Mark Gordon is more than just another New York developer. The managing partner with Intrinsic Hotel Capital not only forecasts the potential of the city’s many unique corners, but also responds to the desires of locals and visitors alike. Here, Gordon discusses the development of the Moxy NYC Downtown and Baccarat Hotels, as well as the future of the industry.
What do you take into consideration when developing a hotel?
It is important to develop hotels that are authentic to a specific core demographic. For example, several years ago we observed there was a dynamic submarket evolving in downtown New York. The city had invested significantly in transportation infrastructure, there were more than a dozen residential and office towers being planned, the World Trade Center was nearing completion and many of the office tenants were technology and creative types. However, the market was comprised primarily of generic big box and select service hotels. We saw an opportunity to build a hotel to cater directly to the new downtown demographic.
What did you want to create with the Moxy NYC Downtown, designed by Stonehill Taylor?
We decided to give the customer exactly what we thought they wanted: great bathrooms with oversized showers, luxury fixtures, and custom robes. Guestrooms also feature floor-to-ceiling windows with spectacular views, sophisticated lighting, shades and temperature controls, and a hanging swing chair. In addition, we wanted to create an authentic lounge experience, which is how we conceptualized Recreation. The result is a 5,000-square-foot space that serves as communal coworking by day and a lounge at night serving specialty cocktails and great food with lots of fun games and it’s New York’s only hotel with a basketball court.
What attracted you to the Moxy and Baccarat brands?Â
Both brands are unique, fresh, very creative, and primarily cater to underserved audiences. Baccarat provides an unprecedented level of luxury and service, and Moxy provides a truly authentic combination of high design, technology, and fun in New York’s most exciting new neighborhood, the Financial District.
How is the hotel industry evolving?
There are a lot of great brands at all price points, but I believe the hotel industry will continue to become more specialized. Most guests don’t want to stay in generic hotels that don’t reflect their environment. Service is also becoming increasingly important. Training is critical at all levels and often the customer service experience is what the guest remembers most. If the guest is unhappy about anything during their stay, it will appear online likely before they leave the hotel.
What’s next for you?
I would like to continue to develop and create hotels that specifically cater to underserved demographics—and have fun doing so.
Moxy NYC Downtown. Photography by Isaac Maiselman and David Mitchell
