After multiple delays, the Virgin Hotels New York City property has soft opened, with an official grand opening planned for later this spring. Taking up the block between 29th Street and 30th Street on Broadway, the hotel is the sixth Virgin Hotels property in the United States and the seventh in the brand portfolio.
With design and architecture headed by Markzeff and Stantec, respectively, the hotel has 460 chambers (the company's term for guestrooms), suites and penthouses; entertainment-anchored spaces including Everdene, a 4,000-square-foot indoor/outdoor dining and cocktail venue with nightly music and entertainment programming; an outdoor pool club exclusive to hotel guests; and more than 19,000 square feet of meeting and event spaces.
"We've wanted to open a hotel in New York City since Virgin Atlantic first flew here in 1984," Virgin Group founder Richard Branson said in a statement. "We have had so many milestones in this city, from opening America's biggest record store to driving a tank through Times Square to lighting up the Empire State Building. I'm looking forward to even more adventures in the city and having a place to call home at the end of the day. I'm so proud of the amazing team behind Virgin Hotels New York; they have created something beyond my wildest dreams."
Design
To create a contemporary space that blends the classic Virgin aesthetic with a New York style, Virgin Hotels tapped Brooklyn-based design team Markzeff and architecture firm Stantec to spearhead the design of the hotel. While maximizing views throughout accommodations and public spaces, subtle design elements reference nearby Madison Square Park. Some bolder design components reminiscent of the Virgin brand include a signature red staircase connecting the third and fourth floors as well as other red accents like the guestroom doors.
The hotel also has an art collection with more than 100 different pieces. The lobby has a "Where's Richard?" mural by Nigel Sussman, inviting guests to play a Virgin-themed version of "Where's Waldo." The hotel's largest 2D piece, "The Sweat of Disco" by artist Joeggu Hossmann, celebrates the city's history, icons and party scene.
Accommodations
Virgin Hotels New York City has 460 guestrooms, suites and penthouses across 39 stories. Ranging from 277 to 770 square feet, all rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows, some with views of the Empire State Building. The rooms have Virgin Hotels' signature layout with two distinct spaces. The dressing room includes a full vanity desk with a mirror, a closet for two and an extra-large shower with a bench. The Lounge has the brand's patented ergonomic lounge bed, a red SMEG minifridge, a smart TV, a yoga mat and a cafe worktable. Rooms also have sensor-activated lighting as well as pet-friendly amenities.
The hotel also has Sir Richard's Flat, a 2,800-square-foot suite spanning the hotel's 35th and 36th floors. The duplex has two bedrooms, including a master bedroom; a walk-in bathroom with a rain-head shower and bench, a soaking tub and a vanity; a kitchenette; 24-foot windows with panoramic views; and a curated art collection within the suite.
Amenities
The hotel has multiple restaurants onsite on the third and fourth floors. Everdene is a 4,000-square-foot venue that occupies the entire third floor of the hotel. The fourth floor has the hotel's fine-dining restaurant concept, which is set to open in the coming months. The Pool Club on the fourth floor combines indoor and outdoor space and is available exclusively to overnight guests.
Additional hotel amenities include a gym and a business center. Virgin Hotels' mobile app Lucy lets guests control lighting and thermostats, request services, stream their own content or browse television programming, and order room services.