorship was announced the London Eye was lit in red.
In February 2020, lastminute.com replaced Coca-Cola as the sponsor. Grammy Award-winning singer Meghan Trainor performed at the launch party on a boat overlooking the London Eye.
In March 2020, the wheel was illuminated blue every Thursday at 8pm in support of the National Health Service as part of the ‘Clap for our Carers’ campaign created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial difficulties
On 20 May 2005, there were reports of a leaked letter showing that the South Bank Centre (SBC)—owners of part of the land on which the struts of the Eye are located—had served a notice to quit on the attraction along with a demand for an increase in rent from £64,000 per year to £2.5 million, which the operators rejected as unaffordable.
On 25 May 2005, London mayor Ken Livingstone vowed that the landmark would remain in London. He also pledged that if the dispute was not resolved he would use his powers to ask the London Development Agency to issue a compulsory purchase order. The land in question is a small part of the Jubilee Gardens, which was given to the SBC for £1 when the Greater London Council was broken up.
The South Bank Centre and the British Airways London Eye agreed on a 25-year lease on 8 February 2006 after a judicial review over the rent dispute. The lease agreement meant that the South Bank Centre, a publicly funded charity, would receive at least £500,000 a year from the attraction, the status of which is secured for the foreseeable future. Tussauds also announced the acquisition of the entire one-third interests of British Airways and Marks Barfield in the Eye as well as the outstanding debt to BA. These agreements gave Tussauds 100% ownership and resolved the debt from the Eye's construction loan from British Airways, which stood at more than £150 million by mid-2005 and had been charging an interest rate of 25% per annum.
Critical reception
Sir Richard Rogers, winner of the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize, wrote of the London Eye in a book about the project:
The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That's the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position at the heart of London.
Big City Review wrote that:
If you're an amateur or professional photographer, the London Eye delivers the chance to get breathtaking photos of the city of London. The ride moves so slow which enables one to have ample opportunity to shoot photos and video from all angles. When your [sic] done shooting your photos, the ride's slow speed lets you just sit back and take in the incredible views of London. From the time your carriage reaches the highest point your breath will have been take away. That is why the London Eye is worth visiting.
Transport links
The nearest London Underground station is Waterloo, although Charing Cross, Embankment, and Westminster are also within easy walking distance.
Connection with National Rail services is made at London Waterloo station and London Waterloo East station.
London River Services operated by Thames Clippers and City Cruises stop at the London Eye Pier.
Meet my newest Roommates. The one with the freckles on the nose is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Dresden for short. I have not come up with the perfect name for the other. I'm open to suggestions!! thanks to Jake Penrose Mary Jenkins, Bibodha Neupane and Admiral Potato for Joining me to photograph these little fellows
Meet my newest Roommates. The one with the freckles on the nose is Harry Blackstone Copperfield Dresden, Dresden for short. I have not come up with the perfect name for the other. I'm open to suggestions!! thanks to Jake Penrose Mary Jenkins, Bibodha Neupane and Admiral Potato for Joining me to photograph these little fellows
The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and is the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over 3 million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.
The structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Its height was surpassed by the 160 metres (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, the 165 metres (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008, and the 167 metres (548 ft) High Roller (Las Vegas) in 2014. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, unlike the taller Nanchang and Singapore wheels, the Eye is described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel".
The London Eye used to offer the highest public viewing point in London until it was superseded by the 245-metre-high (804 ft) observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard, which opened to the public on 1 February 2013.
The London Eye adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens (previously the site of the former Dome of Discovery), on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nearest tube station is Waterloo.
The London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.
Mace was responsible for construction management, with Hollandia as the main steelwork contractor and Tilbury Douglas as the civil contractor. Consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners designed the foundation works while Beckett Rankine designed the marine works.
Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners assisted The Tussauds Group in obtaining planning and listed building consent to alter the wall on the South Bank of the Thames. They also examined and reported on the implications of a Section 106 agreement attached to the original contract, and also prepared planning and listed building consent applications for the permanent retention of the attraction, which involved the co-ordination of an Environmental Statement and the production of a planning supporting statement detailing the reasons for its retention.
The spindle, hub, and tensioned cables that support the rim
The rim of the Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spoked bicycle wheel. The lighting was re-done with LED lighting from Color Kinetics in December 2006 to allow digital control of the lights as opposed to the manual replacement of gels over fluorescent tubes.
The wheel was constructed in sections which were floated up the Thames on barges and assembled lying flat on piled platforms in the river. Once the wheel was complete it was lifted into an upright position by a strand jack system made by Enerpac. It was first raised at 2 degrees per hour until it reached 65 degrees, then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift. The project was European with major components coming from six countries: the steel was supplied from the UK and fabricated in The Netherlands by the Dutch company Hollandia, the cables came from Italy, the bearings came from Germany (FAG/Schaeffler Group), the spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic, the capsules were made by Poma in France (and the glass for these came from Italy), and the electrical components from the UK.
