Press & Articles
2010
New York Hotels Entice Customers With Lure of TV Life
August 6, 2010 -- NY Times
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"..... Apple Core Hotels offer packages involving “Sex and the City 2.....said...... 'Some travelers will buy the package, while others whose interest was piqued by it may opt to book a room without the extras'."
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Off with the Red Roof in NYC: Introducing nyma
July 20, 2010 -- HotelChatter.com
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'a design overhaul (that) includes a multi-million dollar renovations (that) will transform the lobby into a brightly-lit lounge with free WiFi, and will include the addition of a Paris Baguette shop serving pastries, sandwiches and coffee."
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Luxury Guide Nova York
June 2010 -- TOP Destinos
Após super renovação que trouxe ambientes mais modernos e remodelou seus 208 quartos, o hotel se tournou excelente opção para quem deseja estar ao lado do burburinho da cidade. Entre as regalias estão o uso livre de wi-fi, ligações locais gratuitas e cafe da manhã continental. O hotel é um des na cidade. 59 West 46th St. Tel. 212 719 2300 ou www.applecorehotels.com.
Picnic in the Park
Sunday, June 20, 2010 -- The Record
The deal: Picnic in the Park package at Apple Core Hotels in Manhattan. Enjoy a Monday night picnic in either Bryant Park or Madison Square Park, depending on the hotel you choose: nyma, the new york manhattan hotel, Comfort Inn Times Square, The Hotel at Times Square, La Quinta Manhattan, or Ramada Eastside.
Cost: From $165 per night in July and $205 oer night through June 30 and Aug. 1-23 based on single/double occupancy.
Whats included: Picnic in the Park kit for two with bottle of sparkling water, trail mix, gourmet cookies, fresh fruit, picnic basket, and reusable shopping tote.
When: Monday to Aug. 23. Valid Monday nights only.
Information: 212-790-2710, applecorehotels.com for hotel information only.
— Terecille Basa-Ong
Bryant Park Film Fest + Apple Core Hotels = picnic!
June 21, 2010 -- posted by meredith to Travel Meredith
Cute deal from Apple Core Hotelss and the Bryant Park Film Fesitval.
Stay a Monday ngiht at any of the five Manhattan Apple Core properties and get a "picnic kit for two" including sparkling water, trail mix, cookies, fresh fruit, a blanket, and a tote bag.
How totally romantic! How totally Woody Allen! How totally romantic Woody Allen New York!
Heres the film schedule, June 21 to Auguest 23.
—Meredith
Viajes: Notilandia
March 28, 2010 -- ElNuevoHerald.com
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• La Gran Manzana más barata. En Nueva York, los cinco establecimientos de la cadena Apple Core Hotels que se encuentran ubicados en Midtown Manhattan están ofreciendo un 25 por ciento de descuento. Los hoteles participantes son Comfort Inn Midtown, La Quinta Manhattan, Ramada Eastside, el Hotel at Times Square y Red Roof Inn Manhattan. Con este especial las habitaciones quedan a $119 la noche. Reservaciones en el (800) 567-7720, mencione el código GET25.
Ten best: Big Apple Bargains
March 27, 2010 -- The Irish Independent
By Adriaane Pielou: A spring break in New York means sun, shopping and cut-price stays. Adriaane Pielou selects 10 of the best-value hotels to be found in the city.
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Ramada Eastside
Spruce and efficient, with free Wi-Fi, free calls within the US, and 101 small but well-equipped, renovated rooms -- with an iron, coffee-making stuff and safe -- it is also immaculate.
Details: 161 Lexington Ave at E30th St (001 212 545 1800; applecorehotels.com); from $135pn (€98).
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Travel Deals: Hotel Discounts for April and Beyond
March 15, 2010 -- The New York Times' blog
By Allison Busacca: [...]
In New York, Apple Core Hotels, which operates five budget hotels in Midtown Manhattan, is offering 25 percent off stays through Dec. 31. Book by March 31 by calling (800) 567-7720 and mentioning the code GET25. Participating hotels include the Comfort Inn Midtown, La Quinta Manhattan, Ramada Eastside, the Hotel at Times Square, and Red Roof Inn Manhattan, where rates start as low as $119 a night.
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2009
Hit the ice for free in NYC
December 17, 2009 -- EnglewoodEdge.com
By Mark Chapman: Lace up the skates, throw on a scarf and mittens and hit the ice.
Well, not here, but how about in New York City?
