The Pod Hotel is a contradiction & quite possible a harbinger of what the future holds for hotels: a budget, boutique property located smack in the heart of midtown Manhattan; and designed for the new breed of stylish – if insolvent – travelers.
Inspired by the sleek, streamlined approach of old railway sleepers, what the intimate and bijoux accommodation on East 51st Street lacks in negative space it makes up for in mod-designed chic and 21st Century must-haves, like iPod docking stations, free WiFi and LCD flat screen TVs.
Not too shabby for $89 a night.
You read that right: a hotel room in NYC for under $100.
But there’s a service that’s actually more exciting than the fact that the price is right. It’s called the Pod Community Blog. A customized message board designed for people with active reservations at the hotel, it allows guests to interact with one another as well as ask questions or make requests before and during their stay. For example, the Ride With Me feature encourages guests to synch up travel plans and spilt the cost of a cab ride to and from the airport.
Taking the concierge’s role to a new level, the blog also acts as a resource and guide to the city. Users can log on to learn more about the city and the hotel as well as get the most up-to-date information about the latest “happenings†around NYC. Questions posted on the site are monitored and answered directly by the concierge on a daily basis.
“As the online social networking trend continues to grow,” said General Manager David Bernstein, “we designed this unique feature to create a sense of community among our tech-savvy Pod guests and allow them to connect with the hotel in a new way.â€
Guests can also access the Survival Guide on the site – “one of the biggest perks of staying at The Pod Hotel,†according to concierge Bryan Raughton. Updated daily, it’s a comprehensive listing of all of the affordable and fun things to do in NYC, such as free events, “cheap eatsâ€, BYOB restaurants, happy hours and sample sales. It also provides honest reviews and suggestions, including tips for shopping, information about restaurants, galleries, museums, clubs, concerts, gyms and internet cafes. The Survival Guide also provides guests with step-by-step directions from the hotel to their desired destination.
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