05/27/2026
Ian Schrager is back… and apparently he’s declaring war on ugly hotel TVs 😂
PUBLIC, an Ian Schrager Hotel West Hollywood opens this June, and if Schrager delivers on the promise, this could be one of the most talked-about hotel launches in years.
No bulky black TVs.
No blinking nightclub lights.
No copy-paste “minimalist” design that looks suspiciously like every other hotel lobby since 2014.
Instead:
- 137 guestrooms with private screening rooms
- 75% outdoor public space
- A rooftop park with 360° LA views
- Speakeasy nightlife inspired by the evolution of Studio 54
- What Schrager calls “democratic luxury”
But the most interesting part?
Schrager didn’t just announce a hotel... he threw a gr***de into the industry.
His take: too many hotels have become “circus elephants,” following each other around the ring… same concept, same operating model, just painted a different color.
Ouch LOL.
Love him or challenge him, he raises a fair question:
Have we become too safe in hospitality?
Because guests don’t remember safe.
They remember original.
They remember experience.
They remember how a place made them feel.
Curious what the hospitality community thinks: is innovation in hotels alive and well or are we seeing too much of the same?
