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03/02/2012 03:23 PM

City's First Gay-Focused Resort Goes All Out

By: Jill Urban

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The first gay-focused urban resort in the city - maybe even the world - recently opened on Manhattan's West Side. NY1's Jill Urban filed the following report.

Back in 2010, NY1 looked at plans to turn a rundown old travel lodge motel on West 42nd Street into a luxurious hotel and urban resort. Now, The Out NYC is finally open for business and the station recently got a look inside and out.

City's First Gay-Focused Resort Goes All Out

"After 18 months of construction, we are proud to finally announce the opening of Out NYC, the city and maybe even the world’s first gay focused urban resort," says The Out Founder Ian Reisner.

The new boutique hotel includes 105 rooms, multiple courtyards and gardens, a 5,000 square foot wellness center, a gym, a 140,000 square foot nightclub and a restaurant.

This property has done a complete 180 from where it was 18 months ago and it's amazing to see how it all fits in the middle of Manhattan.

"The Out NYC was a dilapidated, 1959 motel built for the Worlds Fair. We converted it into a true urban resort. We are only three stories, but we are 133 feet wide and a full city block deep right in the middle of Hells Kitchen," explains Reisner.

The hotel is designed to be an all in one destination for the gay community, offering a place to stay and socialize in the heart of Manhattan. It’s also designed to be more affordable with standard rooms starting at $200 per night.

In addition to the 97 standard rooms, the hotel also offers eight “stay shares”, or luxury hostel accommodations for travelers on a budget starting at $99 per person.

While the hotel opened it’s doors earlier this week, the XL nightclub has been open for about a month.

The 24-hour restaurant called Kitchin is expected to open in the spring.