THE FACTS ABOUT W HOTEL UNION SQUARE

USA New_York

The opening of W Times Square in December 2001 brought the number of Ws in NYC to five. As with its siblings, style matters at this former insurance building, grass grows on the check-in desk and there's enough bamboo to feed a panda convention. But the Union Square property is the mature brother in the funky W family: a spiral staircase and vast ballroom help foster a 'grand hotel' atmosphere. Super-hot chef Todd English serves rustic Mediterranean fare in Olives. Rooms are immodestly classed as Wonderful, Spectacular, Mega and Urban Suite. The smallest rooms, Wonderful, are really just Jolly Good, but they're still fairly spacious. A colour scheme of charcoal, brown and aubergine makes for sober, elegant surroundings, as do bathroom surfaces inlaid with mother of pearl. One nice touch: all rooms have stacks of thick stationery, a pleasant rarity in this age of email. CLIENTELE Mostly business travellers. Locals throng the restaurant and bar SIZE 270 rooms, including 17 suites. Choose one of the corner rooms overlooking Union Square BATH PRODUCTS Aveda CONTACT W Hotel New York, Union Square, 201 Park Avenue South (00 1 212 253 9119; fax: 253 9229; www.whotels.com). Doubles from £205; suites from £549