|
Over the past 15 years, Andre Balazs has made a
boldface name for himself as the owner of swank celeb-magnet hotels like L.A.’s
Chateau Marmont and Manhattan’s Mercer hotel. Now the king of hip
hospitality is bringing his mission to the masses with QT (as in on the q.t., or quiet), a 140 room
“budget hotel” opening this February smack in the middle of touristy, overpriced
Times Square. “A youth hostel was one of his inspirations,” Balazs says,
“though the hotel is at a much higher level than that.” In other words,
don’t expect dingy futons and communal bathrooms. Instead, Balazs is
keeping the prices down (rooms start at $125, compared to $145 at the Mercer) through frugal but artful
measures, like self-check-in kiosks and a book f delivery menus that subs for
room service. The building’s relatively small space has also inspired
Balazs to cut corners, literally, and offer innovative sleeping arrangements:
One family friendly room, left, has a tin bed suspended above a queen and goes
for $285 a night; other quarters feature four bunk beds for $200 (that’s just
$50 a head for a group of really close friends)…. Still, this may
be the only Balazs hotel that many of us can afford. Sp get in early before it’s
officially off the q.t. -
|
 |
|