Apple Core Hotels’ Winter Wonderland package available through Feb. 28 includes tickets for one ice skating session at the famous Rockefeller Center rink (skate rentals included), a cup of hot chocolate and a choice of a NYC-themed ornament, keychain or snow globe upon check-in.
Rates for the Winter Wonderland package start at $210 in December and $145 January through February (based on single occupancy). The rate for extra people int he room is $15 each.
To take advantage of the promotion or to receive additional information, contact Apple Core Hotels at (800) 567‑7720 and mention the Winter Wonderland promotion.
The package not available Dec. 30-Jan. 2.
Apple Core Hotels is a group of five midtown Manhattan hotels featuring free WiFi Internet access in all rooms and public spaces, iPhone docking station, free New York state and toll-free calls, complimentary daily breakfast, fitness facilities, business centers, in-room video games, and movies on-demand. The properties are located within walking distance to must-see New York attractions such as the Empire State Building, Times Square, Central Park, and Macy’s.
Apple Core Hotels properties include the Red Roof Inn Manhattan, on 32nd Street west of Fifth Avenue; the smoke-free Comfort Inn Midtown, west of Sixth Avenue on 46th Street; The Hotel @ Times Square, on 46th Street off Sixth Avenue; the landmark La Quinta Manhattan, on 32nd Street west of Fifth Avenue; and the Ramada Eastside, at 30th Street and Lexington Avenue.
Exclusive: New, non-chain hotel in New York's Times Square area for $199 or less
October 26, 2009 -- USA Today
By Barbara DeLollis:
Hotel Times Square Exteriorpg-vertical If you're a savvy business traveler who needs to travel to the Big Apple on a budget, then you've probably been keeping track of the mid-priced hotels that have been opening there lately. [...] Well, here's one hotel that I can almost guarantee you've never heard - yet...
Called the Hotel @ Times Square, this newly revamped and opened hotel gives business travelers a Times Square-area locale and reasonable (for Manhattan) nightly rates - from $199 in peak season to $109 in low season. Included in the rate: breakfast, wifi in the lobby, cappuccino, a daily Hotel Times Square Bedroompg-verticalnewspaper and a 24/7 gym.
So what's it missing? A brand name.
Hotel @ Times Square is the brainchild of Vijay Dandapani, CEO of Apple Core Hotels, which owns and operates four other mid-priced, franchised hotels in Manhattan. I spoke with Dandapani last week about the hotel and his decision to go independent in a city packed with name-brand hotels, which business travelers usually prefer.
Prior to opening as the Hotel @ Times Square, the hotel had been a Quality Inn and then a Super 8, he said. So why go independent?
* * Freedom to pick perks: Dandapani has grown tired of answering to a hotel brand's "headquarters," or inches-thick brand guidelines that make specific recommendations. He told me he's no longer convinced that the big brands - whether Starwood or Choice, for instance - have all the answers when it comes to New York City's diverse group of customers. One chain recently banned him from upgrading a bedspread beyond what the brand rules specified, he told me. "Some of the (chains) go to ridiculous lengths to tell you what kind of coffee you can put in the lobby," he said. "We can give customers things that they don't usually expect in this category."Hotel Times Square Lobbypg-vertical
* * Foreigners more open to non-chain hotels: This particular hotel gets a disproportionate share of customers from outside the USA, and Dandapani believes that they don't demand a chain name. He just returned from Brazil, where he went to promote the hotel, and said that "even though the Brazilians are very well exposed to the American market, they still don't know the brands that well."
* * Save money: Even as many mid-priced, chain hotels such as Hampton Inns open in New York City, Dandapani believes he'll have an edge over them by cutting out the middle man. "Don't forget that Hampton has to pay 9% of revenue to Hilton," he told me. "So I'm able to offer more as a consequence of not having to pay the franchise element."
* * Web levels playing field with chains: What a chain brings to the table for hoteliers is its rich customer base and reservation system, but Dandapani believes that the Web makes it easier today for independent hotels to compete. "Distribution has been turned on its hat. The customer has taken charge," he said.
Apple Core ended the hotel's chain affiliation in 2008, then gradually closed the hotel in sections to revamp it. The company spent millions gutting the hotel's lobby, rooms and bathrooms, he said. The rooms didn't change in size, but they now contain modern touches like flat-screen TVs. The hotel also has a new breakfast space where customers get free breakfast including omelets.
"If you walked in two years ago, you wouldn't recognize the entrance today," Dandapani said.