The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. The capsules are numbered from 1 to 33, excluding number 13 for superstitious reasons. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of the London Boroughs, and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 km/h or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes, giving a theoretical capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is, however, stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.
In 2009 the first stage of a £12.5 million capsule upgrade began. Each capsule was taken down and floated down the river to Tilbury Docks in Essex.
On 2 June 2013 a passenger capsule was named the Coronation Capsule to mark the sixtieth anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London. The experiences included a pub in a capsule, a west end theatre pod and a garden party with flower arrangements to represent the eight London Royal parks.
Ownership and branding
Marks Barfield (the lead architects), The Tussauds Group, and British Airways were the original owners of the London Eye. Tussauds bought out British Airways' stake in 2005 and then Marks Barfield's stake in 2006 to become sole owner.
In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group which was then the owner of the Eye; Tussauds was merged with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments and disappeared as an entity. British Airways continued its brand association, but from the beginning of 2008 the name British Airways was dropped from the logo.
On 12 August 2009, the London Eye saw another rebrand, this time being called "The Merlin Entertainments London Eye". A refurbished ticket hall and 4D cinema experience were designed by architect Kay Elliott working with project designer Craig Sciba, and Simex-Iwerks as the 4D theatre hardware specialists. The film was written and directed by Julian Napier and produced by Phil Streather.
In January 2011, a lighting-up ceremony marked the start of a three-year deal between EDF Energy and Merlin Entertainments.
Coca-Cola began to sponsor the London Eye from January 2015. On the day the sponsorship was announced the London Eye was lit in red.
In February 2020, lastminute.com replaced Coca-Cola as the sponsor. Grammy Award-winning singer Meghan Trainor performed at the launch party on a boat overlooking the London Eye.
In March 2020, the wheel was illuminated blue every Thursday at 8pm in support of the National Health Service as part of the ‘Clap for our Carers’ campaign created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial difficulties
On 20 May 2005, there were reports of a leaked letter showing that the South Bank Centre (SBC)—owners of part of the land on which the struts of the Eye are located—had served a notice to quit on the attraction along with a demand for an increase in rent from £64,000 per year to £2.5 million, which the operators rejected as unaffordable.
On 25 May 2005, London mayor Ken Livingstone vowed that the landmark would remain in London. He also pledged that if the dispute was not resolved he would use his powers to ask the London Development Agency to issue a compulsory purchase order. The land in question is a small part of the Jubilee Gardens, which was given to the SBC for £1 when the Greater London Council was broken up.
The South Bank Centre and the British Airways London Eye agreed on a 25-year lease on 8 February 2006 after a judicial review over the rent dispute. The lease agreement meant that the South Bank Centre, a publicly funded charity, would receive at least £500,000 a year from the attraction, the status of which is secured for the foreseeable future. Tussauds also announced the acquisition of the entire one-third interests of British Airways and Marks Barfield in the Eye as well as the outstanding debt to BA. These agreements gave Tussauds 100% ownership and resolved the debt from the Eye's construction loan from British Airways, which stood at more than £150 million by mid-2005 and had been charging an interest rate of 25% per annum.
Critical reception
Sir Richard Rogers, winner of the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize, wrote of the London Eye in a book about the project:
The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That's the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position at the heart of London.
Big City Review wrote that:
If you're an amateur or professional photographer, the London Eye delivers the chance to get breathtaking photos of the city of London. The ride moves so slow which enables one to have ample opportunity to shoot photos and video from all angles. When your [sic] done shooting your photos, the ride's slow speed lets you just sit back and take in the incredible views of London. From the time your carriage reaches the highest point your breath will have been take away. That is why the London Eye is worth visiting.
Transport links
The nearest London Underground station is Waterloo, although Charing Cross, Embankment, and Westminster are also within easy walking distance.
Connection with National Rail services is made at London Waterloo station and London Waterloo East station.
London River Services operated by Thames Clippers and City Cruises stop at the London Eye Pier.
The London Eye, or the Millennium Wheel, is a cantilevered observation wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. It is Europe's tallest cantilevered observation wheel, and the most popular paid tourist attraction in the United Kingdom with over three million visitors annually. It has made many appearances in popular culture.
The structure is 135 metres (443 ft) tall and the wheel has a diameter of 120 metres (394 ft). When it opened to the public in 2000 it was the world's tallest Ferris wheel. Its height was surpassed by the 140 metres (459 ft) Sun of Moscow in 2022, the 160 metres (525 ft) Star of Nanchang in 2006, the 165 metres (541 ft) Singapore Flyer in 2008, the 167 metres (548 ft) High Roller (Las Vegas) in 2014, and the 250 metres (820 ft) Ain Dubai in 2021. Supported by an A-frame on one side only, unlike these taller examples, the Eye is described by its operators as "the world's tallest cantilevered observation wheel". The Eye offered the highest public viewing point in London until it was superseded by the 245-metre-high (804 ft) observation deck on the 72nd floor of The Shard in early 2013.
