When the original Ace Hotel opened in Seattle, Time Magazine described it as “a kind of superaesthetic barrack”. The hotel’s clientele was described by Architectural Record as “cash-conscious urban nomads in search of a fusion of European pension and minimalist luxury”, while Wallpaper* declared “The Ace Hotel is a mega-chain waiting to happen”.
The Ace team is known for its imaginative collaborations with local artists and suppliers which create a warmly minimalist aesthetic, closely linked to the cultural life of the city they are located in. Following on from the success of the Portland and Seattle branches of the Ace Hotel, two new properties have opened in New York and Palm Springs (February 2009).