New in New York

Last year, New York saw a number of hotels open or reopen, and this year is proving to be just as active. Recently opened hotels in Manhattan include:

The posh Mandarin Oriental Hotel opened its Columbus Circle location, steps from Central Park, in November; (212) 207-8880
The Alex Hotel brings Zen sensibilities and a 24-hour room service menu that includes sushi to Midtown; (212) 867-5100 or www.thealexhotel.com
The Maritime Hotel, opened in May, is themed to a ship with polished teak and porthole windows overlooking the Hudson River; (212) 242-4300

The Four Points by Sheraton Manhattan Chelsea, opened in March, is the first Four Points location in Chelsea; (212) 627-1888
After a $22 million renovation, the San Carlos Hotel on East 50th Street reopened in July; (212) 755-1800 ext. 1200
The Millenium Hilton was restored after the 9/11 tragedy and reopened in May with 42" plasma screen TVs, high speed internet access and a new fitness center with an indoor heated lap swimming pool; (212)693-2001
Westin New York @ Times Square puts you in the middle of the new E-Walk entertainment complex; (212) 921-9575
Formerly the women-only Barbizon Hotel, the newly christened Melrose Hotel opened in June after a $40 million renovation, (212) 838-5700

Hotels opening in the next few months include:

Hotel Gansevoort (April) in the trendy Meatpacking District will include a rooftop pool, (212) 206-6700 or (877) 426-7386; The Blakely New York (Spring), formerly the Gorham, on West 55th Street, (212) 245-1800; 70 Park Avenue Hotel (July) was reinvented by the Kimpton Group and reopens at Park and 38th Street, (212) 973-2400; The Metropolitan Hotel on Lexington Avenue (September) will be reborn as a DoubleTree, (212) 752-7000; Surface The Hotel is based on the magazine of the same name and will be housed in glass, (212) 246-2371; and Robert DeNiro and partner Ira Drukier will open a hotel in TriBeCa yet to be named (2005).