The London Eye adjoins the western end of Jubilee Gardens (previously the site of the former Dome of Discovery), on the South Bank of the River Thames between Westminster Bridge and Hungerford Bridge beside County Hall, in the London Borough of Lambeth. The nearest tube station is Waterloo.
History
Design and construction
The London Eye was designed by the husband-and-wife team of Julia Barfield and David Marks of Marks Barfield Architects.
Mace was responsible for construction management, with Hollandia as the main steelwork contractor and Tilbury Douglas as the civil contractor. Consulting engineers Tony Gee & Partners designed the foundation works while Beckett Rankine designed the marine works.
Nathaniel Lichfield and Partners assisted The Tussauds Group in obtaining planning and listed building consent to alter the wall on the South Bank of the Thames. They also examined and reported on the implications of a Section 106 agreement attached to the original contract, and also prepared planning and listed building consent applications for the permanent retention of the attraction, which involved the co-ordination of an Environmental Statement and the production of a planning supporting statement detailing the reasons for its retention.
The rim of the Eye is supported by tensioned steel cables and resembles a huge spoked bicycle wheel. The lighting was re-done with LED lighting from Color Kinetics in December 2006 to allow digital control of the lights as opposed to the manual replacement of gels over fluorescent tubes.
The wheel was constructed in sections which were floated up the Thames on barges and assembled lying flat on piled platforms in the river. Once the wheel was complete it was lifted into an upright position by a strand jack system made by Enerpac. It was first raised at 2 degrees per hour until it reached 65 degrees, then left in that position for a week while engineers prepared for the second phase of the lift. The project was European with major components coming from six countries: the steel was supplied from the UK and fabricated in The Netherlands by the Dutch company Hollandia, the cables came from Italy, the bearings came from Germany (FAG/Schaeffler Group), the spindle and hub were cast in the Czech Republic, the capsules were made by Poma in France (and the glass for these came from Italy), and the electrical components from the UK.
Opening
The London Eye was formally opened by the Prime Minister Tony Blair on 31 December 1999, but did not open to the paying public until 9 March 2000 because of a capsule clutch problem.
The London Eye was originally intended as a temporary attraction, with a five-year lease. In December 2001, operators submitted an application to Lambeth Council to give the London Eye permanent status, and the application was granted in July 2002.
On 5 June 2008 it was announced that 30 million people had ridden the London Eye since it opened.
Passenger capsules
The wheel's 32 sealed and air-conditioned ovoidal passenger capsules, designed and supplied by Poma, are attached to the external circumference of the wheel and rotated by electric motors. The capsules are numbered from 1 to 33, excluding number 13 for superstitious reasons. Each of the 10-tonne (11-short-ton) capsules represents one of the London Boroughs,[25] and holds up to 25 people, who are free to walk around inside the capsule, though seating is provided. The wheel rotates at 26 cm (10 in) per second (about 0.9 km/h or 0.6 mph) so that one revolution takes about 30 minutes, giving a theoretical capacity of 1,600 passengers per hour. It does not usually stop to take on passengers; the rotation rate is slow enough to allow passengers to walk on and off the moving capsules at ground level. It is stopped to allow disabled or elderly passengers time to embark and disembark safely.
In 2009 the first stage of a £12.5 million capsule upgrade began. Each capsule was taken down and floated down the river to Tilbury Docks in Essex.
On 2 June 2013 a passenger capsule was named the Coronation Capsule to mark the 60th anniversary of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In March 2020, the London Eye celebrated its 20th birthday by turning several of its pods into experiences themed around London. The experiences included a pub in a capsule, a west end theatre pod and a garden party with flower arrangements to represent the eight London Royal parks.
Ownership and branding
Marks Barfield (the lead architects), The Tussauds Group, and British Airways were the original owners of the London Eye. Tussauds bought out British Airways' stake in 2005 and then Marks Barfield's stake in 2006 to become sole owner.
In May 2007, the Blackstone Group purchased The Tussauds Group which was then the owner of the Eye; Tussauds was merged with Blackstone's Merlin Entertainments and disappeared as an entity. British Airways continued its brand association, but from the beginning of 2008 the name British Airways was dropped from the logo.
On 12 August 2009, the London Eye saw another rebrand, this time being called "The Merlin Entertainments London Eye". A refurbished ticket hall and 4D cinema experience were designed by architect Kay Elliott working with project designer Craig Sciba, and Simex-Iwerks as the 4D theatre hardware specialists. The film was written and directed by Julian Napier and produced by Phil Streather.
In January 2011, a lighting-up ceremony marked the start of a three-year deal between EDF Energy and Merlin Entertainments.
Coca-Cola began to sponsor the London Eye from January 2015. On the day the sponsorship was announced the London Eye was lit in red.
In February 2020, lastminute.com replaced Coca-Cola as the sponsor.[50] Grammy Award-winning singer Meghan Trainor performed at the launch party on a boat overlooking the London Eye.