To cater to business travelers with laptops, the hotel has free wifi in the lobby. To cater to government workers who may need to connect using a wire, the lobby also has a big table with the appropriate jacks, he said. The hotel also carries some phone chargers for people who forget their own and a 24/7 fitness center.
The hotel has other perks designed for international visitors, such as no charge if visitors arrive at 8:30 a.m. and want to check in early - and there's a room available for them. ("I've got to confess, it's not very often, maybe about 100 days a year," he said.) He created the policy mainly to benefit South American guests whose flights arrive at New York John F. Kennedy airport during early morning hours.
In New York, he said, "independent hotel" usually means that customers can choose between "funky, boutique" or "frugal and functional" hotels.
"Well, let's knock off frugal and funky. That makes us boutique and functional," he said. "While that doesn't sound exciting to some, it's very appealing (to others)."
Readers: Where do you stay when going to New York for a budget business trip? Does the Hotel @ Times Square sound like a good idea?
High-tech, high-end hospitality -
Hotels stepping up gane to woo guests
September 11, 2009 -- The Record
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Apple Core Hotels, a group of five Midtown Manhattan properties owned by a group of investors that include Kenny Grief of Englewood, has installed flat-panel televisions and iPod docking stations in all of its rooms.
"We did this a year ago," said Vijay Dandapani, president and chief operating officer. "I'm not sure we would have done this after the recession took hold," he said. The company planned to install TVs that double as mirrors in some of the bathrooms this year, but because business is slow the change was put off until early next year, he said.
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Bargain Time:
New York City for the Holiday Season
September 2, 2009 -- About.com
By Teresa Plowright: The Big Apple is huge fun to visit with kids, but expensive; so it's good to know about Apple Core Hotels, well-priced properties in central Manhattan. Bargain rates for the Holiday Season are starting at $149.99 per night, and that includes -- as standard policy- complimentary breakfasts and free long-distance calls. (Read more below.)
More About Apple Core Hotels
Apple Core properties include the La Quinta Inn Manhattan (17 West 32nd Street), the Red Roof Inn Manhattan (6 West 32nd Street), the smoke-free Comfort Inn Midtown (129 West 46th Street), the Hotel @ Times Square (59 West 46th Street), and the Ramada Inn East Side (161 Lexington Avenue)
- Families will like:
- central location
- complimentary breakfasts
- 12 o'clock check-out
- free local calls
- free long distance calls within the US
Depending on your choice of property, you can walk to Central Park, Madison Square Garden, The Empire State Building, Times Square, Rockefeller Center, and other New York City landmarks (not to mention kiddie landmarks like the flagship Build-a-Bear Workshop, above.)
Read more about Apple Core Hotels
More about Holiday Season Bargain Rates:
Promotion lasts from December 15th to January 4th, 2009, and the only blackout date is New Year's Eve.
Little bites of the Big Apple
perfect for families
July 12, 2009 -- TorontoSun.com
By Anne Rodrigues:
The Big Apple is a great place to have a mini-vacation with the family. Here are five tips to get the most out of the city that never sleeps during a three-day visit that won't break the bank.
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Tip 2 -- Stay in Manhattan
If you are wondering how you are going to afford a Manhattan hotel, wonder no more. With the travel industry reeling from the recession, there are lots of great deals to be had, especially if you schedule your trip during the week for even greater savings.
We stayed at the newly renovated The Hotel at Times Square (applecorehotels.com), which is a mere two blocks from the world famous tourist attraction after which it was named. The hotel was an economic choice with its double rooms starting at $129 US, including a hearty continental breakfast and free Internet. The double rooms are a great choice for a family of four because each room has a nice flat-screen TV and a good amount of space.
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Apple Core Hotels in the Korea Travel Times
June 10, 2009 -- TravelTimes.co.kr
-애플코어, 5개 호텔 체인 … 조식, 무선인터넷, 미국 내 전화 ‘무료’
맨해튼 중심가에 위치한 호텔체인 ‘애플코어(Apple core)호텔’이 한국 여행객 유치에 팔을 걷고 나섰다.
애플코어호텔은 뉴욕 맨해튼 내에 위치한 5개 호텔의 체인으로서 코트파 참가를 위해 비재이 단다파니(Vijay Dandapani·사진 가운데) 사장을 비롯한 관계자들이 방한했다. 지난 5일 웨스틴조선호텔에서 열린 기자간담회에서 단다파니 사장은 “현재 호텔 이용객의 10%가 한국인으로 비자 면제 프로그램 시행 후 보다 다양한 경로를 통해 여행객들이 늘고 있다”고 말했다.
