Ace New York lobby.

Think Barneys, not Hudson News. The latest hotel shops qualify as stand-alone boutiques that reside in hotels almost coincidentally.  Curated down to the last Walker crisp or Haribo raspberry, the best are destinations in themselves. And with good reason.

The Standard Downtown in LA showcases creations by local designers, like a line of fragrances concocted by an Echo Park resident. “She came in and wanted to sell to us,” says Claire Darrow, Standard creative director. “That happens a lot in LA. There’s a lot of creative energy.” (more…)

Yotel's check-in computers.

The massive, inquisition-style check-in desk, once as basic to hotels as beds, pillows and running water, occupies a spot high on the endangered amenity list. But so, in some cases, do check-in staff members.

First came hotels like the Fitzpatrick Manhattan, where guests are seated at a small table opposite a staff member. Call it check-in as tete-a-tete, where conversation ensues and amenities are explained before the guest rises and heads for the room. (more…)

That much-discussed Yobot robotic arm that grabs and stores your luggage at the soon-to-open Yotel Times Square got us thinking about other nifty labor saving devices – as in the saving of the hotel staff’s labor – around town. We visited three hotels with clever do-it-yourself amenities, read the instructions and pushed the appropriate buttons. How did we fare? (more…)