In March 2020, the wheel was illuminated blue every Thursday at 8pm in support of the National Health Service as part of the ‘Clap for our Carers’ campaign created during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Financial difficulties
On 20 May 2005, there were reports of a leaked letter showing that the South Bank Centre (SBC)—owners of part of the land on which the struts of the Eye are located—had served a notice to quit on the attraction along with a demand for an increase in rent from £64,000 per year to £2.5 million, which the operators rejected as unaffordable.
On 25 May 2005, London mayor Ken Livingstone vowed that the landmark would remain in London. He also pledged that if the dispute was not resolved he would use his powers to ask the London Development Agency to issue a compulsory purchase order. The land in question is a small part of the Jubilee Gardens, which was given to the SBC for £1 when the Greater London Council was broken up.
The South Bank Centre and the British Airways London Eye agreed on a 25-year lease on 8 February 2006 after a judicial review over the rent dispute. The lease agreement meant that the South Bank Centre, a publicly funded charity, would receive at least £500,000 a year from the attraction, the status of which is secured for the foreseeable future. Tussauds also announced the acquisition of the entire one-third interests of British Airways and Marks Barfield in the Eye as well as the outstanding debt to BA. These agreements gave Tussauds 100% ownership and resolved the debt from the Eye's construction loan from British Airways, which stood at more than £150 million by mid-2005 and had been charging an interest rate of 25% per annum.
Critical reception
Sir Richard Rogers, winner of the 2007 Pritzker Architecture Prize, wrote of the London Eye in a book about the project:
The Eye has done for London what the Eiffel Tower did for Paris, which is to give it a symbol and to let people climb above the city and look back down on it. Not just specialists or rich people, but everybody. That's the beauty of it: it is public and accessible, and it is in a great position at the heart of London.
Big City Review wrote that:
If you're an amateur or professional photographer, the London Eye delivers the chance to get breathtaking photos of the city of London. The ride moves so slow which enables one to have ample opportunity to shoot photos and video from all angles. When your done shooting your photos, the ride's slow speed lets you just sit back and take in the incredible views of London. From the time your carriage reaches the highest point your breath will have been take away. That is why the London Eye is worth visiting.
Transport links
The nearest London Underground station is Waterloo, although Charing Cross, Embankment, and Westminster are also within easy walking distance.
Connection with National Rail services is made at London Waterloo station and London Waterloo East station.
London River Services operated by Thames Clippers and City Cruises stop at the London Eye Pier.
(Wikipedia)
Das London Eye (englisch „Auge von London“), auch bekannt unter der Bezeichnung Millennium Wheel, ist mit einer Höhe von 135 Metern seit 2022 das zweithöchste Riesenrad Europas. Es steht im Zentrum von London am Südufer der Themse im London Borough of Lambeth nahe der Westminster Bridge und gilt als eines der Wahrzeichen der britischen Hauptstadt.
Baubeginn des Riesenrades war 1998. Am 10. Oktober 1999 wurde die Konstruktion aufgerichtet. Die Eröffnung für Besucher verzögerte sich wegen technischer Probleme bis zum 9. März 2000. Das London Eye sollte ursprünglich nur etwa fünf Jahre betrieben werden; angesichts des großen Erfolges wurde dies verworfen. Bis zum 10. September 2022 war es das höchste Riesenrad Europas, bis in Moskau das 140 m hohe Riesenrad Sonne von Moskau eröffnet wurde.
Merkmale
Das London Eye besitzt 32 bodentief verglaste und klimatisierte Gondeln, in denen jeweils 25 bis 28 Personen Platz finden.[5] Die Gondeln sind horizontal verlängerte Rotationsellipsoide. Sie sind von je zwei fest im Riesenrad montierten Kreisringen umgeben und in ihnen um ihre horizontale Achse drehbar gelagert (s. unten stehendes erstes und zweites Bild). Wegen ihres tiefen Schwerpunktes drehen sie sich darin so, dass der Gondelboden immer waagerecht bleibt.
Die Gondeln befinden sich außerhalb des Rades, was eine fast uneingeschränkte Panorama-Aussicht ermöglicht. Ihre Umfangsgeschwindigkeit ist 0,26 m/s (knapp 1 km/h). Ein Umlauf dauert fast ½ Stunde.[6] Durch die geringe Geschwindigkeit wird der Fahrgastwechsel während der Fahrt möglich, so dass das Rad nur anhält, um u. a. Rollstuhlfahrern den Einstieg zu ermöglichen. Der Antrieb des Radkranzes erfolgt an beiden Seiten durch insgesamt 16 Reibräder (siehe ein Reibrad in unten stehendem dritten Bild): 8 pro Seite, zu je 2 Gruppen à 4 Stück zusammengefasst.
Bei guter Fernsicht kann man vom Riesenrad aus bis zu 40 km weit sehen, unter anderem bis zum etwas außerhalb Londons gelegenen Schloss Windsor.
