convey emotion . As New Yorkers , we tend to do everything fast , so great emphasis was also placed on slowing down our speech and articulating with singular words with standard endings : happily , certainly , absolutely .
Perhaps most important to the opening was anticipating how the guests ’ immediate needs had changed and understanding how drastically the market had changed . While a new hotel rarely realizes its ideal business segmentation nor fair share in year one , the market saw a complete loss of corporate travel , with the traditional demand nights becoming the slowest days of week . Leisure travel was the only producing segment and it was key to focus on this customer and pivot the opening strategy accordingly .
While a brand-new hotel always carries allure , it especially does during a pandemic . The idea of being the first customer in a room without a history of concerning contagion is very appealing , and we wished to capitalize on the safety we could provide our guests . Technology that was already defined well before COVID became opportunistic in that our mobile check-in and touchless elevators became incredible selling points in our distanced and transfer-phobic world . The addition of in-room hand sanitizer , Clorox 360 machine room sweeps , and post-cleaning room seals also gave our customers further peace of mind .
As much as guests wished to feel safe , they also eagerly desired an escape . The concept of the “ staycation ” was another focus of our strategy . Our hotel was by no means suite-based nor luxury , but our design naturally offered a sense of urban retreat , with a lush greenhouse-style amenity space and ample terrace rooms overlooking the west-side . While our brand platform had historically not offered traditional room service , it was quite easy for us to execute a room service “ to go ” program which further promoted exactly what our guests wanted : a safe getaway , close to home , with all the modern amenities desired .
In the midst of uncertain times , all our preparation , modification and determination yielded results : our hotel opened on May 27 , 2021 . My overriding emotion that day was pride . I am proud of our hotel . I am proud of the dedicated team who brought her to life . I am proud of what we ’ ve accomplished together . Pandemics are rare , thankfully . Human resilience is not . Our industry thrives on the strength of the teams we build . We are stronger together , celebrating our diversity , adaptability and hospitality .
Rooftop deck at the Arlo Midtown
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