IHG announced today the opening of the new-build Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st St. The 20-story hotel features more than 120 guest rooms and a rooftop lounge with a spectacular view of the New York City skyline.

Centrally located at 30 West 31st Street, the new $52 million Holiday Inn New York Midtown-31st St. is just a short cab ride from major airports serving the metropolitan area; a short walk to Times Square and the Empire State Building; near Broadway theaters and Madison Square Garden; and by dozens of restaurants and night life locations.

The new hotel includes features in keeping with the $1 billion Holiday Inn re-launch, the largest project of its kind in the history of the hospitality industry. First announced in 2007, the relaunch program creates a more contemporary brand image as part of the drive to increase quality and consistency across the global portfolio. The program focuses on arrival and welcome services, guestroom and guest-bath comfort and a redesigned logo and signage.

“We are thrilled to welcome the Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st St. to the Holiday Inn family of hotels in the New York metropolitan area,” said Gina LaBarre, vice president, Brand Delivery, the Americas, IHG. “Holiday Inn hotels and suites are specifically designed for business and family oriented leisure travelers in need of a full-service lodging experience, and this hotel in the heart of Manhattan – built in keeping with our brand relaunch – fits well within that offering.”

Leisure guests will enjoy the hotel’s proximity to the renowned Fifth Avenue shopping district as well as New York City’s famous nine-story Macy’s. A short walk will get visitors to the historic and chic Chelsea district while nearby subway stations, bus stops and Penn Station make it easy to get just about anywhere else in Manhattan and beyond.

For business travelers, the hotel is located near major corporations such as Reuters, Morgan Stanley, Condé Nast and Credit Suisse. A business center and high-speed wireless Internet service throughout the hotel add convenience in addition to the 24-hour fitness center and concierge services.

“A home-away-from-home for generations of travelers, Holiday Inn has always represented quality and comfort, and this new hotel is a great representation of the brand in a perfect location for business and leisure travelers,” said Kevin Cottet, general manager. “We’re proud to be a part of the next generation of Holiday Inn.”

The Holiday Inn New York City Midtown-31st St. is home to Contorno’s – a boutique Italian restaurant staffed by world-class chefs. The full-service restaurant offers the standard Holiday Inn Best-4-Breakfast menu, with signature items such as Rainforest Alliance™ Certified coffee, Cinnamon Supreme French Toast™ and Skillet Inspirations™.  Kids 12 and younger eat free at Holiday Inn when ordering from the kids’ menu in the hotel restaurant and accompanied by a dining adult.  Room Service Right…On Time™, also a standard at all Holiday Inn hotels, ensures that guests’ room service orders are accurate and delivered on time, every time. 

The design creates a residential atmosphere that is warm, trend forward and comfortable. The hotel will feature a natural, fresh color palette punctuated by pops of energetic colors. Standard Holiday Inn guestroom accommodations feature comfortable queen or king-sized beds, a sitting area with a lounge chair, 32-inch cable televisions, cable television, hairdryer, coffeemaker, iron and ironing board.

Guest beds are made using crisp, white bedding with pillows that come in two comfort levels: “soft” and “firm.” Bathrooms include a specially designed showerhead that offers superior pressure, as well as a signature shower curtain with curved rod, and new amenities.  Guestrooms include a work desk and ergonomic chair, data ports and complimentary USA TODAY® newspapers. 

Tucked into an elegant urban setting between Fifth Avenue and Broadway, the hotel is owned by Chesapeake Lodging Trust and managed by Real Hospitality Group, under a license agreement with a company in the InterContinental Hotels Group.