애플코어호텔의 5개 호텔은 모두 엠파이어스테이트 빌딩, 타임스퀘어, 메이시백화점을 비롯해 문화, 쇼핑 등 뉴욕의 명소들이 도보로 접근 가능한 위치에 있다. 특히 ‘레드루프 인 맨해튼’ 호텔과 ‘라퀸타 인 맨해튼’ 호텔은 코리아타운에 위치해 한국인들이 유독 많다.
다 섯 호텔은 각각의 사연과 함께 오랜 역사를 자랑하고 있다. 라퀸타 인 맨해튼의 경우, 존 레논의 집을 지은 건축가가 설계한 것으로 유명하고 호텔 앳 타임스퀘어는 제클린 케네디의 삼촌이 건축해 유명세를 타고 있다. 동시에 오랜 역사를 갖고 있음에도 최근 개보수를 통해 ‘신구 조화’를 이뤘다.
다섯 개 호텔 모두 무선 인터넷, 조식, 미국 내 전화를 무료로 서비스해 이용객들의 편의를 배려하고 있으며 헬스클럽, 비즈니스 센터, 객실 내 비디오게임 및 주문형 영화 등 다양한 서비스를 이용할 수 있다.
이처럼 다양한 서비스를 제공하고 있음에도 객실료는 매우 저렴한 편으로 비수기에는 최하 99달러 수준이며 성수기 179달러(세금 불포함) 정도다. 단다파니 사장은 “현재 전세계적인 불황으로 객실요금이 많이 낮아진 만큼 여행하기에는 가장 좋은 시기”라고 강조했다.
한편 애플코어호텔은 한국 시장 점유율을 끌어올리기 위해 다양한 마케팅 계획을 준비하고 있다. 단다파니 사장은 “한국 내에서 호텔을 홍보할 파트너를 물색 중에 있다”며 “한국여행객을 위해 안내책자를 비롯해 한글 홈페이지 등 다양한 맞춤형 서비스를 선보일 계획”이라고 전했다. www.applecorehotels.com
Big City on a Budget
June 1, 2009 -- Westways
By Keren Engelberg -- New York in June -- it's so lovely this time of the year, they wrote a song about it. And despite the city's reputation, a visit here doesn't have to cost you what's left in your 401(k). Herewith are our budget-friendly tips to enjoy the city's bounty this summer.
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WHERE TO STAY
Apple Core Hotels group owns five midtown family-friendly hotels. Rates start at $119, including continental breakfast. (800) 567-7720; applecorehotels.com
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Weekend update: Plan your last-minute getaway for Memorial Day
May 20, 2009 -- NY Daily News
By Patrick Huguenin:
While your friends traded Memorial Day tips and tidbits, you sat silently. As the names of restaurants, hotels and airlines buzzed through the office, you waited for happy hour. When your husband rolled in the door with a new suitcase last week (hint, hint), you said only, “Honey, quiet, Danny Gokey is singing his final song.” You are a procrastinating planner. But even if your Memorial Day getaway hasn’t been considered and confirmed, there’s hope. (After all, it’s only Wednesday.) Follow our routes to relaxation and start the summer right. Whether you want to stick around town, take a road trip or hop a plane, follow our easy planning guide and you may find yourself with an unexpected destination.
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DOLLAR-STRETCHER: Have guests coming into town? Check out Apple Core Hotels, a group of five Manhattan spots with rates that start around $150 per night over the holiday weekend. Properties include La Quinta Inn, Red Roof Inn and The Hotel @ Times Square, all in midtown. (applecorehotels.com).
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Buon Appetito! Apple Core Hotels Tempt With NYC Gelato Tours
May 6, 2009 -- HotelChatter.com
While New Yorkers pray for the out-of-nowhere blustery days to vanish for good, disgustingly hot weather is just around the corner. But it's tutto benne in the gelato 'hood.
Apple Core Hotels (the company behind the La Quinta Inn Manhattan, Red Roof Inn Manhattan, Comfort Inn Midtown, The Hotel @ Times Square, and the Ramada Inn East Side) has put together a "Gelato Tour" package where fancy ice cream fans can sample the Sicilian style giro del gelato throughout the West Village.
