I just went down to the gym, which is on the basement level. Only four machines, but they are high quality Precor devices (an elliptical, a cycle similar to a Lifecycle, and two treadmills). They also have a very extensive selection of freeweights. The room is a decent size, has plenty of towels and water, plus a flat screen. It's immaculate.

My initial comments on the hotel are as follows. The entrance to the hotel is on an access street to the Holland Tunnel, and traffic is pretty thick during rush hour. Even with the mass of cars, it was relatively quiet on the street (maybe the fact there was a bunch of cops directing traffic and the slow vehicle speeds has to do with it).

The hotel opened last year, and was built from the ground up. According to one of the front desk people, there was an empty lot at the location for 14 years. It's 19 stories, with apparently nine rooms on each floor.

I called the night before I checked in to give them my Diamond number (the Quikbook site does not have a box to enter it), and somehow the front desk already had it in their system. My colleague had not called in advance, and his number also was already inserted (he's only a Silver, BTW). At check in the clerk gave me a room on the north side without asking, which I would have assumed to be quieter then on the south side facing the tunnel access. As long as you are above about the 13th floor on the north side, you have an excellent view of the Empire State Bldg. and mid-town skyline.

My room is probably about 225 square feet. The bathroom is very modern, and larger then necessary. There is wired high speed internet and about a 32" flat screen (with true HD).

Once you walk east about three blocks, the neighborhood is great. I haven't been in Soho in years, and it's quite cosmopolitan. The nearest subway station is also three blocks away, at 6th Ave. and Spring.

So far every staff person I've run across have been almost unnaturally friendly for NY!

I'll update the review when I check out.

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OT addendum: Had dinner about five minutes away at "L'Etole" (Broadway & Grand), which is a restaurant run by the French Culinary Institute of America school. Amazing five course meal for $35 to $42. Reservations are necessary, as this place is not a secret to locals.