RLHC (Red Lion Hotels Corporation) has announced its third new-build Hotel RL—and eighth location overall—in Long Island City, New York, set to open in early 2019.
“This diverse community is an ideal setting for the Hotel RL brand,” said Brian Quinn, RLHC Senior Vice President and Chief Franchise Officer. “We see artistic components like the Living Stage as well as our Pacific Northwest coffeehouse experience in the lobby and advanced check-in technology appealing to business and leisure travelers alike in the northeast.”
In addition to its current Hotel RL locations in Baltimore Inner Harbor and Washington, D.C., the company announced a franchise agreement for a location at the St. Louis Airport and three company-operated locations in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Spokane and Olympia, Washington, all expected to convert in the first half of 2016.
The future Hotel RL Long Island City, planned for 38-15 9th Street, will have 180 guest rooms, a full service restaurant, rooftop public area, meeting areas, a fitness center and a business center. The property is located on the west end of the Queens borough, near the MoMA PS1 contemporary art museum, Queens Bridge Medical Center and the East River.
With an estimated 2.3 million residents, Queens is the second-largest borough in population of the five in New York City and the largest in area. Hosting various museums, cultural institutions and restaurants that serve its diverse communities, Queens has been touted as a top American destination.