Through the room-and-sweets package, aficionados and amateurs get to tour Grom (an Italian gelati chain with old country flair), L'Arte Del Gelato (featuring Italian classics Stracciatella, Cassata Siciliana and biscotti), and Cones (the corn flavor with an optional sprinkle of cinnamon is recommended).
The hotel and frozen delight package is available from July 1 to August 31 and starts at $179 in July and $239 in August. Besides the three locations of chilled calories (up to $10 per shop), guests get centrally located accommodations and breakfast.
The catch? Paperwork. You "must pay for gelato up to $10 at each of the three listed shops...[and] present receipts to the front desk to receive credit to their credit card on file in the maximum amount of $30."
Family Travel Deals
May 2, 2009 -- About.com
A favorite resort, a red-hot deal, a clever pitch... scroll down for fun promotions for families. At the moment, there's a crop of Disney deals.
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3. NYC: Apple Core Hotels City Safari Package
"Photo courtesy of Apple Core Hotels."
In July and August 2009, Apple Core Hotels-- a group of five centrally-located midtown Manhattan properties-- have a package that includes tix for two to the Central Park Zoo and lunch at the Central Park Zoo Cafe. Price starts at $179 per night, and kids under 13 stay free when sharing their parents' room. Families will also like the complimentary breakfasts, 12 o'clock checkout, and free local calls. Read more about Apple Core Hotels, above; check here for "City Safari" package details.
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Wins and losses for travelers during recession
April 6, 2009 -- The Seattle Times, CNN and MSNBC
By Christopher Elliott: What travelers gain — and lose — during the economic meltdown, from more free Wi-Fi to even more baggage charges
Kiss those little bottles of lotion goodbye.
But don't despair. You stand to gain better things, thanks to the ailing economy. That includes free Wi-Fi in more places, better customer service and of course, many unbelievable bargains.
[…]
One of the first things travelers noticed after the economy headed south was that resort amenities, such as washcloths and little bottles of lotion, had disappeared from their rooms. But that's only half the story.
"The downside — particularly to a long recession — is that many hotels fall down on both quality of service and product," said Vijay Dandapani, the president of Apple Core Hotels, a group of budget Manhattan hotels. Renovation programs are reduced or canceled, along with staff training programs. "Other items include diminished variety in breakfast items — if offered free — and lower staffing, resulting in longer wait times."
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Family vacation finances 101
March 31, 2009 -- MSNBC
By Suzanne Rowan Kelleher: Since March 1, guests can put future hotel stays on layaway at the recently renovated Red Roof Inn in Manhattan, located steps away from the Empire State Building. Free amenities include breakfast, in-room Wi-Fi, morning newspaper, and crib rentals.
With summer just a few months away, it’s the time of year when many families start thinking about vacation. The good news is that there are fantastic family travel deals at every turn, and this year’s summer vacation could very easily cost you 30 percent to 50 percent less than what you would have paid last year.
[…]
Here are 10 smart moves to help you finance your vacation and boost your family’s money IQ:
Put it on layaway
Some hotels are introducing layaway programs to let guests pay off their bill even before they arrive. Since March 1, guests at Apple Core Hotels in New York City have had the opportunity to use layaway to finance a future hotel stay at any of the group’s five properties, including La Quinta, Red Roof Inn, Comfort Inn, the Hotel at Times Square and Ramada Inn. “Guests can start with a down payment of as little as $20,” explains Vijay Dandapani, the President and COO of Apple Core Hotels. “Then they have the opportunity to build up the pre-payment in the time leading up to their trip.”
For travelers, it’s hard to argue with the combination of reasonable prices, flexible payments, and risk-free booking that comes with the Apple Core layaway plan. “There’s a misconception that New York City is expensive,” says Dandapani, pointing out that the rack rate for Apple Core Hotels is between $139 and $159 a night in July 2009. “We don’t impose a timeline with our layaway plan,” he says. “Guests can pay little by little, or they can pay off the balance all at once when they check out of the hotel.” What if a guest changes her mind and cancels? “She gets her money back,” says Dandapani. Best of all, opting for Apple Core’s layaway plan guarantees that you nail the best price. “If the rates go up, your reservation is locked in at the lower rate,” explains Dandapani. “And if the rate goes down after you book, we’ll refund the difference.”
The way Dandapani sees it, pay-before-you-go plans are an option whose time has come in the hotel industry. “We’ve seen that there’s a huge hesitation on the part of consumers to spend money and build up debt,” he says. “Our layaway plan lets our guests avoid a big charge on their credit card at the end of their stay. Frankly, I’m surprised more hotels aren’t trying it.”
