New York City's first gay hotel, THE
OUT NYC, opened for business on Thursday, MSNBC
Travel reported.
Located in Hell's Kitchen between 10th
and 11th Avenues, THE OUT NYC, designed by Paul Dominguez,
includes 105 rooms and is part of a $30 million renovation of a
former three-story Travel Lodge. The complex will also house a gym
and a restaurant – KITCHIN – three courtyards and an
11,000-square-foot nightclub – XL Nightclub.
The hotel will be moderately priced,
starting at $250 a night, and offer eight “sleep shares,” shared
rooms with privacy curtains from $99 per person.
The project is being financed by
Parkview Developers, which was founded in 2003 by gay couple Ian
Reisner and Mati Weiderpass.
“I had a vision five years ago,” to
create a conveniently located gay hotel that would also “be a
relaxing home base resort-style retreat where guests can stay, eat
and play,” Reisner told MSNBC.
Henry H. Harteveldt, co-founder of the
Atmosphere Research Group, a market research company, said he expects
the hotel will face a number of challenges, including competing
against mainstream hotels which are increasingly marketing to the gay
community.