The hotelier scene in Lower Manhattan has hit its stride. There are currently 23 hotels that are operating in Lower Manhattan today. They are categorized by a variety of service levels including luxury, boutique, membership only and economy/limited service hotels. In addition, there are an additional 14 under construction and 21 in the pipeline, according to the 2Q report released in August 2015, by the Downtown Alliance. It’s an incredible accomplishment for an area that has been hit with devastation, many times over, over the course of the last 20 years. 

The varying levels of service can seem extreme, from a 5 star to a 1 star hotel, there hasn’t always been a great hotel with brand recognition, upscale amenities and affordability. That is until the Aloft Hotel at 49 Ann Street opened its doors at the end of August, this year. The Aloft Hotel is a subsidiary of the Starwood Preferred Group (SPG) and one of 10 brands that fall under this well-known brand name. 

The hotel offers a warm welcome by its talented team of employees, who are referred to as “talent” and they have been working hard at learning about the neighborhood. I was recently invited to tour the hotel and stay overnight to experience the Aloft Hotel experience. And, I’m happy to report that it met my expectations as a SPG-affiliated hotel. The Aloft Hotel team, led by the General Manager Kevin Fenton, seem excited to be in the neighborhood and are currently working on some great events to be hosted by the hotel, to become a stand out hotel in the Financial District. 

The room size was small, but typical of a New York City hotel room. But, it was set up very efficiently and had great amenities from Bliss® Spa, a coffee maker with coffee cups to take on-the-go, as well as a flat screen tv, an individual safe and its signature bed. The room also offers a plug & play connectivity station for guests that are working during their stay. The hotel also offered a marketplace and a lounge with both indoor and outdoor seating. For now, the w xyz(SM) bar is a well-kept secret, but as soon as residents of the neighborhood stop in and check out their outdoor space named the “Backyard” appropriately enough, it seems clear that it will become a destination drinking spot for folks that call the Financial District home and as an option for friends that are visiting the neighbor. 

With the holiday season around the corner and most residents short on extra space for friends and family that plan on visiting the Big Apple, the Aloft Hotel is a great option that is affordable, on trend and located near City Hall, the World Trade Center and Wall Street. Plus, the neighborhood boasts 13 subway lines so getting to the new hotel is easy, no matter where you are traveling from. It’s a great hotel with or without kids and makes a visit to the City, even more attainable. To learn more about Aloft Hotel, please visit their website.

FiDi Families welcomes Aloft Hotel to the Financial District!