Hotels New York

Soon after he was liberated by Allied soldiers in 1945, Raymond Drillings learned that his world had disappeared. He had survived five Nazi concentration camps, but his family and friends--his entire way of life as a Jew in prewar Poland--had vanished forever. Two years later, the 21-year-old refugee stood at the gates of what seemed a new paradise in upstate New York, in the green Catskill Mountains, where the Concord Hotel had promised him a job as a waiter.

Here are more of the newest and brightest hotels to open recently in New York City. Prices quoted are for a standard double in early January. Ace Hotel, 20 W. 29th St., (646) 214-5750 or (212) 679-2222, http://www.acehotel.com, has a cavernous lobby jam-packed with the in crowd, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the Breslin Bar & Restaurant (by the same people who created the Spotted Pig downtown) and a range of room styles (including the economy bunk-bed model). $209. The Chatwal, 130 W. 44th St., (888)

Here are more of the newest and brightest hotels to open recently in New York City. Prices quoted are for a standard double in early January. Ace Hotel, 20 W. 29th St., (646) 214-5750 or (212) 679-2222, http://www.acehotel.com, has a cavernous lobby jam-packed with the in crowd, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, the Breslin Bar & Restaurant (by the same people who created the Spotted Pig downtown) and a range of room styles (including the economy bunk-bed model). $209. The Chatwal, 130 W. 44th St., (888)

If you need a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, I highly recommend the Kimberly on 50th Street, near Lexington Avenue. Two friends and I recently shared a room for about $300 a night. The hotel offers attentive staff, every amenity and luxurious beds; full breakfast is included. The Kimberly, 145 E. 50th St., New York; (212) 702-1600, http://www.kimberlyhotel.com . Rooms from $249. Cheryl Kohr, Redondo Beach

If you need a hotel in Midtown Manhattan, I highly recommend the Kimberly on 50th Street, near Lexington Avenue. Two friends and I recently shared a room for about $300 a night. The hotel offers attentive staff, every amenity and luxurious beds; full breakfast is included. The Kimberly, 145 E. 50th St., New York; (212) 702-1600, http://www.kimberlyhotel.com . Rooms from $249. Cheryl Kohr, Redondo Beach

The nonprofit library cooperative that owns the Dewey Decimal System has filed suit against a library-themed luxury hotel in Manhattan, claiming trademark infringement. The Library Hotel, which overlooks the New York Public Library, is divided according to the classification system, with each floor dedicated to one of Dewey's 10 categories. Room 700.003 includes books on the performing arts, for example, while room 800.001 has a collection of erotic literature.

Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co. pulled out of hotels in New York, Washington, Houston and Aspen, Colo., run by Abdul Aziz al Ibrahim, ending its relationship with the Saudi sheik.

This June, my husband and I visited New York City for our anniversary. Due to an article in the Travel section last year on good, reasonably priced hotels ("New York: New & Improved," Nov. 2), we booked a room at The Inn at Irving Place. The room was delightful, the breakfast was delicious and the inn was quiet and charming. The location was ideal. We would have never found it if it hadn't been for your article, so thank you for helping to make our celebration special. SUSAN and ROLAND FELICE Manhattan Beach

Plans for downtown San Diego's venerable U. S. Grant Hotel include building an $8-million, 96-room addition atop its garage this summer. The hotel reopened in December, 1985 after a four-year, $80-million renovation. It is operated by Atlas Hotels but New York-based Sybedon, national realty firm, formed a limited partnership to sell interests in the hotel.

The nonprofit library cooperative that owns the Dewey Decimal System has filed suit against a library-themed luxury hotel in Manhattan, claiming trademark infringement. The Library Hotel, which overlooks the New York Public Library, is divided according to the classification system, with each floor dedicated to one of Dewey's 10 categories. Room 700.003 includes books on the performing arts, for example, while room 800.001 has a collection of erotic literature.

Soon after he was liberated by Allied soldiers in 1945, Raymond Drillings learned that his world had disappeared. He had survived five Nazi concentration camps, but his family and friends--his entire way of life as a Jew in prewar Poland--had vanished forever. Two years later, the 21-year-old refugee stood at the gates of what seemed a new paradise in upstate New York, in the green Catskill Mountains, where the Concord Hotel had promised him a job as a waiter.

Sunstone Hotel Investors Inc. said Monday it has begun a public offering of 9 million shares of common stock. The hotel real estate investment trust said it plans to use proceeds to help fund its $322-million acquisition of Kahler Realty Corp., a Minnesota-based owner of 17 hotels, from New York investment firm Westbrook Partners. Sunstone said it expects to complete the public stock offering in October and will have about 34.5 million shares outstanding after that.

Hilton Hotels Corp. announced a tentative agreement with the Unite Here union on a new contract covering 2,300 employees at four Chicago hotels. The three-year agreement is subject to ratification by the union's Local 1 and Local 450 chapters and covers Hilton Chicago, Hilton O'Hare Airport, the Drake and Palmer House Hilton. The pact includes improved pay, pension and healthcare provisions. Beverly Hills-based Hilton Hotels said details would be released after next week's ratification vote.