Executive travel: heritage and personal touch at The Quin hotel in New York

The decor of the hotel is generally greys and whites. Courtesy The Quin Hotel

The hotel is on the corner of 57th Street and 6th Avenue. Courtesy The Quin Hotel

Choosing the right hotel for a business trip can be a pretty strategic affair for the image- conscious traveller.

While many opt for the familiarity and loyalty programmes of chain hotels, there is an argument to be made for a boutique hotel that can lend its own heritage and history to cultivate your image.

The Quin, located in New York’s midtown Manhattan district, on the corner of 57th Street and 6th Avenue, is one of those hotels that enjoys a strong heritage, which it peddles to guests keen to associate themselves with the more refined and cultural side of the city.

Opened in 2013, the art-deco property was refashioned as a boutique hotel and it has embraced its artistic past (it once played host to musicians and artists including Renata Tebaldi and Georgia O’Keeffe), by focusing on exhibitions and displays of modern art.

The cool, marble lobby essentially doubles up as an art gallery. And the hotel’s exhibitions and artwork will easily lend themselves to interesting small talk for meetings and first encounters.

Its meeting spaces include a 10-seat boardroom which can be hired out, plus there are also three private dining rooms, one of which can seat 130 people.

Workwise, there is a small business centre (a couple of computers with internet access) to carry out basic tasks. However, Wi-Fi is freely available in the rooms. While there are plenty of sockets, they are all standard US, so you will need an adapter.

The rooms are light and airy with a palette that doesn’t venture too far from white and grey. Crucially, the beds are very comfortable and each room has a Nespresso machine.

There’s a dash of technology with control panels that allow you to adjust the curtains, lights and temperature. And thankfully, it’s relatively easy to use.

But despite the high-tech feel, there is no trouser press, so you must rely on the laundry service.

Given the hotel’s location in New York, the city of skyscrapers, The Quin stands comparatively short and is dwarfed by its surroundings, offering only street views for those staying in the standard rooms and no sight of nearby Central Park.

The property has 208 rooms and suites with prices starting at $400.

q&a great location and service

Triska Hamid expands on what The Quin offers the business traveller:

Where is it?

The hotel is a stone’s throw away from Carnegie Hall, renowned for its classical and popular music concerts. With its central location on 57th Street, it is close to a couple of subway stations, Central Park, the shopping haven of Fifth Avenue and Times Square.

Apart from meeting rooms, what other options are there for hosting?

To really impress clients, you can hire out for an event the hotel’s penthouse, which occupies the top three floors of the property with a 1,300-square feet terrace overlooking some of New York’s best known landmarks.

Is there a gym for after hours?

Yes, there’s a small fitness centre that is open 24 hours. It has the standard equipment – running machines, cross trainer and weights. The gym overlooks the lobby. Personal trainers and yoga instructors are available on request.

What about restaurants?

Downstairs is The Wayfarer restaurant, offering seafood fare. The in-room dining menu is exquisite with lobster cocktail and Colorado rack of lamb; prices range from $18-$25 for breakfast to $20-$65 for lunch or dinner. But if you’re staying in New York, you really ought to venture out.

Anything else?

The best thing about boutique hotels is the level of service. Unable to fulfil our request for our rooms to be on the same floor, the manager apologised with a hand-written note and a box of hand-made chocolates from a local outfit. It was an elegant touch.

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