NYLO Debuts in Rhode Island

Bidding travelers to "stay unique," NYLO Providence/Warwick opened its doors today in Warw

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. October 14, 2008

WARWICK, RI, September 3, 2008. Lieutenant Governor Elizabeth Roberts and Warwick Mayor Scott Avedisian joined NYLO Hotels' chief executive officer, John Russell, and general manager, Christine Nevers, during a ribbon cutting ceremony to officially welcome the loft lifestyle hotel to the community and the Northeast.

Beyond the NYLO Providence/Warwick entryway, pod chairs hang from soaring ceilings. In The Loft, NYLO's signature restaurant/bar, chandeliers are shaped like sea coral, and tables have Plexiglas tops with embedded seashells.

Nearby, the game room beckons with custom pool table and original music by indie artists. Nooks and crannies feature free WiFi and designer couches, and the terrace is equipped with a deejay hookup. Everything runs on 100% renewable energy.

This is no ordinary hotel. It's the first property in the Northeast from loft lifestyle innovator NYLO Hotels. Overlooking the Pawtuxet River near the banks of the Narragansett Bay, the newly constructed NYLO Providence/Warwick welcomes with ultra-social gathering places, tech-friendly amenities and a bold urban loft design that celebrates its locale.

For travelers seeking relief from skyrocketing travel costs, NYLO Providence/Warwick's introductory rates start at $89 (weekends) and $119 (week nights) through the end of Dec. But don't let the modest rates fool you; this hotel is lush in high-end amenities.

"Travel should be fun," says Russell, the CEO. "Business travelers today meet with clients in the office parks of fast-growing suburban and secondary markets. They want to enjoy their tech-enhanced, urban lifestyles on the road. Consumers are looking for high style that's highly affordable. These preferences are strong in other sectors. What Starbucks, JetBlue and Mini Cooper have accomplished in their industries, NYLO is doing for business and leisure travel."

With singular style and amenities, Atlanta-based NYLO is giving the mid-priced lodging category a makeover. Teaming up with strategic partner and equity investor Lehman Brothers, the brand has an aggressive growth plan of 50 properties opened or under contract by early 2011. The first hotel, NYLO Plano at Legacy, made its debut in Dec. 2007 and quickly emerged as a North Dallas hotspot. Other NYLOs are slated to open in 2009 in high-volume business markets across the country, including: Irving/Las Colinas, Tex., another fast-growing Dallas suburb; Denver/Boulder, Colo.; Kansas City, Mo.; and Raleigh/Durham, N.C.

Outside city centers, these hotels will be close to where business is conducted today - on large corporate campuses and in office parks of thriving secondary and suburban markets close to transportation, shopping, dining and entertainment.

NYLO is headed by a team of industry veterans including Michael Mueller, president, chief development officer and brand visionary.

The 163-room NYLO Providence/Warwick sits at the corner of Knight Street and Greenwich Ave., three miles from TF Green International Airport and across the street from the Warwick Mall. The property is minutes from downtown Providence and area businesses, universities, golf courses and marinas. It also is close to some of New England's top beaches spread along Warwick's 39 miles of coastline.

Spanning 82,800 square feet, the hotel is designed by Stephane Dupoux, designer of high-end restaurants, bars and clubs worldwide. Recognized by Hospitality Design as one of America's top designers, Dupoux lists among his works: Buddha Bar and Cielo, New York City; Pearl and Nikki Beach, Miami's South Beach; and Cocoon, London.

HOTEL LIKE NO OTHER.

However, attempts to compare NYLO Providence/Warwick to other buildings inevitably fail; this hotel has an eclectic vibe all its own: a mid-priced property with high-end extras; a tech-friendly business lodging that's sociable and fun; part of a brand but one-of-a-kind.

Stepping into the lobby, guests find high ceilings, exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors and soaring glass window walls. The front desk is oval and close to the door.

"It's easy for our team members to come around and help with luggage and talk to guests about the local offerings," explains Nevers, the general manager "Or, guests can whiz through check-in/check-out at self-service kiosks that also print boarding passes.

RAISING THE BAR.

With Rhode Island's rivers and bays as its muse, NYLO Providence/Warwick boasts a witty nautical d'ecor. In The Loft, the restaurant/bar, chandeliers in the shape of dry sea coral cast a warm glow. A shiny, metallic bar invites guests to relax and enjoy. Nearby tables have driftwood bases and Plexiglas tops with embedded sea sponges and shells. They sit atop polished concrete floors stained light blue in a tip of the hat to the Ocean State.

