“At its inception, the Metropolitan Hotel received much attention for its design,” says John W. Rutledge, president of The Oxford Capital Group and a partner in the joint venture that owns the property. “It was important for us to preserve the deep-rooted history of the building and its relevance in the architectural landscape of Manhattan. Though the redesign is significant, we have stayed true to the classic Art Deco motif, while elevating the hotel’s status with modern amenities and edgy design elements.”

 The newly enhanced façade of the hotel paired with the stylish ‘retro-cool’ vibe of the lobby, bar and restaurant unites bold design with rich colors and textures that reflect many of the area’s diverse cultures.  The lobby’s distinct rust, orange and gold color combination and modern look of wood and slate create a welcoming atmosphere that matches the hotel’s trademark hospitality. 

  “Our desire with the redesign of the Metropolitan Hotel was to acknowledge the hotel’s undeniably strong Modernist roots and spotlight the 1960’s, an era in which the hotel was thriving and at the epicenter of the Modernist movement in Manhattan,” says Jerry Zeitner, Vice President of Gettys.

The lobby’s design is simple yet inviting. The designers have paired elements like marble, stainless steel and wood to create a lobby and bar setting that is spacious, clean and dynamic. The furnishings further the feeling of comfort and luxury, spotlighting sleek design, warm earth tones and welcoming colors such as cherry, teak and mahogany.

Guests can enjoy relaxing and mingling in the hotel’s lobby, in part due to the seating, a combination of contemporary and modernist pieces that lend an organic feeling to the open space. Fabrics incorporate small, geometric patterns and textures to accent the overall effect of sumptuous luxury. 

 “When designing the lobby and bar, it was our goal to pay homage to Morris Lapidus and his vision, that had previously not been spotlighted within the hotel,” continues Zeitner. “The new look is a celebration of the era that made the hotel famous.”

Upscale guestroom amenities have been custom designed with the frequent business and leisure traveler in mind. Guestrooms are inviting and colorful, and are equipped with the latest technology including high-speed wired Internet access, 24-inch flat-screen Zenith LCD televisions, cordless phone, in-room climate control and the “Sweet Dreams by Doubletree Sleep Experience,” a signature line of bedding, linens, pillows and mattresses commissioned by Doubletree for their branded hotels.  Bathrooms have been redesigned in slate and limestone, and feature arched shower bars, as well as new bathtubs, toilets, light fixtures and vanities. The light and airy guest rooms offer comfortable additional seating in the form of velvet chaise lounges, perfect for watching television or entertaining. In-room safes that are laptop compatible are available in every guest room and suite, and ergonomic chairs make the perfect setting for conducting business in the guest rooms.

 Guests entering the lobby of the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel, New York City are welcomed by the comforting smell of baked cookies. The intoxicating aroma is not from a nearby bakery, but rather from the Doubletree’s most sought after hotel amenity: the Doubletree cookie, a sweet treat that keeps leisure and business travelers coming back for more. The legendary chocolate chip cookie is presented to each guest at check-in and is synonymous with Doubletree hospitality. Across North America, Doubletree gives out approximately 29,000 chocolate chip cookies each day. Started in the early 1980s when many properties across the country gave cookies as treats to VIP guests, the Doubletree cookie has become a guilty pleasure for every Doubletree hotel guest. In 1995, Doubletree enlisted the services of the Nashville-based Christie Cookie Company to prepare the secret recipe, which ensures that the same, delicious cookie is delivered consistently at every Doubletree property. The hearty two-ounce Doubletree chocolate chip cookie boasts an average of 20 chocolate chips and is baked fresh daily at each Doubletree property.  The Doubletree cookies are also available as a room service amenity and guests can bring them home in a signature Doubletree tin.

 “The Metropolitan Hotel is designed to be an oasis of contemporary comfort and the perfect vantage point to experience all of Manhattan,” explains Steve Barick, chief operating officer of Highgate Holdings and a co-partner in the venture. “The metamorphosis of the hotel into a Doubletree branded-property and part of Hilton Family of Hotels will enable guests worldwide to receive the premier level of service they have grown to trust when staying at a Doubletree hotel.”

 The hotel has also launched a new restaurant: Met Grill (212-753-1515) located on the lobby level, it is a full-service venue serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. The 70-seat space is accessible through the hotel’s lobby and the 51^st street entrance. The restaurant offers a buffet counter for a continental breakfast, and international lunch and dinner selections for hotel guests and neighborhood patrons looking for high quality food at an affordable price. For those who want to enjoy a quiet meal in their room, room service is provided from 6:30 AM -- 10:00 PM. Signature menu items include Maryland Crab Cakes with a jalapeno tartar sauce; Chili Rubbed Salmon; and a selection of grilled options.

 Making its debut in the Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel, New York City is The Met, a new lounge and bar, situated off the hotel’s lobby and destined to become a New York City hot spot. The Met is perfect for cocktails, relaxing after work, as well as on weekends. Guests of The Met will also be able to enjoy a continental breakfast and tea service in the afternoons.

 The hotel also offers fourteen meeting and event rooms that can be configured for private banquets, conferences and weddings. The available 12,000 square feet have been remodeled from head to toe, with new carpeting, wall coverings and light treatments. The penthouse, with its glass-enclosed atrium and outdoor terraces, is an ideal location for wedding receptions or special events.

 A complimentary fitness room equipped with Star Trac Pro treadmills, Precor elliptical crosstrainers, Star Trac Pro stationery bikes, Paramount cardio vascular equipment and free weights are available to all guests 24 hours a day, in addition to an automated business center, providing a photocopier, fax machine, laptop Ethernet connection and a desktop computer with high-speed Internet access.

 The hotel’s full-service concierge provides guests with access to the world of entertainment and travel, including shopping, sightseeing, babysitters, limousines, floral deliveries, religious services, theater tickets and sporting events.

 Doubletree hotels are a member of the Hilton Family of Hotels, and part of the highly acclaimed Hilton HHonors® guest reward program, which enables guests to earn Points & Miles™ for every qualifying stay at the new Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel, NYC. Hilton HHonors is the only hotel program that allows any of its members to reap Double Dip® earnings by simultaneously accumulating both airline miles and hotel points with each qualifying stay. In terms of location, the Metropolitan Hotel is situated right in the heart of the world’s most dynamic business, retail and residential neighborhoods.  We are proud to welcome this incredible new Doubletree addition in one of the most visited leisure destinations in the world," says Dave Horton, senior vice president – brand management for Doubletree Hotels.  “Doubletree looks forward to complementing the efforts of the local hotel team with the strength of our global marketing, sales and technology infrastructure and our highly acclaimed Hilton HHonors^® guest reward program to encourage our most loyal business and leisure travelers to stay at the new Doubletree Metropolitan Hotel New York City.”

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