[…]
Four days in Manhattan:
What you really should see and do
March 29, 2009 -- St. Petersburg Times
By Michael Schuman: The purists howled more than a decade ago when New York City was accused of Disneyizing Times Square. The peep shows and prostitutes were gone, and the funk and grit were replaced by family fare. With these changes came a friendlier New York.
[...]
Lodging: The price of most low-budget hotels in New York will get you a luxury suite almost anywhere else. That in mind, a company called Apple Core Hotels administers five Manhattan economy name-brand hotels for modest prices — at least by Big Apple standards. They are La Quinta Inn, Red Roof Inn, Super 8, Comfort Inn and Ramada Inn, with doubles from $119.99 to $214.99 per night, excluding holidays and other special events. All include complimentary continental breakfasts and other amenities. Reservations: toll-free 1-800-567-7720 or applecorehotels.com.
[...]
Travel deals:
China, San Diego, Morocco, Ski
March 23, 2009 -- MercuryNews.com
By Linda Zavoral -- [...]
New York deal. Apple Core Hotels, five budget hotels in Manhattan, are offering a tax time special with a limited number of rooms each night April 1-15 going for $4.15 a night. A lottery system will be used to determine who gets the special-rate rooms. Must apply by phone by midnight March 29 EDT, (800) 567-7720.
Fast Track to Elite:
Double Air and Rail Miles
March 23, 2009 -- Time.com
Travel news and deals for the week of March 23, 2009
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HOTELS
[...]
The Big Apple. At the budget end of the scale, New York City's Apple Core Hotels is holding a lottery to offer 10 rooms at a special rate of $4.15, instead of the usual $125 rack rate. To enter the "Tax Time" lottery — which includes a room with complimentary breakfast, free Wi-Fi, gym and business center access, as well as in-room video games and movies on-demand — call the Apple Core Reservations Department by March 29 (you can't enter online). The drawing will be held March 30. Good for stays April 1 to 15. Participating hotels include La Quinta Inn Manhattan (17 West 32nd Street), Red Roof Inn Manhattan (6 West 32nd Street), Comfort Inn Midtown (129 West 46th Street), The Hotel @ Times Square (59 West 46th Street) and Ramada Inn East Side (161 Lexington Avenue). Call 800-567-7720 or 212-790-2710
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Personal Picks:
Travel Editor Jane Wooldridge on Four Family Travel Destinations
March 23, 2009 -- petergreenberg.com
Long gone are the days when spring travel was exclusively the right of college students. With deep discounts, families are (or should be!) seizing the opportunity to get away for less.
Jane Wooldridge, Travel Editor for the Miami Herald, advises that once you choose your destination, you should then hone in on affordable accommodations.
For traveling families, she especially recommends looking into vacation rentals.
[...]
3. NEW YORK
“This might be the year you want to go to New York,” Wooldridge suggested. “During weekends, especially, you can find nice hotel rooms in Manhattan for $125 to $150 per night.” [...] Several Apple Core (www.applecorehotels.com) properties around the city, including La Quinta, Red Roof Inn, Comfort Inn, the Hotel at Times Square, and Ramada Inn, have rates staring at $110 per night.
[...]
Look Forward to Tax Day with $4.15 NYC Hotel Rooms
March 23, 2009 -- HotelChatter.com
Just like rhythm, the tax man is gonna get you, and thankfully hotels are more sympathetic this year. In New York, where you'd be hard-pressed to find someone not directly affected by the economy, Apple Core Hotels, a collection of five budget-friendly hotels in the center of Manhattan, are swooping in to save tax day with $4.15 rooms for the first two weeks of April.
The "Tax Time" package, which even includes free breakfast and coffee along with a central location in the Big Apple, can be had by calling one of the five Apple Core properties—Comfort Inn, The Hotel at Times Square, La Quinta, Red Roof and Ramada East Side—and entering your name into a drawing for the rooms, with ten nights at $4.15 up for grabs. In this case, you can score a room in areas like Midtown or next to the Empire State Building for less than the cost of your Turbo Tax software.
Just be prepared to have your taxes done early enough to enjoy a trip to New York between April 1-April 15, when the $4.15 room rate is valid, and make sure to give the Apple Core reservations line (800-567-7720) a call to register for the promo by March 29. Then, if you do get a nice fat refund from the government, it'll be like they paid you to come to New York anyways.
