Hotel Pioneer Vikram Chatwal's Time Hotel Celebrates Its Fifteen-Year Anniversary With A New Look From The Rockwell Group

NEW YORK, May 13, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Vikram Chatwal, the visionary that conceptualized both the Dream and Night brands for Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC, celebrates the 15^th anniversary of The Time hotel with an extensive property-wide reinvention.  The Time was the group's first foray into lifestyle in a time when few hotel groups were investing in the space. Located just steps from Times Square at 224 West 49^th Street in the heart of Manhattan, the newly renovated property will be re-launched in Spring 2015. The acclaimed architecture and design firm Rockwell Group is spearheading the interior design for the project. 

"The Time hotel was my first property in Manhattan and I wanted it to reflect the city's sophistication and vitality, while offering relief from the frenetic pace of Times Square," says Chatwal.  "We are now celebrating the hotel's 15^th anniversary with enhancements tailored to our guests' desired experience." 

"Our design concept for The Time hotel reflects the vitality of the neighborhood. It is a mash-up element, including contemporary art, music and multimedia, to create a fresh, urban environment for guests," says David Rockwell, founder and President of Rockwell Group. "It is a pleasure to work with Vikram on what is surely the most exciting new addition to New York City's hotel landscape."

With the development of the more competitive lifestyle hotel environment that currently exists 15 years after its advent, The Time will receive a significant upgrade in its use of space, fit and finish. Recognizing that time is the ultimate luxury for guests, Rockwell will create spaces that gradually unfold to reveal themselves, seemingly slowing down time inside the property and capitalizing on the world's greatest luxury. 

The hotel's reception remains on the second level, removed from the pace of bustling 49^th Street below. This is where the mystery of The Time starts to unwind. The adjacent lounge now stands divided into a light, serene space that is calm and alluring for mid-day tea and another darker, almost surreptitious space for when night calls.

Upstairs, the guest chambers get a completely fresh take with soft blush tones, rich leathers, muted gold metallics and watercolor area rugs. Suites will offer fully equipped bars finished in walnut and gold trim with full living areas and separate king master bedrooms. The largest of the suites at The Time, the triplex penthouse, will be a space designed for living and entertaining. Moving from a motif of dark to light as the guests move through the floors, the finishes live at the highest end of the spectrum with exclusive furnishings from Moroso.

New hotel features and high-end amenities include property-wide broadband Wi-Fi, a new state-of-the-art fitness center, personal shopping service, same-day laundry, limousine/chauffeured cars available upon request and customized, gender-specific amenities.  

"This hotel's renovation is not only important for the property and its profile, but it will also set the tone for a whole new brand as we expand The Time into other markets," says Eric Danziger, President and CEO of Hampshire Hotels Management.  "David Rockwell was an obvious choice to help us reinvent this iconic lifestyle marque."

ABOUT HAMPSHIRE HOTELS MANAGEMENT, LLC
A leader in managed properties worldwide, Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC owns and manages hotels in New York and Miami as well as the United Kingdom, Thailand and India. Founded in 1986 by Sant Singh Chatwal, the New York-based company owns over 3,000 hotel rooms and oversees the development and expansion of both its luxury and lifestyle brands, including Dream Hotels, Night Hotels and The Chatwal. 

Hampshire Hotels & Resorts is committed to offering travelers an authentic connection to their chosen destination through modern and innovative hospitality design, premier service and locally relevant food and beverage operations. The company's strong brand relationships with leading hotel franchises such as Wyndham Hotel Group, Hilton Worldwide, Starwood Hotels and Resorts, Leading Hotels and Resorts, Preferred Hotels and Resorts, Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, and Best Western strengthens its ability to achieve its growth potential and expand its portfolio in the four- and five-star franchised hotel market.

Hampshire Hotels Management, LLC's corporate offices are located at 200 West 55th Street, New York, NY. (www.hampshirehotels.com)

ABOUT VIKRAM CHATWAL
Since opening his first hotel in 1999, Vikram Chatwal has redefined the essence of high-end boutique hotels through his design-driven, luxury approach. The current portfolio of worldwide properties includes Night, The Time, Stay and the Dream Hotel brand, which can be found in the world's most desirable locales, including Thailand, India, Miami and New York.

Chatwal attended the United Nations International School and earned a Bachelor's Degree in finance from The Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania. Following years on Wall Street, Chatwal joined the family business, Hampshire Hotels and Resorts and soon thereafter, he started Vikram Chatwal Hotels in 1999. Explore the luxury hotels in our portfolio. (www.vikramchatwalhotels.com)

ABOUT ROCKWELL GROUP
Rockwell Group is a 150-person architecture and design firm based in New York with offices in Madrid and Shanghai. The firm's work ranges from hospitality, to cultural and healthcare, to educational, product, and set design.  Projects include W Hotels (New York, Paris, Singapore, and Vieques); Shinola (New York); the TED2014 Conference Theater (Vancouver, B.C.); NeueHouse (New York); Travelle at the Langham (Chicago); The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas; Maialino (New York); Nobu restaurants and hotels worldwide; product collaborations with Jim Thompson, Maya Romanoff and The Rug Company; and set design for Kinky Boots, Lucky Guy, and Hairspray. (www.rockwellgroup.com) 

SOURCE Vikram Chatwal