Planung und Bau
Das Riesenrad wurde von den Architekten David Marks und Julia Barfield entworfen. Tragwerksplaner war John Roberts, der auch später mit Marks Barfield beim British Airways i360 Aussichtsturm in Brighton zusammenarbeitete. Marks und Barfield hatten versucht, nach dem Erfolg des London Eye die Idee an weitere Städte zu verkaufen; sie erwies sich aber als zu teuer, weshalb sie als kostengünstigere Alternative den Aussichtsturm i360 entwarfen. Für das London Eye war ursprünglich Arup als Ingenieursfirma eingebunden. Diese stieg jedoch aus, als das Unternehmen Mitsubishi, mit dem sie verbunden war, sich zurückzog. Das Design der Gondeln stammt von Nick Bailey; das niederländische Stahlbau-Unternehmen Hollandia baute sie. Die Drehachse und die einseitige, schräge Stütze aus Rohren und Spannelementen wurden von der tschechischen Maschinenbaufirma Škoda geliefert. FAG Kugelfischer entwickelte und baute in Schweinfurt das riesige Pendelrollenlager an der Nabe. Die Kapseln und das Stabilisations-System stammen von der französischen Firma Sigma. Der Antrieb wurde von Bosch Rexroth geliefert. Am 10. September 1999 versuchte das niederländische Spezialunternehmen Smit-Tak mit einem der größten Schwimmkräne der Welt, das liegend zusammengebaute Rad des London Eye aufzurichten, doch der Versuch schlug fehl. Erst einen Monat später konnte das Rad zunächst um 60 Grad aufgerichtet werden. Es dauerte eine weitere Woche, um es in seine endgültige Position zu heben.
Betreiber
Die Merlin Entertainments Group besitzt und betreibt das Riesenrad. Sponsor seit Februar 2020 ist die Online-Reisesuchmaschine lastminute.com.[10] Zuvor waren von 2011 bis Ende 2014 EDF Energy und von 2015 bis Ende Januar 2020 Coca-Cola die Sponsoren. Bei der Eröffnung 2000 gehörte es noch der Tussauds Group, British Airways und der Architektenfamilie Marks Barfield gemeinsam. Tussaud kaufte 2006 die Anteile der anderen Eigentümer und wurde 2007 dann selbst von Merlin übernommen.
Einordnung
Das London Eye ist das sechstgrößte Riesenrad der Welt. Bis zum 4. Januar 2006 war es das höchste Riesenrad der Welt, wurde aber dann durch das 160 Meter hohe Riesenrad „Stern von Nanchang“ in Nanchang, China, abgelöst, das wiederum mit der Eröffnung des Singapore Flyer am 1. März 2008 als damals größtes Riesenrad der Welt ersetzt wurde (siehe auch Dubai Wheel). In der Zeit zwischen 2014 und 2021 war der High Roller in Las Vegas das größte Riesenrad, welches im Oktober 2021 vom 260 Meter hohen Ain Dubai abgelöst wurde.
Bis zum 10. September 2022 war es außerdem das größte Riesenrad Europas, wurde aber durch das 140 Meter hohe Riesenrad „Sonne von Moskau“ in Moskau, Russland abgelöst.
Zur Kolonialausstellung Empire of India Exhibition stand von 1895 bis 1907 im Earls Court Exhibition Centre das Great Wheel, das mit 94 Meter bis zum Bau des Riesenrades in Paris im Jahr 1900 das höchste Riesenrad der Welt war.
(Wikipedia)
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
I had to make ones on Light Rye bread with no sauerkraut for the more "pansy" members of my family.... you know who you are!
www.squidoo.com/reubensandwich
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reuben_sandwich
whatscookingamerica.net/History/Sandwiches/ReubenSandwich...
www.rowlandweb.com/reuben/gallery.asp
The whole thing with the Reuben sandwich controversy is mostly because it has to be an actual fact (i.e. a menu with a date, cookbook, contest, newspaper article/review) and not just an apocryphal story. So thats why it's not easy to place the true origin.
The whole "Earl of sandwich" Kulakofsky story sounds like total B.S. to me. The Seelos/Chaplin one is not much better.
I'm sorry to have no facts to add...Just more stories.
Keep in mind that I was a kid and my Gramma would exaggerate often.
I do remember vividly how my grandparents both loved to eat Reuben's.
My grandmother used to tell us her sister Fern Brooks (Fern Snider) invented the Reuben.
She said Fern worked as a waitress (she made it sound like she was really young like a teen or before she was married) at the Blackstone Hotel Omaha. She told us about the national sandwich contest and Fern's trip to New York.
She also said that the Reuben had been around years before the contest and was very popular thats why Fern entered it.
Lots of people even family did not believe Reuben's were from Omaha and Gramma would get real mad at them... and also add that butter brickle ice cream was from the Blackstone Hotel too. We never heard any stories about the ice cream though.
I did ask my Grandma when I was grown, about her sister but sadly she would just smile and say "thats right" and have no facts to add.
Boy my Grandma sure did love Reuben's, she would ALWAYS order one if it was on the menu... in Omaha thats a lot of places. I still think of her when I eat/cook em.
It has been a family tradition to eat these on my birthday(St. Patrick's day) since I was a tike.
Recipe;
Seek out the the best ingredients to get the best flavor!
