Source (New York YIMBI)
Oct. 27, 2016 By Hannah Wulkan
Visitors to Long Island City will now have the chance to enjoy a futuristic robot butler and food delivery courtesy of emojis from the comfort of their own hotel room.
Aloft, a hotel brand owned by the Starwood group, is opening a new location at 27-45 Jackson Avenue on November 10, and it promises to bring a high-tech experience to the area.
The 18-story, 74,000 square foot hotel will hold 176 rooms, as well as a bar, a lounge, a snack bar, a gym, a pool, and 1,500 square feet of meeting space.
There will also be a 1,700 square foot outdoor terrace on the ground floor.
Aloft Long Island City-Manhattan View is one of 234 locations around the world, promising a “modern, tech-savvy design and a youthful, “hip” social experience at an affordable price,” according to the company.
“Since I was a child, growing up in Queens, I’ve heard about Long Island City becoming ‘the next big place,’ said architect Gene Kaufman. “Now, all these years later, I’m proud to be doing a high-profile hotel in the heart of the area.”
When staying at Aloft, guests will experience technology such as “Botlr,” a robotic butler, keyless room entry, allowing them to simply tap their smartphone on the door to enter the room, and emoji-only room service, where they can simply text emojis and their room number to order room service.
The two meeting spaces available for rent are equipped with 50-inch flat screen televisions and free Wi-Fi, with the largest space available measuring 700 square feet.
The new hotel will also feature Aloft’s signature WXYZ Bar, offering a space for live music performances.
There are three Aloft hotels already in New York City, one in Harlem, one in the Financial District and one in Brooklyn, but this will be the first location in Queens. The group will be opening another Aloft location in Midtown in December.
The new hotel is accepting reservations for the coming months, with prices ranging from $161 to $379 per night, depending on the room.
