Boutique hotelier Ian Schrager, who debuted his Public brand
in Chicago in 2011, will bring the badge to his native New York by opening a
Public-branded property on Manhattan's Lower East Side on June 7.
The 367-room hotel,
whose brand motto is "Luxury for All," will include Apple TVs in all
of its rooms as well as free WiFi and mobile-key capabilities. The property,
which is offering rooms for as little as $200 a night on its website this
summer, will also have a full-service restaurant and fast-casual eatery as well
as three bars and a nightclub called Public Arts.
Schrager opened the first Public hotel at the site of the
old Ambassador East hotel on Chicago's Gold Coast in 2011. Schrager and
investment partner Morgan Stanley sold the 285-room hotel last year, though the
hotel continues to operate under the brand.
Schrager notably founded Morgans Hotel Group with the
opening of Manhattan's Morgans Hotel in 1984, though sold his stake in the
company in 2005 (SBE acquired Morgans late last year).
Schrager has also teamed up with Marriott International on
the Edition luxury brand, which has hotels in London, Miami Beach and Sanya,
China (former Edition properties in Istanbul and Honolulu have since been
reflagged).