Editors’ Note

Educated in England, Hilary James began her career in the film industry and held positions with Columbia Pictures, 20th Century Fox, and Warner Bros. She also founded her own theater production company and won an OBIE Award for Michael Burrell’s “Hess.” As a marketing executive and Director of Sales for Bristol Plaza’s developer, Howard Milstein, she was instrumental in the development and management of the luxury residential hotel. She assumed her current role in April 1989.

Property Brief

Bristol Plaza (www.bristolplaza.com), a luxury residential hotel, was conceived of and developed to meet the needs of those planning long-term stays in Manhattan. Its 152 suites feature fully equipped kitchens for home dining, and the property boasts a health club, swimming pool, and sun deck.

The travel industry in New York has achieved strong growth over the past year. Have you been happy with the growth of your business, and what is your outlook for Bristol Plaza’s growth in 2008?

The travel industry has certainly grown tremendously over the past 12 months, and occupancy at Bristol Plaza has been a healthy participant in the trend. Having enjoyed an extraordinarily successful 2006, the figures for 2007 have once again exceeded even our most optimistic expectations, and we have every reason to believe that the coming year will yield even more spectacular results.

Bristol Plaza caters to long-term visitors to New York. How do you define the target market for the property, and what is the profile of your guests?

Because Bristol Plaza caters to guests requiring accommodations for a considerably longer period than for the average business trip to the city, our visitors tend to come from multinational corporations or from the banking industry while being relocated from overseas or out of state. Finding permanent housing for themselves and, oftentimes, for their family can take many months, and the comfort and quietude of our suites provide a relaxed atmosphere during what can often prove to be a stressful and difficult period of adjustment. Many of our guests come to stay with us while undergoing medical procedures, and they frequently come from all over the world to do so. The comfort of a fully equipped suite in a residential building provides them with a peaceful environment in which to rest. Our guest profiles are many and varied. Besides those already mentioned, we enjoy visits by movie and theater people, writers, academics, and artists, as well as many individuals from the worlds of politics and diplomacy. Many of our guests simply enjoy spending time in the city once or twice a year to attend the theater, opera, and concerts or generally reacquainting themselves with Manhattan.

There seems to be developments taking place at the property constantly. Can you highlight some of the projects that guests can expect in the coming years?

Developments and improvements are, of course, always ongoing in a property such as ours. New fabrics and furnishings have already been selected for the coming year’s renovation and will be installed over the coming weeks. New technologies continue apace, and our recently installed high-speed modems have greatly improved computer program access. Flat-screen televisions will replace our existing models, and DVRs have already nudged aside the VCRs and DVD players.

In such a competitive market, how challenging is it to differentiate the property from your competitors, and how do you define what makes Bristol Plaza unique?

While the hotel market is extremely competitive, Bristol Plaza enjoys a rather unique position in the industry, with our minimum monthly stay, our ideal location, and our rates, which are considerably more advantageous than those in transient hotels. Our guests never fail to be delighted with our fully equipped kitchens and health club facilities, which stand unrivaled in similar properties.

How important is the health club and rooftop pool for the property? Can you provide an overview of these facilities?

We have one of the most attractive private health clubs in the city, boasting a 50-foot swimming pool, a landscaped sun deck, a sun-filled lounge, and a state-of-the-art gym. Club 200 is of prime importance to our regular guests and proves extremely persuasive to potential newcomers.

Your time is pulled in many different directions. How do you focus your efforts at the property? How important is it for you to make the time to interact with your guests?

One of the most important and rewarding aspects of my job is the relationship I enjoy with our guests. Whether exchanging views on political or business fronts or chatting about family matters, our guests know that my door is always open and feel perfectly comfortable coming in to discuss any problems or difficulties that need to be resolved.

As you look to 2008, what are the key priorities you are focused on, to make sure that the property keeps its leadership position in the industry?

As 2008 begins, we shall, as always, ensure that our property is continually upgraded both inside and out. We shall strive to maintain our worldwide reputation as the optimum destination for temporary residence in Manhattan.