Try to get a point cut brisket from a real butcher or deli rather than the vacuum sealed thing in the chain grocery stores. If you are unable to do this do use the vacuum sealed one throw away that little flavorless packet thing and season it yourself as you see fit. I like to use a dry rub of lots of fresh ground pepper, then caraway seeds,kosher salt, Hungarian paprika (hot). Then brown it with olive oil to get it started in a large cast iron skillet. add rosemary, thyme and garlic after it is browned care not to burn the herbs and garlic. Keep in mind it is well raw and nowhere near throughly cooked through (you can not cook a tough cut of meat like this on the stovetop) pre-browing it just brings out more flavor and fat to help it in the crock pot. I will coarse chop (no long pieces though) half of a cabbage and put that in the crock pot and turn it on low. Add your brisket with all the fat drippings to the crock pot and then it will slow cook transforming it from a disgusting flabbity piece of gross undercooked meat hunk, into a delicious savory tender mouth watering addictive thing of marvelous beauty!
Bread: use this as a excuse to seek out local bakeries and try to find a quality bread.
Rule of thumb for bread: chain store=bad local bakery=awesome! What you will generally find in a chain grocery will not do your sandwich justice, look for something made at a local bakery(I spent my childhood tagging along with my grandfather who was a lifelong baker and would constantly visit other local bakeries just to make friends and seek out quality breads).
Upscale grocery stores will have a better bread choice if that is your only option.
Don't be afraid to experiment, German Pumpernickel, Jewish Rye, Light Rye, American Rye.
Make your own 1000 Island dressing which is easy it will taste better.
I make my own every time and it is always delicious because I make it to taste, guaranteeing it is always good.
Cheese: I'm not too picky, usually any Emmental Swiss is good Try to find something not too sharp with too much cheese funk, Baby Swiss is ok, Look for Swiss that has smaller holes and is not aged so long.
Sourkraut: find one you like, no need to be too picky here.
try to drain it as much a humanly possible so it does not waterlog your sandwich.
Cooking the Sandwich: Which is a very important step.
It should be delicious if all your ingredients are good. If your cooking for more than 2/3 people then use two large cast iron pans, I like EVOO instead of butter. Very important you must preheat! but too hot=burned sandwich, while too cold= soggy bread. So preheat the pans, yoiu should be able to feel slightly uncomfortable heat if you place your hand 3 inches above them. Add enough EVOO to coat the pan(if your oil is smoking your pan is too hot). The cast iron hold heat well but still try not to over crowd the pan maybe 2 per pan if it is large.
Last thing when you make your sandwitches do not try to make them heaping huge piles like fred flintstone style, balance of ingredients is important. If you add too much to them they will fall apart and not heat up as well in the center. ig is good but keep in mind if it is super huge it will not fit in your mouth hole.
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
The lobby
-------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
Bay windows design dominates exterior of the London NYC
------------------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
A view from the back side - 55th Street showing the elevator shafts. The turrets add decorative feature while hiding the water tank.
------------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
London NYC, a turreted, bay-fronted tower that sits midblock on 54th Street, between Seventh Avenue and the Avenue of the Americas.
The 54 story hotel has a rose-beige brick and granite facade and was designed by Frank Williams and Associates, and the interior by Birch Coffey Design Associates.
---------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
Reception desk
-----------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
The Maze - the informal restaurant on 54th Street seats about 70.
--------------------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
Bay windows and turrets at top provide the decorative touches for the pencil thin building.
-----------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
The 54 story hotel with a rose-beige brick and granite facade and was designed by Frank Williams and Associates, and the interior by Birch Coffey Design Associates.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
The Maze, an informal 70 seat restaurant by Gordon Ramsay.
--------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
The London NYC lobby is intended to be reminiscent of a Grand London residence. The English maze inspired floor design is in contrasting black and beige stone setting the scene for the minimal-luxe interior.
-----------------
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
The architect Frank Williams chose to use a mixture of bay windows and standard windows. The bay windows provide the illusion of a larger room, increase the flow of natural light into guest room and provide views of the outside that would be unavailable with an ordinary window.
-------------
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The London NYC (formerly RIHGA Royal)
151 W. 54th St.,
New York, NY 10019
In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors.
The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators.
The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept – to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates today in Japan with 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel.
Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel.
Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room).
On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations.
Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022
The Conrad Midtown New York City (formerly The London NYC, RIHGA Royal & Royal Concordia)
151 W. 54th St., NY, NY
In the beginning - In 1981, landowner Sol Goldman(said to be New York City's largest private landlord in the mid-1980s) planned a 32-story apartment house on the site across the street from the New York Hilton. He was unable to get the project off the ground. Goldman brought in William Zeckendorf Jr. (a developer in the 770-room Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza on Broadway, between 48th and 49th Streets,) and Kumagai Gumi of Tokyo as partners in the mid 1980s.
