NGKF to lease retail component of Flatiron hotel project

Lam Group development will include 300-room Virgin Hotel

From left: Rika Lisslo, Richard Branson and Ross Perlman
From left: Rika Lisslo, Richard Branson and Ross Perlman

Developer Lam Group has tapped the retail and hospitality division of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank to lease the retail portion of its forthcoming 400,000-square-foot hotel and retail project in the Flatiron District, according to Real Estate Weekly.

The project will include a 300-room Virgin hotel, slated to open in 2016. A second, 300-room hotel will soon be announced, and should also be open for business in 2016.

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NGKF’s Rika Lisslö, Ross Perlman and Neal Golden will spearhead leasing efforts for the 100,000-square-foot retail section, which will occupy the entire block frontage on Broadway from 29th Street to 30th Street.

“It was important to choose a leasing team that understands the relationship between hotel demographics and the connected retail space,” Lam Group CEO John Lam said in a statement to Real Estate Weekly. “This isn’t about filling retail fronts. It’s about creating an exciting, memorable all-around experience.”

Raul Leal, Virgin Hotels CEO, said in an earlier statement that “Virgin’s 60 million global customers can’t get enough of New York City, and we hope to welcome them all with our trademark style, humor, innovation, and friendly customer service.” [Real Estate Weekly]  – Hiten Samtani