Hotel: Tax-relief packages for April
March 18, 2009 -- BudgetTravel.com
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Apple Core Hotels, a group of five midtown Manhattan properties, is offering 10 rooms at $4.15 a pop through a lottery system held on March 30. The reduced Tax Time rate includes all hotel taxes and fees. Only 10 names will be drawn for one-night stays between April 1 and 15 at these participating properties: La Quinta Inn Manhattan, Red Roof Inn Manhattan, Comfort Inn Midtown, The Hotel @ Times Square, and the Ramada Inn East Side. To qualify for the drawing, you must call Apple Core's reservations department at 800/567-7720 by Mar. 29. Even if you don't score one of the 10 rooms, the usual room rate at the five properties starts at an affordable $125, and includes breakfast and free Wi-Fi.
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Hotels on the layaway plan
March 13, 2009 -- USAToday.com
It's a trend in these troubled economic times.
The idea is to allow consumers to pay for a stay in installments, which presumably is easier on some by not having to come up with a lump sum all at once.
Lodgings adopting the plan include Apple Core Hotels, with a half-dozen properties in the NYC area, including the Red Roof Inn there. It allows future guests to put $20 down on a booking, then pay what they want until settling the whole bill. And you can get the money back if you cancel.
Like the idea?
Valentine's Day Getaways
January 31, 2009 -- NY1.com, and News10now.com
http://www.ny1.com/content/ny1_living/93177/valentine-s-day-getaways/Default.aspx
By Val D’Elia: With Valentine's Day just around the corner, there are many places you can take your sweetie somewhere for a quick getaway. NY1's Travel reporter Valarie D'Elia filed the following report.
If your heart is bigger than your wallet, here's a few Valentine's Day getaways that will keep your love, and your finances, alive.
In Midtown Manhattan, you can wax poetic with a visit to the Art and Love in Renaissance Italy exhibit at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Entrance passes to the Met are included with the Apple Core Hotel's "Art & Love" Package. It is available from February 9-16 with rates starting at $199.99 a night for a comfortable room, complimentary bottle of champagne and free breakfast. For more information, visit www.applecorehotels.com and use the package code "ARTANDLOVE."
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Apple Core hotels offers
recession-friendly pay plan
February 19, 2009 -- Travel Weekly's blog Hotel Girl
It's about time hotels started to think of clever ways of attracting guests during the crunch.
Apple Core Hotels, a co-branded group of budget hotels in Midtown Manhattan, is offering clients the chance to pay for their hotel stay in installments.
The "lay-away and stay" promotion allows guests to pay a small deposit and make any number of payments until they check in. Guests can still cancel up to 24 hours before with a full refund.
The hotels are mega budget - Comfort Inn, Ramada, The Hotel La Quinta and Red Roof - and all in good locations. AND they've all had a makeover.
So now there's no excuse to hop on a plane to the big apple - and you'll still have enough cash for a visit to Macys.
Apple Core Tries "Lay-Away" Plan
March 2, 2009 -- HotelsMag.com
Apple Core Hotels, a group of budget-friendly midtown Manhattan hotels, including Red Roof Inn, has launched a “Lay-Away & Stay” promotion available now throughout 2009. Similar to popular retail lay-away plans, Apple Core Hotels’ layaway promotion allows guests to create accounts, lock in low room rates and make incremental payments from the time they book through check-in.
With the “Lay-Away & Stay” plan, guests get the benefit of booking a room at a lower price but are not responsible for paying the entire room rate upfront. A credit card guarantee is required at the time of booking a reservation and guests must pay the remaining room balance upon check-in.
Apple Core says they understand the economic situation of today’s travelers and wanted to help alleviate some stresses by accommodating guests’ travel and financial needs. The budget-friendly program hopes to encourage visitors to still make travel plans without the pressure of having to dish out large sums of money upfront in order to secure reasonably priced accommodations.
Guests can make as many payments as they would like. They will need to provide the hotel with a valid credit card at the time of the reservation to guarantee the reservation. The first payment secures the booking (a minimum of $20) and locks in the rate. All final payments are due at the time of check-out. Upon receipt of the first installment payment, a booking confirmation with the guest’s installment payment is e-mailed and the credit card on file is charged according to the individual installment plan.
Guests have the option to cancel their reservation 24 hours prior to their arrival date before 3 pm EST and will be credited back for all the payments they made so far. If they do not cancel with 24 hours notice, they will be charged for one night's stay. In order to cancel a reservation, guests may call Apple Core’s Reservations department at 1-800-567-7720 or 212-790-2710.