They had architect Frank Williams design a 45-story building with a hotel on the upper floors and an office building on the lower floors. They could not find a tenant to sign on for the lower floors. The group decided then to put the hotel on the bottom floors and apartments on top. This concept proved to complex for the site size to accommodate separate lobbies and elevators. The group consulted with Charles A. Bell, a hotel consultant and former Hilton International executive, who advised an all-suite concept, a novelty for New York City– to avoid head to head competition with the New York Hilton across the street.
The Zeckendorf Company's partners in the $120 million project are Sol Goldman, the Manhattan investor and developer; Edward Lewis of Lewis & Brener, a hotel brokerage firm, and the Kumagai Gumi Company, Japanese contractors.
Zeckendorf enticed the SARA Group, a division of Swedish conglomerate, Procordia A.B. to operate the proposed hotel and make a significant financial commitment. It was to be called the Royal Concordia.
In 1986 Karl Hofer was named the pre-opening General Manager and Mal Seymourian named Director of Marketing. They convinced the developers to axe the health club and swimming pool designed for the top of the hotel – their position being visitors to New York did not come to swim.
The architect Frank Williams decided to use bay windows instead of standard windows. The NY Times quoted Williams ‘‘the new windows softened the building's surface and added another dimension to the view from inside the rooms,'' he said. ''The new design gives the building a romantic classical look that I think is reminiscent of the classical skyscrapers of the 1920's and 30's.''
Birch Coffey Design Associates (known for cruise ship interiors) was selected as the interior designer. He used light-colored, relatively monochromatic schemes, instead of heavy patterns and dark colors.
Upon opening in 1990 the smallest suites - 572 square feet - with a separate living room had a rate of $260 to $390.00. Two bedroom suites with 720 square feet fetched $450.00 to $700.00.
The New York Times reported just before the 1990 opening the hotel known as the Royal Concordia was taken over by a Japanese chain, Royal Hotel Ltd. of Osaka. The new name - RIHGA Royal - is an acronym of Royal International Hotel Group and Associates.
The RIHGA Royal Hotel Group operates in Japan with about 10 hotels, its flagship is in Osaka. The first RIHGA Royal Hotel opened as the Hotel New Osaka on January 16, 1935, the city's first world-class hotel.
In March 2001, the RIHGA Royal Hotel was purchased by Thayer Hotel Investors III with $135 million in first mortgage financing provided by German-based DePfa Bank (later known as Aareal Bank AG). The hotel was unencumbered by a hotel management company or a hotel flag. Thayer Hotel Investors III was formed in 2000 and acquired two hotels during 2001, the RIHGA Royal in New York City and the Grande Lakes Resort in Orlando.
Thayer planned to spend $10 million renovating the hotel and change the name to J.W. Marriott New York Hotel. Thayer Hotel Investors re-named the 500-suite luxury hotel - J.W. Marriott New York Hotel - and the property was expected to serve as a flagship for the JW chain in the U.S.
Executive Chef Jose Velez and chef de cuisine Andy Arndt worked the acclaimed Halcyon Restaurant at the RIHGA Royal Hotel from 2001-2004. During this period the Halcyon received some of its best critical reviews since the opening in 1990.
Thayer commenced a phased renovation in 2001 of the first 100 of the 504 luxury suites, the restaurant, lounge, meeting and banquet areas, business center, and fitness room included new finishes, FF&E, and ADA accessibility upgrading. The renovation was completed in October 2002 without interruption of the hotel’s operation.
Loyal guests of the hotel were not pleased with Thayer's dropping the RIHGA Royal name. Thayer quietly re-named the hotel - The RIHGA Royal - a JW Marriot Hotel.
Thayer Lodging Group missed the June 2004 payment on the hotel's $135 million first mortgage. Some say Thayer defaulted as a result of weak revenues caused in part by branding issues over the past few years.
The Institutional Investor reported in August 2004 that Dallas-based Highgate Holdings backed off its plans to acquire the RIHGA Royal, a JW Marriott Hotel. Highgate had agreed to pay approximately $220 million for the hotel, which owner Thayer Lodging acquired in April 2001 for $193 million. Highgate had planned to convert a portion of the property to luxury condominiums. Highgate’s due diligence determined it could not make the deal work.
Lehman Brothers has been assisting Thayer Lodging for a possible sale and provided a $45 million mezzanine loan. Some speculated that Thayer might hand the keys to hotel to Lehman.
In March 2005 Blackstone Real Estate Group Acquired the RIHGA Royal for $193,000,000 from Lehman Brothers. ($381,000 per room). On June 18, 2005, Blackstone severed the hotel's affiliation with J.W. Marriott Hotel Company and began operating as an independent hotel - The RIHGA Royal.
Blackstone appointed its affiliate Luxury Resort to operate the hotel. Luxury Resorts (LXR) was formed in 2005 when Blackstone split Wyndham Resorts and kept the Luxury Hotels and launched an IPO for Wyndham.
In a November 2005 press release LXR Luxury Resorts announced the complete redesign, refurbishment and repositioning of two of its properties, the RIHGA Royal Hotel in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, California, into The London NYC and The London LA respectively.
