Call Him Mr. Thompson

Thompson Hotels was established when its flagship, 60 Thompson, opened in a blaze of glory during New York's fashion week of September 2001. The official opening party was September 10. Nine hours later, co-owner Stephen Brandman raced up to the roof deck to see the devastation at the World Trade Center, less than 1 mile south. For the next six weeks, a restricted zone cut the hotel off from the rest of the city. There were no guests.

Luckily for the hotel, its own recovery was rapid. Occupancy was reportedly 92 percent by the end of 2002, and it's hovered at 96 percent since 2004. Over the years, Thompson has burnished and expanded the brand, with seven bicoastal properties to date. After 6 Columbus and Gild Hall, which both opened in 2007, a fourth New York location, the Thompson Lower East Side, is opening in June, and a fifth, Smyth Tribeca, is coming in November. The Thompson Toronto is slated for spring 2009. Amid all that activity, Brandman took a pause to share his knowledge of hotels, boutique and otherwise.

Is Thompson Hotels an ownership or management company?

Mostly management. The equity arm of the operation, the Pomeranc Group, is separately owned. That's the company started by Jack Pomeranc and joined by his sons Lawrence, Michael, and Jason. Of our 10 hotels, four are owned, and six are managed for third parties.

Are the buildings new or renovations?

Both. Our three newest properties are all ground-up, as was 60 Thompson. The two in L.A., the Hollywood Roosevelt and the Thompson Beverly Hills, were both renovations by Dodd Mitchell. At the Thompson Beverly Hills, he even re-created the 1960's Swarovski crystal-lined swimming pool on the roof deck.

Pools are a big deal for you.

Yes. The pool at the Thompson Lower East Side is lined with a black-and-white photomural of Andy Warhol by Gerard Malanga, one of the Factory artists. We're trying to add art to the landscape of our hotels, and our pools are a unique medium to do that. Inspiration came from the David Hockney pool at the Hollywood Roosevelt. Art is basically another way to distinguish our properties.

In the boutique boom, what sets Thompson apart?

We're not just trying to be trendy. Our properties will burn long, not just bright.

What do you personally bring to the plate?

A sensitivity to design. I resolve the struggle between beauty and functionality.

But surely your hotels are design-driven?

More often than not, design is a factor, but it's one among many ingredients in the minestrone soup of our success. We provide a complete experience, not just what I call the "oversize red lamp-shade photo op."

Which designers have you worked with?

For starters, Dodd and Thomas O'Brien as well as Paul Davis, Steven Sclaroff, and Jim Walrod. For the Smyth, George Yabu and Glenn Pushelberg are handling the public space and suites, Clarissa Richardson and Heidar Sadeki the guest rooms. For the Thompson Toronto, it's Studio Gaia, and Javier Mariscal is doing artwork for the public space.

Any other collaborations that particularly stand out?

In Washington, D.C., the Donovan House was named after Office of Strategic Services founder William Donovan and designed by Ilan Weisbrod of Studio Gaia. In the spirit of Bill, we pushed the boundaries. For the guest rooms, Ilan designed a spiral shower and wrapped the headboard leather onto the ceiling.

Who else is on your radar?

Right now, Jason Pomeranc is having his Hollywood Hills house designed by Brad Dunning and Jim Walrod. That might foster a future hotel project. In general, we look for someone who's a balance, a creative type who can stick to a budget and meet deadlines. We'll never go with a big firm—we want the principals.

What's up next?

We're looking outside North America, to Puerto Rico, Mexico, and Costa Rica. There's a property in London, too. Also resorts. Actually, we already look at our hotels like little resorts—there's no reason to leave the compound.

Do any of the properties incorporate condos?

At the Smyth, we have 100 hotel rooms and 15 condos. We've presold them all at an average of $2,300 per square foot. And resorts usually offer condos, so we'll probably have them at our Costa Rica property.

Where are boutique hotels headed?

More and more, companies are starting to ask designers for things that are less about the wow factor and tricks of the trade, more about the long-term.

Besides the usual suspects, which hotels do you consider competition?

We've pulled a large number of our guests from St. Regis and Ritz-Carlton.

Who else does hospitality well?

The Four Seasons has a nice collection of city hotels—I appreciate their services. I'm also a big fan of the Aman resorts.

What's your own apartment like?

I have a 2,600-square-foot loft in an 1890's glass warehouse in New York.

What's your idea of a vacation?

Last year, I took more than 125 flights. My greatest pleasure is to stay home.

From top: Thompson Hotels's co-owner. The private deck of the penthouse suite at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, also by Dodd Mitchell. The lobby at 6 Columbus. Studio Gaia's computer rendering of the rooftop swimming pool at the Thompson Toronto, opening in spring 2009. Steven Klein photographs in a corridor at L.A.'s Thompson Beverly Hills, another Mitchell project.