Terms and conditions:
Offer is non-transferable. Offer valid throughout 2009 only, and based on availability. Any additional charges must be paid for by the guest. Offer cannot be combined with any other offers, promotions or upgrades or rebates/refunds associated with a guest’s stay.
Where to find a little romance
January 25, 2009 -- Delaware County Sunday Times
By Gloria Hayes Kremer: If you are making plans for a Valentine's Day getaway, here's some ideas for getting it together.
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How about a trip to the city that never sleeps? In New York, a very reasonable "Art & Love" package is offered at five Apple Core Hotels. For $199.99 per night, from Feb 9-16, guests receive accomodations, two priority-entrance guest passes to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, complimentary bottle of champagne, free breakfast and in-room coffee. (The world-class museum's current exhibit is a stunning 'Art and Love in Renaissance Italy.') The five, centrally located hotels offer many amenities not usually found in budget-friendly properties (www.applecorehotels.com).
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Hotels take down payments
February 16, 2009 -- Crain's
Layaway plans are making a comeback-- not at Sears, but at local hotels.
Apple Core Hotels, which operates five budget properties in the city, just launched Lay-Away & Stay, a program that allows customers to secure a room for a future stay for as little as $20 down. They can then pay off the tab with personal checks up to the date of their reservation.
"If the price goes up between now and the time of the visit, you still pay the lower rate," explains Vijay Dandapani, president of Apple Core. "And if the price goes down, we'll work with the customer. People are going through tough times."
The company, which runs a Red Roof Inn, a Ramada and a Comfort Inn, is struggling, too. With the exception of one property, which boasts a 90% occupancy rate, its other hotels are just 50% full, even with room rates as low as $109.
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New York City: VIP tickets to the Met
January 20, 2009 -- BudgetTravel.com
The Apple Core hotels (the Comfort Inn Midtown, the Hotel at Times Square, the La Quinta Manhattan, the Red Roof Inn Manhattan, and the Ramada Inn Eastside), are featuring the Art & Love Package. It includes accommodations, breakfast daily, a bottle of champagne, and two VIP tickets to the Metthat enable you to skip any admission lines. One of the museum's timely exhibits, "Art and Love in Renaissance Italy," showcases sumptuous artworks and other rare artifacts (like one of the earliest known wedding rings). Make a date of it—the museum is open late on Fridays and Saturdays. Rates start at $200 per room per night. When Feb. 9-16, 2009. Details Does not include taxes of 13 percent or local fees of $4 per room per night. Based on double occupancy. Contact 800/567-7720, applecorehotels.com.
New York City Hotel Packages,
From $149
January 15, 2009 -- BudgetTravel.com
Affordable hotel stays in Manhattan with perks like ice-skating, gourmet hot chocolate, and museum tickets.
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Apple Core Hotels, from $160 per room per night The Filled-With-Love in the Big Apple package includes accommodations, breakfast daily, and one Filled-With-Love stuffed animal from the Toys "R" Us in Times Square (a must-see for any kid visiting the city). The value of the stuffed animal is about $15, and kids can decorate it. The starting rate of $160 per room per night is good at all five Apple Core hotels: the Comfort Inn Midtown, the Hotel at Times Square, the La Quinta Manhattan, the Red Roof Inn Manhattan, and the Ramada Inn Eastside. When Jan. 2-Feb. 14, 2009. Details Does not include taxes of 13 percent or local fees of $4 per room per night. Based on single or double occupancy. Package is available online only. Kids under 13 stay free; kids 14 and over pay the adult rate. Contact applecorehotels.com.
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To the theater in NYC and elsewhere
January 11, 2009 -- MiamiHerald.com
By Eileen Ogintz: Broadway dreams can come true. Just ask 10-year-old Nicholas Dayton.
The suburban New Orleans fifth-grader was so taken with the music from the Tony-winning “In the Heights” that he asked his mom to film him performing one of the songs so that he could post it on YouTube.
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Remember that winter months are the cheapest—and least crowded time—to visit New York, with hotel rates at some places dipping under $100 a night, thanks to a http://www.hotels.com promotion that enables you to save 30 percent on a three-night stay (book by Jan. 26). Apple Core Hotels’ (http://www.applecorehotels.com/promos/toysrus09) five NYC properties are offering a “filled-with-love” package for $159.99 that includes making a stuffed animal at Toys R Us and breakfast.
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