LXR Luxury Resorts contracted David Collins to transform the interiors of all guest rooms and public spaces and contracted with Chef Gordon Ramsay planning restaurants in both locations. Jean-Jacques Pergant, Co-President, LXR Luxury Resorts, expects the London NYC to create a new standard for modern luxury.
David Collins was expected to create the unique DNA of what will become the London brand. His quote in the press release “Everything from the furniture to the lighting will create an entirely new spin on the hotels.” Collins plans to hand pick all the elements for guest bathrooms - glass tiles, marble surfaces, and porcelain fixtures with modern stainless steel fittings, linens and amenities.
The London NYC restaurant will offer Gordon Ramsay’s concept from his three-Michelin-star restaurant in London’s Chelsea. It will have around 45 seats and operate under chef de cuisine Markus Glocker. Glocker worked in the Chicago kitchen of Charlie Trotter’s for two years.
A Real Deal article states Blackstone sued Sol Goldman estate in August 2011 over a default notice the Goldman family filed against Blackstone due to 36 alleged violations at the London NYC hotel at 151 West 54th Street. The Sol Goldman estate owned a ground-lease position on the hotel site. The Real Deal article states Blackstone claims that most of the violations have been fixed and that it is waiting for paperwork from the Department of Buildings to fix nine other violations.
In 2015 -- Blackstone Group sold the London Hotel in Midtown to a sovereign wealth fund - Abu Dhabi Investment Authority - for $382 million, or $678,000 per room. ADIA is believed to be the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund. The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, which also owns the Hyatt Times Square and the Marriott Edition on Madison Square Park, was expected to retain the current management team. The Nov. 11, 2015 transfer included a direct sale of the 54-story property for $194 million; the buyer assumed the mortgage of $154 million and purchased the furnishings and fixtures. The ADIA also assumed the ground-lease position owned by the Sol Goldman estate, which will receive a total rent of $157 million through 2136.
Aidia has invested in hotels for more than 30 years. It owns 96 hotels golbally. The sovereign wealth fund has a hospitality team that focuses on major cities.
Aidia maintained the 562-room hotel as the London NYC until its renovation and rebranding was completed in 2019. In 2017 Conrad Hotels & Resorts assumed managing the property. The reimagined property was scheduled to officially rebrand as a Conrad hotel within 18 months. Conrad New York Midtown became the luxury brand’s second property in New York City, following the opening of Conrad New York in lower Manhattan in 2012. The renovation will include a complete transformation of all guestrooms, corridors, public spaces and vertical transportation systems, and will introduce a new upscale dining concept. Upon completion, the hotel’s interiors, by designer Stonehill & Taylor, will offer a modern interpretation of the Conrad “world of style” design aesthetic.
As Architect and Interior Designer, Stonehill Taylor was tasked with turning the former London New York hotel into the new luxury 563-room Conrad New York Midtown.
*** Stonehill Taylor’s design ***
Upon entering the Conrad, guests are immediately transported from the hustle and bustle of Midtown to a grand yet serene lobby space. Here, they are greeted by a large, lifelike sculpture, Leda and the Swan by Carole Feurman, which was acquired by the hotel. Adjacent to the lobby sit Dabble, a new restaurant designed in a collaboration between Hecho and Stonehill Taylor. Dabble was created with a design language that dissects the evolution of the use of line within a space, while playing with ideas of reflection, perception, material and shape throughout.
Upstairs, Stonehill Taylor-designed guest suites evoke the sense of a private pied-a-terre, consisting of separate living and sleeping spaces. They feature luxurious textures and materials in a neutral palette, such as herringbone wood floors, hand tufted wool rugs, leather dining chairs and a sleek coffee table with sculptural brass legs.
The Conrad also features a collection of premium accommodations, including four apartment-style suites, six sky suites, one atrium suite and one penthouse suite. Sky Suites are modern and sleek, designed as a nod to the nearby ivy league clubs with a scholarly and well-connected resident in mind. The open concept suite incorporates a study, dining, and living rooms in addition to a full bathroom, powder room, wet bar and king-size bedroom. The Atrium Suite draws inspiration from nearby Central Park. The main living room is housed within a greenhouse-like space with all glass surrounds, revealing stunning views of Manhattan. The 53rd and 54th floors are home to a split-level Penthouse Suite. The space features artwork by Juan Miro, Alexander Calder, and Francoise Gilot.
History of Conrad brand
Barron Hilton, son of Conrad Hilton, founded Conrad Hotels, taking the name from that of his father. Hilton Hotels was, at the time, a separate company from Hilton International, and could not operate hotels outside the United States under the Hilton name. The newly named chain solved that problem. Hilton International had already started their own chain of Vista Hotels within the United States, as they faced the same prohibition on operating there under the Hilton name. The first Conrad hotel, the Conrad Jupiters Gold Coast in Australia, opened its doors in 1985. When the two Hilton chains were rejoined in 2005, the need for the Vista and Conrad names vanished. Vista was phased out, while the Conrad brand was retained as a luxury wing of Hilton. Numerous hotels have since been opened under that name in the United States.
Text compiled from internet sources / Dick Johnson / May 2022