Goodbye, W: Manhattan's Original W Hotel Is Now Known as Maxwell

(Bloomberg) -- Goodbye, W. Hello, Maxwell.

The original property in the W hotel chain, whose hip designs and emphasis on nightlife helped revolutionize the luxury lodging business when it launched in 1998, became the Maxwell on May 9.

The property, on Lexington Avenue and 49th Street in Manhattan, is getting a new owner too: Host Hotels & Resorts Inc. is selling it for $190 million in a deal that’s expected to close this month. The hotel had “been a particularly poor performer,” Host Chief Executive Officer James Risoleo said on a conference call in February. Neither Capstone Equities nor Highgate Holdings, the reported buyers, responded to requests for comment.

Those who want to stay at a W in New York still have options -- in Times Square, Union Square and downtown.

To contact the reporter on this story: Patrick Clark in New York at pclark55@bloomberg.net.

To contact the editors responsible for this story: Daniel Taub at dtaub@bloomberg.net, Christine Maurus

©2018 Bloomberg L.P.