These nostalgic family values may sound strange coming from the man who owns New York’s chic Royalton and Paramount hotels and created Studio 54 and the Palladium, emblems of ’80s decadence (he also did time for tax evasion). But Schrager, now 48, has become a husband and father. That’s why, he says, he decided to purchase the Delano, and – with French designer Philippe Starck – transform the 238-room deco landmark into a gleaming all-white “family resort” in what is now ultratrendy South Beach. The $30 million hotel opened last week with a supervised children’s play area, a $1 movie theater and a luxurious rooftop spa for moms. Room rates are $100 to $450; Schrager says the Delano’s booked through December.
Starck, who was responsible for the sleek design of the Royalton and the Paramount, has filled the dimly lit Delano lobby with dark wood, diaphanous white curtains and an eclectic mix furniture. Outside is his “water salon,” a 150-foot shallow pool; upstairs, the rooms are completely white – down to the TVs. “In a complex society, it’s good to know there is a place where everything is purity and serenity,” says Starck grandly. (Maybe, but white is hardly practical for all those kids.)
Never fear, Schrager hasn’t left glam entirely behind. Single trendoids are welcome; David Barton of New York’s party scene runs a 24-hour gym in the hotel. Madonna co-owns the hotel restaurant, the Blue Door, and expects to be a fixture when she’s in town. So don’t expect to see Mr. and Mrs. Gingrich in the next cabana.
