The Luxury Travel Bible - Ian Schrager Group

Ian Schrager Group

The Creator: Even if you are not aware of his name The Luxury Travel Bible readers will know his hotels.

Even if you don't know his hotels TLTB readers will be aware of his influence on the luxury hotel market.

It would be fair to say that Ian Schrager is a hotel legend who changed the face of the hotel industry and broke the mould. 'The lobby as social theatre', 'hotel as a lifestyle', 'urban retreats', the hotel as a 'home from home' and 'cheap chic' are all concepts that are credited to Schrager.

Ian Schrager first gained international recognition when he created the iconic Studio 54 with his late business partner Steve Rubell. He then ventured into the hotel industry when he opened Morgans Hotel in 1984. With this new hotel the concept of Boutique Hotels was introduced to the world.

More hotels and further success followed; New York's Royalton Hotel and Paramount Hotel, Mondrian Hotel, West Hollywood, the Delano Hotel, Miami, the Hudson Hotel, New York, Clift Hotel, San Franciso and London's St Martin's Lane and Sanderson. By 1998 Schrager was the largest private hotelier in New York

In 2005 Schrager left Morgans Hotel Group , the company he founded to develop the group that now bears his name, the Ian Schrager Company.

The List: The Ian Schrager Company has been responsible for a 'reworking' of New York's Gramercy Park Hotel (in collaboration with artist Julian Schnabel) and residential projects, 50 Gramercy Park North and 40 Bond Street .

The residential projects offer luxury residences with a fully staffed household 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This project has established a new Schrager concept ; 'effortless living' and lifestyle management.

New Luxury Hotels: Ian Schrager is currently partnering with Marriott International to collaraborate on EDITION hotels. EDITION hotels are now open in Istanbul and Waikiki Beach. New EDITION hotels are set to open in Barcelona, Bangkok, London, Miami and Mexico City. TLTB will keep you updated on opening dates.

The Ian Schrager Group will re-open The Ambassador East, Chicago in September 2011. This famed hotel was once the favourite of stars such as Led Zeppelin, Sid Vicious and the Sex Pistols, David Bowie and the Rat Pack. The Luxury Travel Bible looks forward to seeing this iconic hotel's Ian Schrager rebirth and reinvention.

Luxury Hotels links: www.ianschragercompany.com

Sarah Bryans 18/4/11