Hyatts Andaz Brand Bets on Wall Street

Incentive: Travel

Hyatt’s Andaz Brand Bets on Wall Street
January 27, 2010

By Donna M. Airoldi

Andaz Wall Street opened its doors in New York City last week, bringing the first property from the latest brand at Hyatt Hotels Corp. to the East Coast. The surprisingly spacious property, designed by the renowned David Rockwell and his company Rockwell Group, offers planners a stylish new option for meetings, events and incentive programs.

No surprise there, since word “andaz” means “personal style” or “stylish” in Hindi, depending on which reference you check. The brand doesn’t disappoint. Both public and private spaces are comfortable and inviting, and feature locally owned products and services, keeping in tune with the mission to have each Andaz property reflect the personality of its location.

Housed in the former headquarter for JP Morgan Chase at 75 Wall Street (at Water Street), the hotel has 253 rooms on 13 floors—ironic, since the building’s original address was changed from 76 Wall because its two numbers added up to unlucky 13. Guestrooms start at 345 square feet but feel larger, given their loft-like ceilings and 7-foot windows. Each features a natural color palette with stained oak floors; earth-toned fabrics and furnishings; black marble bathrooms with New York–based C.O. Bigelow amenities, and soaking tubs in the larger rooms; and contemporary furniture. Two highlights: an elegant eggshell white wall fabric with stitching, and custom-made rotating wardrobes that efficiently house a closet, drawers, a full-length mirror, the mini bar, and other useful storage elements, such as a multi-divided drawer for keeping ties, socks, jewelry and other small items separate.

Complimentary wireless is available throughout the hotel, and snacks and non-alcoholic beverages from the mini bar also are free, as are all local calls. In addition, guests can enjoy a cup of local Gimme! Coffee and oven-fresh bread and pastry from the lounge area in the lobby, where the goods are baked in an antique oven. Rates start at $275 per night.

Five meeting “studios,” as they’re called, are located on the concourse level and surround a common kitchen and lounge area that can be used for breaks, receptions, and dinners—the space includes a chef’s table. A total of 5,920 square feet of function area can accommodate up to 48 attendees for meetings, 60 for receptions. A nice touch is that each room has an open pantry with marble counters, espresso machine, sink, telephone, electronic safe, storage space, and touch-panel lighting controls.

The hotel’s restaurant, Wall & Water, opens Jan. 25 for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and will feature local, seasonal cuisine sourced from the nearby Hudson Valley. Helmed by Chef Maximo Lopez May from Buenos Aires, the meat dishes are sure to be fantastic (especially if the beef cheek sampled at the pre-opening tour is any indication). Abstract patterns on the restaurant’s walls and ceiling were fashioned after the watermarks of dollar bills, tying the interior to the exterior neighborhood. A chef’s table can seat 10. Entrees range from $17 to $44. The hotel bar, Seven Five, will feature signature cocktails ($13) inspired by drinks popular from 1880 until prohibition.

The small spa—just two treatment rooms—uses NY-based Red Flower and Luzern products, and offers full-service options as well as mini treatments, priced at $35 per 15-minute increment. Busy guests and neighborhood employees hoping to get in some lunch-hour pampering also receive a complimentary shoeshine and suit-steaming, and can order a boxed lunch which will be ready to go by the time their service finishes. Appointment confirmations are delivered on a copy of the Wall Street Journal.

Hyatt plans to open another Andaz in New York this spring, the Andaz Fifth Avenue. Visit www.andaz.com for more information.

Incentive Magazine

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