Fifth Avenue's latest hotel opens up in former fashion HQ

(Hyatt)

Hip boutique hotel chain Andaz opened its fifth property on Fifth Avenue on July 5, in the former headquarters of fashion chain Tommy Hilfiger.

The hotel is the third opening this year for rapidly-expanding Andaz, which says that it wants to make guests feel like they've been welcomed into a friend's home, rather than a hotel.

Like other Andaz properties, the 184-room Andaz Fifth Avenue doesn't feature a reception desk, instead preferring to check people in over a drink in the lounge or whilst walking to their room.

The interior, designed by Tony Chi, is also designed to add a home-like feeling to the space, with the designer opting for exposed pipe ceilings, open kitchens and residential furniture, as well as sash windows that "pay homage to New York City's pre-war apartments and factories".

Many rooms have floor to ceiling windows and all offer marble bathrooms with dual sinks, rainfall shower heads and a porcelain footbath in the shower - perfect for refreshing the feet after a hard day pounding the New York streets.

Guests can choose between the locally sourced shop, a 38-seat restaurant and a cellar bar for food and refreshment options, whilst events can be held in "Apartment 2E", a catered space designed to resemble an apartment where guests can mingle with the chefs or access the hotel's open-air courtyard.

Opening rates are available from $295 (€235) per night and rates from September 1 start at $435 (€346).

Hyatt-owned Andaz recently announced a global expansion plan for the next few years, saying that it would follow other major chains such as Marriott and Starwood into China and India.

In April, Starwood-owned boutique brand Aloft announced that plans to operate six hotels in India by 2012.

http://www.andaz.com