Just beyond the bar, the game room welcomes with custom billiards table. Sky-blue-and-white pod chairs hang from the ceilings. There are plush, blue and white banquets recalling sand and surf, anemone-inspired wall sconces for candle lighting, and shiny metallic ottomans adorned with boat ties.

The Loft's windows -- floor-to-ceiling beauties -- provide views of the scenic Pawtuxet River and its woodsy banks. Giant glass doors open onto a 3,000 square-foot terrace and the river just beyond. Equipped for live entertainment, the terrace is designed with al fresco dining, parties, receptions and corporate events in mind.

"It's a gorgeous spot," Nevers notes. "The terrace extends right up to the river, making it a tranquil place to sit at the end of a full day of meetings and travel."

GREEN, URBAN, UPSCALE.

For eco-conscious travel, NYLO Providence/Warwick is the first hotel in Rhode Island to run on 100% renewable energy, Nevers points out. Through a partnership with People's Power & Light (PP&L), the property will offset its entire electricity usage with a mix of local and regional solar, wind, biomass and hydroelectric power sources.

The partnership makes NYLO PP&L's largest customer in Rhode Island, according to Nevers. This energy company is Rhode Island's part of the Energy Consumers Alliance of New England, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making energy more affordable and environmentally sustainable.

"Despite New England's soaring energy costs, NYLO remains deeply committed to sustainability," Russell says. "We're delighted to help our neighbors and meet the needs of our guests, while promoting the use of clean, local energy"

NYLO's green construction and operating policies call for using the most eco-conscious building materials and techniques, including a minimum of 50 percent recyclable materials. Each hotel's urban loft design, for instance, not only lends style; brick walls and polished concrete floors also stabilize indoor temperatures to cut electricity usage for heating and cooling. Oversized windows and window walls admit natural light, lowering consumption still more. In guest lofts, lights turn on and off, and air conditioning units adjust automatically when guests enter and leave.

To further reduce the carbon footprint, The Loft offers a selection of organic and bio-dynamically farmed alcoholic beverages. The menu features food from local farmers and purveyors. Each floor has recycling bins for bottles and paper. In guest lofts, travelers are invited to forego daily linen changes Desk pads and folio binders use recycled paper. Even NYLO's exclusive line of Gilchrist & Soames bath amenities come in recycled bottles and have no chemical preservatives like Paraben.

WARM, WELCOMING GUEST LOFTS.

Art lovers will note the original artwork throughout NYLO Providence/Warwick. These works by local artists combine with exposed brick walls, polished concrete floors and high ceilings to give each guestroom the look and feel of a comfortable urban loft. The color palette in guest lofts is restful, all in neutrals with occasional pops of color from paintings and custom pendant lighting.

For weary travelers, NYLO NYTE offers a comforting day's end. This custom bed by Simmons Bedding Company features a luxurious Beautyrest(R) pillow-top mattress. It's topped with five fluffy, down-like pillows; 100-percent combed-cotton triple sheeting; soft blanket with non-allergenic fiberfill; and custom, white cotton coverlet.

In the 300-square-foot NYLO Loft, the window takes up most of an entire wall, providing plenty of sunlight and scenic views. This standard guest loft has custom furniture in rich ultra-suede and woods of soothing bamboo hues, including a couch, dresser, ottoman, oversized desk and white leather ergonomic chair. Each King Suite spans 575 square feet with a separate living room. The 600-square-foot Lifestyle Suite features a private 300-square terrace overlooking the Pawtuxet River and picturesque Warwick countryside.

HIGH-TECH COMFORTS.

Free WiFi is available throughout NYLO Providence/Warwick. Guest lofts also have free high-speed Internet access. Other high-tech comforts in each guest loft include a 32-inch flat-screen TV with high-definition programming, convenient plug-ins and iPod-ready alarm clock/audio system.

ALLERGY-FRIENDLY.

NYLO Providence/Warwick's entire fourth floor -- 39 rooms - houses allergy-friendly guest lofts from industry leader, PURE Solutions North America. PURE Rooms provide comfort for guests suffering from allergies and respiratory illnesses. They also appeal to travelers who want a peaceful night's sleep in a room with crisp, mountain-fresh air quality.

Of all the lodging brands, NYLO leads the industry, designating the highest percentage of inventory to this comprehensive air purification system. Each NYLO PURE Room follows a seven-step process designed to kill 98 - 100% of indoor allergens and bacteria. A Class 2 medical-grade air purifier does most of the work. All-natural Tea Tree Oil keeps the heating and cooling system contaminant-free. Hypoallergenic linens and covers, along with NYLO's strict no-smoking policy, keep air fresh and help assure a comfortable and healthful hotel stay.

TWEAKS CULINARY TRADITION.

