For people who are tired of the same old hotel experience found in many franchise hotels, theme hotels may spark interest. Typically, theme hotels provide guests with an experience based on a particular theme seen throughout the hotel, from the public spaces to the rooms. New York is home to a number of theme hotels, with themes varying from authors to famous landmarks to classic movies.
New York City is made up of neighborhoods and districts each with its own special features and atmospheres. The Distrikt Hotel in Manhattan strives to celebrate each of those neighborhoods with its New York-themed accommodations. Throughout the lobby, public spaces and rooms, guests are treated to décor and art inspired by New York neighborhoods. The New York themes run from the Central Park to New York murals to New York Ecru bath amenities. Guests can choose to indulge in one of Distrikt Hotel’s packages including those based on shopping, Broadway shows, New York City tours or romance.
Also located in Manhattan, the Library Hotel's theme plays off the Dewey Decimal System found in libraries. Each of the ten guestroom floors is dedicated to a different Dewey category like literature, social sciences, general knowledge and arts and religion. The theme continues throughout the hotel; the room numbers correspond to actual Dewey numbers, and the art and books included in the rooms correspond with that floor’s theme. The sixty hotel rooms come in four arrangements, from twin-bed singles to king-bed suites. Guests are treated to a complimentary cheese and wine reception each night; a free continental breakfast each morning; and snacks, coffee and espresso throughout the day.
The Chelsea Star Hotel, located in the Chelsea District of New York City, features an eccentric mix of themes that represents the eccentric neighborhood where the hotel is located. The Chelsea District combines elements of young, old, hip, classic, art, dance, theater and shopping for its various themes. The main areas of the hotel feature bright colors and industrial features, which are common in all of New York City. Specialty rooms are based on a mix of celebrities and pop culture, including Betty Boop, Salvador Dali, Saturday Night Fever and Madonna. Other rooms include themes like Africa, Cleopatra, Coney Island, Buddha and Pop Art. Guests can choose from traditional hotel rooms with twin, double, queen or king beds. For the frugal travelers, Chelsea Star Hotel also offers dormitory-style rooms with four beds and a shared bathroom and common room.
Offering one of the only theme hotels outside New York City, the Spencer Hotel and Spa in Chautauqua follows a literary theme with rooms dedicated to famous authors and works. Each of the guest rooms has hand-painted murals and décor based on literary classics, like the Brownings Suite based on Elizabeth and Robert Browning and the Agatha Christie Room. Other famous authors represented include C.S. Lewis, Jules Verne and Beatrix Potter. Guests at the Spencer can enjoy the Chautauqua area and attractions such as wineries, art galleries, snow skiing and golf.
