“Getting people to come to a hotel is very competitive, especially in the lifestyle space, so we felt we needed a partner that had the ability to attract guests.”
“Knowing the business very well, we realise that distribution is critical,” explains Mitchell Hochberg, President of Lightstone. Having spent many years evaluating the New York market, the company identified a need for affordable, micro-format lifestyle hotels with smartly designed guestrooms coupled with socially activated public spaces, but didn’t want to go it alone. The hotel itself opened in September 2017 and comes from Lightstone, a privately held real estate firm with a portfolio of 3,800 keys. Located on the 18 th floor of Moxy Times Square – the first of five Moxy hotels planned for New York City – Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge is designed to disrupt, provoke and entertain, and has already made waves having scooped an AHEAD award earlier this year, beating off stiff competition from popular nightspots across the Americas. There’s one newcomer however that has undoubtedly captured the attention of the market, not only for its size, but for its playful concept. Rooftop bars are ten-a-penny in New York these days with each new addition to the skyline bidding to outdo its competitors through the promise of spectacular views and creative cocktails.