The Lobby of the Muse New York

Manhattan during the holiday season is truly a site to see.  With the gorgeous Rockefeller Center Christmas tree and ice skating rink, the beautiful department store window displays, and the holiday lights and decorations throughout the city, I think every family needs to visit at least once in December.  This holiday season, Kimpton’s The Muse New York is offering a charitable package called the “Pajama Rama Package.” Enjoy a fabulous stay at the hotel, see the sites of the city, and give back.

Families booking the The Muse’s “Pajama-Rama” package, will receive the following:

• $10 donation from each room night booked, donated to The Pajama Program – a nonprofit organization that provides new  pajamas and books to children in need in the United States
• Milk and cookies at turndown
• Cozy slipper socks upon arrival

This package is available now through December 30, 2011, rates starting at $349. The package is based on availability, rates are based on double occupancy and do not include tax.  Call 1-877-692-6873 and mention rate code PPJR, or book online.

The Muse Hotel New York
130 West 46th Street, New York, NY  10036
(877) 692-6873

Photo credit: The Muse New York

The Exterior of the New York Palace, Decorated For the Holidays

The New York Palace Hotel, an institution in Midtown Manhattan, is planning some great things to celebrate this holiday season.  Christmastime is one of the best times to visit New York City, and the New York Palace is centrally located near many of the city’s most popular attractions for the holidays.

The New York Palace’s “Holiday Fantasy” offers so many seasonal surprises, including Palace Guards (in custom designer-created costumes) who will greet people in the Palace Courtyard, and a  30-foot Christmas tree.  There will also be a Snowplace Princess who will make special appearances at the weekend holiday-themed brunch.  The hotel will also offer a “Happy Holiday Hour” featuring specialty festive holiday cocktails, and a four-foot Gingerbread House will be located in the lobby.

The New York Palace is also offering a Holiday Fantasy Package for the holidays.  The package includes luxury guest room accommodations; a $100 nightly food and beverage credit which can be used at the on-site Gilt or Istana, or towards the Holiday Fantasy Brunch; a commemorative New York Palace Holiday Ornament; and an in-room children’s welcome amenity.  This package starts at $499 per night and is based on availability, and upgrades are also available.

The New York Palace Hotel
455 Madison Avenue
New York NY 10022
1 212-888-7000

Photo credit: The New York Palace Hotel

A Room at the Omni Berkshire Place

When you think of a hotel room in Manhattan, what comes to mind?  Teeny little rooms where it’s hard to even open closets or drawers?  Old buildings in need of a refresh with updated decor?  Zero amenities at a high cost?  None of this is true at the Omni Berkshire Place Hotel, located right in the heart of Midtown Manhattan.

The Omni Berkshire Place Hotel hosted me for the night of the Time to Play Showcase in NYC, and I couldn’t have been happier with the stay – from the friendly staff to the gorgeous room.  I was greeted by hotel staff right as my cab pulled up to the door, and the doorman kindly brought my small bag right to the check-in desk.  Upon arriving, I discovered that I’d be upgraded to a junior suite – a totally unexpected surprise.

The rooms at the Omni Berkshire are relatively spacious, especially for a NYC room, and have been recently renovated.  The decor is clean and modern – very uncluttered, but still very stylish.  I was most impressed with how absolutely clean the entire hotel is – not a speck of dust or dirty anyway.  Room service, and morning coffee was delivered promptly and with perfect service.  The location of the hotel is perfect for business and leisure travelers.  It’s just a few blocks from Rockefeller Plaza, 5th Avenue, Radio City Music Hall, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, and Times Square.

The Omni Berkshire Place also offers 24-hour room service, LG 37-inch flat-screen televisions, health club, twice-daily housekeeping, and wireless high-speed internet.  I’d highly recommend signing up for the complimentary select guest membership – you’ll get free WiFi, morning beverage delivery service, a free morning newspaper, and complimentary pressing of two items.

Omni Berkshire Place
21 East 52nd Street at Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10022
Phone: (212) 754-5000

Photo credit: Jodi Grundig

Disclosure: I received a complimentary one-night stay at the Omni Berkshire Place to facilitate my review

UANI hotel protest

The Warwick Hotel joins an illustrious list of New York hotels that have come under fire for hosting dastardly dictators in town for the UN General Assembly.

It happens every year with Iranian President Ahmadinejad. This year, it’s the Warwick’s turn and the protesters from an organization called UANI have taken it a whole new level.

They booked in a room at the hotel (No. 1102) and have officially moved their headquarters to the Warwick Hotel for the week.

They have cyclists pulling billboards outside the hotel near 54th St. and 6th Ave, and protesters are handing out cards on the sidewalk there which read “As we remember 9/11 ten years later, Al Qaeda’s silent partner comes to the Warwick Hotel.”

They have a billboard up in Times Square, and a mobile truck billboard that’s about to hit the streets outside the Warwick and the UN. They’re calling for a boycott of all Warwick International Hotels worldwide, including their U.S. hotels in Denver, Seattle, Dallas and San Francisco.

Of course, UANI themselves have a room booked inside the hotel, but that’s just so they can welcome Ahmadinejad with a protest and petition up close.

The hotel’s manager Sam Kapadia put out a statement which says that “Along with many of Manhattan’s hotels, restaurants and other service organizations, we are ready to cater to the needs of UN delegates and other representatives… The hotel has been privileged to serve a diverse international clientele and host international events during its eight decades of operations. It looks forward to continuing that tradition.”

The Warwick is only the latest to get caught in this particular annual drama. Last year, it was the Hilton Manhattan East Hotel that faced the music. The Omni Berkshire and Millennium UN Plaza refused to host Ahmadinejad after getting letters from UANI.

Jumeirah Essex House cancelled a scheduled dinner for him in 2009, while Gotham Hall and The New York Helmsley both cancelled scheduled speeches by Ahmadinejad. That year, he stayed at InterContinental The Barclay, which hasn’t agreed to host him since.

It’s a good bet that the Warwick Hotel too won’t let Ahmadinejad anywhere near their premises in 2012 or anytime soon after that. But there surely will be another brave hotel that will step up to the plate.

Photo – UANI

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