(post by Dee) When I first saw the boutique Ravel Hotel near 59^th Street Bridge in the back of Queens Plaza, I had the same question anyone might… who the heck is going to stay here? Turns out this is a very nice hotel (by the area’s standards – check out the photo gallery), and it was soon to be followed by a bunch of new construction hotels in Long Island City. Some local folk will tell you that “21 new hotels will be built in LIC”, many with as much confusion as surprise on their faces. Well, a couple of years later, three new hotel buildings are up and running and, although according to our local commercial sources and based on conversations with the hotel staff, not doing well at all (slower economy means more vacancies in Manhattan, and lower rates, too), they are soon to have more counterparts nearby.

LIC’s Dutch Kill Area is now home to three new hotels:

1. Holiday Inn at 39-05 29th Street, Long Island City, NY 11101

2. Just down the block, Verve Hotel by Clarion Collection at 40-03 29th Street.

3. Quality Inn at 30-03 40th Ave, Long Island City, NY, US, 11101

And, a new building rising at 27-09 39th Avenue is supposedly (based on rather spotty sources, I must say) going to be a brand new Marriott Courtyard when finished.

And, if you have any doubt about these strange developments to the arguably the ugliest parts of LIC, Starwood Hotels has long ago officially announced the 2010 opening of its ALOFT Hotel – By the Bridge in Queens Plaza South!!! Yup, the W’s ALOFT hotel is coming to Long Island City. And you wandered what all those construction craters were on the corner of Jackson Ave, Queens Plaza South and 41^st Avenue. Well, now you know!

First the condos, and now the hotels!

Pics from the Ravel Hotel’s Site below. Awesome views of Manhattan Skyline and Queensborough Bridge from their rooftop lounge!