The first hotel in Hyatt's new Andaz chain is open for business. Andaz Liverpool Street, London is the beginning of a brand that is meant to be eco-conscious, reflective of local culture,personal, and of course, luxurious. The hotel has no front desks at check in, no separate concierge desk or receptionist. Instead one contact, the "Andaz Team Member" responds to guests' personal tastes, requests and preferences. Guests are checked in via Tablet PC`s, either en route to the guest room, or upon arrival. The room rate is inclusive of breakfast, internet access, healthy mini bar items, laundry and a selection of DVDs. The hotel has five restaurants that specialize in sushi, pub food, fine dining, seafood and bistro fare. The hotel also has a new art collection in the guest corridors and East End Contemporary Art Tours are launched from the hotel. Also local chracters have created iPod play lists that appear on loan iPods in the Andaz living room which replaces the lobby area. The eco-conscious angles in the London hotel are that the toilets use 80% less water, a computer-controlled boiler reduces fuel use, intelligent lighting, locally-sourced food and the use of fair-trade purchasing. Rates begin at $810 for single occupancy and $850 for double occupancy.

The former downtown headquarters of JP Morgan Chase, 75 Wall Street, a rose-colored brick tower, is making the switch from office building to luxury condos and a hotel. The building will be home to an Andaz hotel, the recently announced new luxury lifestyle arm of Hyatt. The 250-suite hotel will take up the lower part of the building while the upper 24 floors will be home to 350 condominiums. The Rockwell Group, an architectural design firm, will be reconfiguring the interiors and public spaces.

The residences will have loft-like layouts from studios to three bedrooms. There will also be duplex penthouses with custom library walls, fireplaces and terrace with wet bars. Other details include large picture windows, 10-foot ceilings, white marble baths, cerused oak flooring and an overhead storage system to maximize space. Amenities such as room service, catering, housekeeping and concierge service are also planned. The tower will also feature Club 75, a lifestyle area that will house a fitness center, massage treatment rooms, media room and game room. On the 42nd floor rooftop there will be a solarium, lounge, sandy beach, hot tub, hammocks, grills and a lounging area with a fireplace and a kitchen. Completion is set for 2008.