'Lifestyle chains' aim to satisfy a yen for budget swank
Cross a Comfort Inn with the Mondrian, add high ceilings, big-screen TVs, wireless access, and price it at $150.
November 26, 2006

BOUTIQUE is going cheap and going everywhere.


The customers seek a social life, drinking, to eat and slacken while working. Today we can thank a half-dozen for new chains of hotels like the element and NYLO.

These hotels are adapted has young travellers of businesses par affordable spleens with stylish rooms, free wireless access, free breakfast and fitness centers.

The majority of these hotels will not open before the next year or later. The majority as of the these hotels will be open the next year but, today this vagueness of the new openings to the small budgets give a new way of travel, especially has people around the 30 years and more young person.

Rising generation hates the commercial mercenary attitude and they are not faithful any more to the marks.

But rising generation is also more emotional persons, and the words like “inspired” and “exaggerated” light them.

Today hotel the request if it possible of is combined the low price with the requirements of rising generation. For that the one-way is to combine the functions of an entry, a living room, a restaurant, a bar and of a district business in one space.

For me, this type of the hotels are more in more current, the customers do not seek any more the globalisation of hotel trade if not more early a personalization services.

Lyfestyle chains makes it possible moreover to have another vision of hotel trade, more cheaper and more accessible. The design, technology give all comfort necessary to satisfy this type of customers.

This type of customers, young people of 3O years at least, have has purchasing power strong, are demanding and they like exclusiveness, then the hotel one do all to satisfy them.



Aloft Hotels: The pitch: "Stylish design, accessible technology and a hip, urban attitude" with the "DNA of W Hotels."Openings: Initially in Toronto and Montreal, Canada, and Chantilly, Va., in early 2008.

Plans for 500 hotels by 2012.

Features: Loft-style rooms with 9-foot ceilings and central plug-in console, linked to a flat-screen TV, for the BlackBerry, MP3 and laptop computers. Communal social areas. 24-hour snack bar. Fitness center. Pool.

Rates: About $100 to $200.Operator: Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide; http://www.alofthotels.com/ .


NYLO Hotels: The pitch: "Upscale hotels at midscale rates," with innovative design
Openings: Plano, Texas, in 2007; Warwick, R.I., in 2008.

Plans for more than 50 hotels by 2010.Features: Loft-style rooms with walls of exposed brick and polished concrete. "Ultra-social" common area with 24-hour restaurant, bar, business center, library, game room. Staff outfits by Daniel Vosovic from "Project Runway" reality TV show.

Rates: $120-$140Operator: NYLO Hotels, Atlanta;
http://www.nylohotels.com/ .


Element: The pitch: "A space to live your life … a dramatic innovation in the extended-stay category."Openings: Lexington, Mass., in 2008.

Plans for 500 hotels .Features: Rooms with Westin's Heavenly Bed, gourmet pantry. Lobby with multistory "window wall," laptop ports, wireless access (but no formal restaurant or bar). Courtyard with fire pit and barbecue. 24-hour "grab-and-go" pantry

Rates: Expected above $125. Operator: Starwood Hotels & Resorts;
http://www.elementhotels.com/ .


Cambria Suites: The pitch: "Hip, stylish … more intimate and less institutional.

"Openings: Boise in 2007; more than 30 future sites.Features: Large rooms with divided work-living and sleep areas, flat-screen TVs, refrigerator, microwave. Multiuse lobby with large-screen TV, breakfast buffet, coffee lounge that converts to a bar at night, evening menu (but no formal restaurant), 24-hour convenience store. Gym and pool with hot tub.

Rates: Vary; recently $139 and up for Boise in March. Operator: Choice Hotels; http://www.cambriasuites.com/ .


Hyatt Place: The pitch: "Stylish design, purposeful amenities and forward-thinking technology."Openings: Lombard, Ill.; Scottsdale, Ariz; Atlanta; and College Park, Ga., this year; more than 100 next year. Initial openings will be conversions of the AmeriSuites chain acquired by Hyatt last year.

Features: Spacious rooms with Hyatt Grand Bed, sectional sofa, flat-screen TV. Lobby area with personal greeting from host, self-registration kiosk, coffee and wine cafe, TV den, free wireless and free access to public computer and printer. Free breakfast. Cafe with touch-screen kiosks for ordering food using room key card.

Rates: Vary; recently started at $169 in Scottsdale for December, $109 for June.Operator: Global Hyatt Corp.; http://www.hyattplace.com/


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