Stonehill & Taylor Wins Redesign of Novotel Flagship in the U.S.

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. April 18, 2012

April 17, 2012 - New York-based architecture and interior design firm Stonehill & Taylor was recently awarded the redesign of the Novotel Hotel Times Square, following an invited competition. The New York location is considered the North American flagship property under the Novotel brand, which will be fully upgraded to that status.

Novotel New York Times Square was acquired by Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, the San Francisco hotel investment and advisory firm in a joint-venture in February 2012, from a subsidiary of Accor Business and Leisure Management LLC. Accor will continue to operate the hotel under the Novotel flag, in a long-term management agreement.

“We wanted a fresh concept that is relevant to the unique location of this hotel,” said Barry Nidiffer, Senior Vice President of Development Management at The Chartres Lodging Group. “Stonehill & Taylor came to the table with an innovative concept and a rich vision.”

Stonehill & Taylor's complete redesign of the hotel includes all 480 rooms and public spaces. “We are thrilled to be selected for this project,” said Michael Suomi, Principal and VP of Interior Design at Stonehill & Taylor. “With the redesign of this property, we hope to set the standard for Novotel in the U.S.”

The hotel is located on 52nd Street and Broadway in Midtown Manhattan, with views of Times Square.

“With the backdrop of Times Square, we picked its most iconic moment, the New Years Eve celebrations as our inspiration for the design,” explained Michael Suomi. “Times Square is one of world's most famous locales to celebrate new beginnings. There is a unique link to the Novotel brand, as the word novo in Latin means 'to make anew, refresh, revive.' Our design concept weaved these two ideas together to center around new beginnings, and what this means for cultures around the world.”

The repositioning of the hotel will seek to attract business travelers, in addition to its core market of European leisure travelers.

About Chartres Lodging Group, LLC
The Chartres Lodging Group, LLC, is an investment and advisory firm focused on the acquisition, asset management, renovation and development, and property management of lodging assets. Chartres Lodging's principals have been responsible for more than $8 billion of lodging investments and have asset managed more than 100 upscale and luxury hotels, resorts and conference centers.

The firm is currently responsible for a $2.2 billion, 12,500-room portfolio of luxury and upscale hotels, conference centers and resorts in the U.S. and Japan. Chartres Lodging's principals and employees are direct investors in 90 percent of this portfolio.

About Stonehill & Taylor
Stonehill & Taylor is an architecture and interior design firm based in New York City. With primary specialization in hospitality, healthcare, science and academic institutions, Stonehill & Taylor uses a collaborative approach to produce unique design stories. Firm's successful projects range from interior design to architecture, new building construction, historic preservation and renovations, including: The President, The Ace, NoMad Hotel, Crosby Street Hotel, New York Hilton, The Surrey and the new Hyatt House brand. The firm has designed the highest number of LEED certified hotels in New York and the first LEED Gold hotel with the Crosby Street Hotel. For more information about the company, visit: stonehilltaylor.com.