Lifestyle to Premier in Plano, TX

Rhode Island Property to Follow

• 
  SAVE
• 
  SHARE
• 
  TEXT SIZE
• 
  PRINT
• 
  COMMENT
• 
  PDF

. October 14, 2008

ATLANTA, GA, September 18, 2006. NYLO Hotels will break ground on its first hotel in Plano, Tex., the fourth quarter of this year, the company announced today at the 2006 Lodging Conference. A second groundbreaking, in Warwick R. I. near Providence, is slated for the second quarter of 2007.

"These cities have dynamic business communities with outstanding dining, recreation and nightlife," says John Russell, NYLO CEO. "They make ideal inaugural sites for our new lifestyle hotel brand."

Minutes from downtown Dallas, the 176-room Plano property will be located in the heart of Legacy, a 2,665-acre master-planned community and home to world-leading companies. The 88,500 square-foot NYLO Hotel will be within walking distance of two major malls housing premier restaurants and stores. One of Texas' fastest growing communities, Plano also is home to myriad sports and entertainment complexes, all a short drive away for NYLO guests.

The 164-room Warwick property will overlook the scenic Pawtuxet River two-and-one-half miles from the TF Green International Airport. The 82,800 square-foot hotel will be in Pontiac Mills. Once a 19th-century textile mill, the revitalized complex is an artsy enclave today. Cafes, artisan shops and galleries will be within walking distance. Also nearby: businesses, malls, golf courses, marinas and beaches on Narragansett Bay.

Other locations are in various stages of negotiations for NYLO-owned and operated hotels, Russell says. NYLO accelerated its growth plan last spring, when Lehman Brothers became an equity investor and strategic partner in the company. Franchising is slated to begin the first quarter of 2007. NYLO plans to open 50 hotels in suburban and secondary markets throughout North America by 2010.

Allergy-Friendly

All hotels will offer allergy-friendly guestrooms from Pure Solutions North America.

"NYLO is the only new lifestyle brand to commit to allergen-resistant guestrooms as part of our overall brand strategy," Russell notes. "We're proud to work with this market leader in improving indoor air quality for the comfort of our guests."

NYLO is committed to having at least one Pure Floor, with all guestrooms incorporating the comprehensive purification system, in each of its branded properties. The Plano hotel will have 44 Pure Rooms.

"When you walk into a Pure Room, you notice the difference immediately," says Brian Brault, Pure CEO. "We're delighted to team up with this breakthrough hotel company in their efforts to improve guest comfort and health."

Allergy-friendly rooms appeal to travelers sensitive to smells as well as to the estimated 70 million Americans who suffer from allergies, asthma and other respiratory illnesses*. Designed specifically for hotels, the Pure System cuts down on contaminants, irritants, molds, dust and odors. Following a seven-step purification process, each NYLO Pure Room will use a Class 2 medical-grade air purifier, hypoallergenic linens and covers, and other techniques to keep the air fresh and make hotel stays more pleasant for travelers.

NYLO's stringent no-smoking policy aims to further improve indoor air quality. Smoking will be prohibited throughout the hotel, including all guestrooms, employee areas and public spaces. With smoking confined to comfortable, designated outdoor areas, the fee for smoking in a guestroom is set at a hefty $300.

24/7 Gourmet

In NYLO's restaurants, guests will find a wide selection -- from gourmet dinners to light casual fare -- round-the-clock, thanks to the brand's recent agreement with DINNERIN, which partnered with RATIONAL, a leader in combi-oven technology.

"DINNERIN'S creative food solutions and the use of our SelfCooking Center(R) technology bring about tremendous improvements in food quality and consistency as well as substantial savings in labor costs," explains Louis-Philippe Audette, executive chef for RATIONAL. "NYLO will be able to provide delicious, upscale cuisine at affordable, mid-scale prices.

"The DINNERIN system and our combi-oven technology provide enormous flexibility," Audette adds. "NYLO guests won't ever hear, 'I'm sorry, our kitchen is closed.' Because of the ease of execution, great-tasting, healthy meals will be available anytime any day."

Cold plating of DINNERIN prepared foods and finishing in the programmable SelfCooking Center(R) will eliminate the old steam tables, hot boxes and sternos that can cause overcooking in traditionally operating hotel restaurants "Using the professionally prepared DINNERIN foods and cutting-edge finishing techniques, vegetables will stay crisp, meat will remain moist, and everything will arrive at the table hotter and more flavorful," explains Egbert Kahl, DINNERIN CEO, whose chefs will customize menus next month for all NYLO Hotels.

"We'll focus on sophisticated comfort cuisine, with no preservatives and a full panoply of fresh, healthy foods," Kahl explains. "This system allows hotels to improve their food quality tremendously without increasing the skill level in their kitchens. It's an innovative solution -- a perfect fit for a company like NYLO."

Lofty Designs

Throughout this quarter, NYLO is testing other innovations at its headquarter offices, which opened officially last week on 260 Peachtree St. NW in downtown Atlanta.

The 3,500 square-foot headquarters houses executive offices and a model guestroom. Part showroom, part test lab, the model room will be the site of numerous focus groups. "We're evaluating everything, from bed and bath products to lighting and new technologies," Russell explains, "Business travelers will have their say in creating the brand."

The bright, airy model room features NYLO's hallmark urban residential loft design, with oversized windows to maximize sunlight, exposed-brick-and-polished-concrete walls, and flexible workspace with a large moveable desk. The room puts a premium on stylish d'ecor with streamlined, custom-made furnishings and luxury bedding in soft cream colors. Among the technological amenities: large flat-screen television, free wired and wireless high-speed Internet access, MP3 capabilities, and convenient plug-ins linking iPods and computers to televisions.

Raising the Bar

NYLO hotels are designed by Stephane Dupoux, a prominent designer of restaurants and nightclubs around the globe. Dupoux' plans for the high-energy public space called The Loft showcase the NYLO trinity of bold design, new technology and fun gathering places outside the guestrooms.

Located just off the lobby, The Loft will welcome locals and guests with soaring ceilings and open, expansive layout. Stepping into the space, guests will be likely to find a bustling scene: people gathering to eat, sip coffee, have cocktails, work, entertain clients, read the newspaper, play foosball and relax. The heartbeat of each hotel, The Loft will offer thoughtful amenities, including the 24/7 restaurant, bar, library, sofas, business center, wireless Internet, game room, boutique shop, and lighting and music that will change to create different atmosphere from day to night.

In the boutique shop and on its Web site, the design-driven hotel will offer consumers the Daniel Vosovic Collection for NYLO. This summer, the star of Bravo Television's Emmy-nominated series Project Runway, Season 2, signed an agreement to design apparel for the new lifestyle brand. Daniel's collection for NYLO will be for front-line staff, including bartenders, cashiers and front-desk personnel.

"We're creating a style that's hip and cool, with variations in accessories and color, that can mix and match to achieve different looks," Daniel explains. "This project provides a great opportunity to work with people who really understand design."

Affordable Business Boutique

NYLO Hotels is part of a growing trend toward lifestyle products that are trans-generational. They appeal to consumers across the generations looking for new experiences that are self-styled and evolutionary. With consumers facing rising hotel prices as more people travel, NYLO will offer nightly rates of $120 - $140.

"We're creating a new lodging category in the form of a stylish and affordable lifestyle hotel," Russell explains. "What jetBlue, IKEA and Mini Cooper have accomplished in their industries, NYLO will do for business travel."