The heartbeat of the hotel, The Loft, houses a full-service restaurant specializing in comfort cuisine with regional flair. Opened daily for breakfast, lunch and dinner, The Loft offers a choice of sit-down or to-go meals. Between traditional mealtimes, this versatile eatery welcomes 24-7 with tasty, grab-and-go and easy-to-prepare meals and snacks whenever guests want.

The eclectic menu is designed to please the palates of travelers and locals, offering eggs, omelets, soups, salads, sandwiches, fish, steak, chicken, pasta, vegetarian fare and more. Diners can choose from full entrees or an array of small plates that mix and match satisfy a yen for anything from light bites to three-course feasts.

HOTEL AS RUNWAY.

In The Loft, guests will enjoy a 24-7 fashion show spotlighting NYLO associates in apparel by designer, author with book out this fall, and a Bravo-TV Project Runway favorite, Daniel Vosovic. Daniel presented a collection to glowing reviews at New York's Fashion Week, 2006. Now, guests can see how he combines comfort with couture in a unique clothing line, NYLO Wear by Daniel Vosovic. This casual, mix-and-match collection is designed to look good in the hotel, in the office and on the street. It includes sweaters, skirts, pants, blouses, shirts, jackets, handbags and more. The apparel, with Daniel's book, Fashion Inside Out, in bookstores, Oct. 2008, will be available for purchase in the hotel's boutique.

PAMPERING IS ART.

From nature to sailing to pop culture and everyday life, works by local artists create a vibrant display throughout NYLO Providence/Warwick. In each of its markets, NYLO invites area artists to submit original works. Artwork can be viewed and purchased at each hotel and online, with all revenues from sales going to the artist and a local non-profit organization.

The NYLO Providence/Warwick Art Competition drew submissions from more than 150 artists. "Rhode Island is known for its dynamic arts community," say Patrick O'Neil, executive vice president of operations. "We're delighted to showcase this world-class art. The displays will provide tremendous exposure for area artists, while also enhancing the richness of the NYLO Providence/Warwick experience."

INFUSED WITH MUSIC.

Music is to The Loft what pop is to rock. Day and night, the restaurant/bar fills with original sounds from NYLO Uncovers. These compilation CDs spotlight up-and-coming artists from NYLO markets, across the country and around the world. While the featured musicians enjoy broader reach, guests discover talented indie artists they otherwise never may have known. Local NYLO Uncovers artists perform live at hotel grand openings. Music lovers who want to take these sounds home can buy the innovative CDs at the hotel boutique and on the NYLO Web site.

COMFORTS OF HOME.

One of Nevers' favorite places in the hotel is the library. Located just off the lobby near check-in, the library welcomes weary travelers with a soothing neutral tones, comfortable couches, computer, printer and plenty of books. "Guests can sip coffee here, work, read or relax in a setting that feel like the living room of a comfortable urban loft," she explains.

UNEXPECTED EXTRAS.

Uncommon extras come standard at NYLO Providence/Warwick Travelers enjoy complimentary printouts, photocopies, and faxing and scanning services available near the library at the front desk. Another favorite perk is the complimentary local and domestic long distance phone calls. Also for free: bottled spring water in guest lofts; parking; and shuttle service to area shopping, dining, airport and entertainment.

HIGH-TECH GYM.

The 24-hour fitness center has his/her saunas and top-of-the-line Life Fitness cardio equipment. Mixing exercise and entertainment, guests can plug in their iPods and control playlists and watch movies from each machine's large integrated LCD screen. In addition to seamless iPod(R) integration, the equipment offers Virtual Trainer, USB memory stick connectivity and visually appealing workout landscapes. "Guests continue their exercise regimens on the road with the same high-end cardio equipment found in the best gyms and health clubs," O'Neil notes.

INNOVATIVE MEETING SPACE.

NYLO Providence/Warwick offers more than 4,000 square-feet of meeting and event space, divided amongst the riverfront terrace and three bright, airy boardrooms. In the 900-square-foot Pontiac Room, meeting attendees have a 54-inch, flat-screen monitor with wireless and wired Internet access for presentations and classroom-type instructions. The 300-square-foot Pawtuxet Room and 250-square-foot Warwick Room feature oversized boardroom tables, plush leather chairs, wired and wireless Internet access and scenic views of the Pawtuxet River.

BUSINESS/CULTURAL HUB.

NYLO Providence/Warwick is adjacent to historic Pontiac Mills. Poised to become one of Rhode Island's leading mixed-use developments, Pontiac Mills once was home to a bustling textile mill with handsome redbrick buildings and water tower dedicated by Abraham Lincoln. When completed, the revitalized, master-planned community will house a mix of restaurants, residences, businesses, studios and boutiques.