The Out Hotel NYC opened in 2009 as the city’s first proudly “out” hotel for gay travelers but in a sign of the changing and more accepting times, the hotel is transforming back into a hotel for all travelers.

According to the NY Post, as gay travelers are welcomed at more and more hotels, The Out Hotel has suffered from low occupancy and declining revenues. (We guess the deal to open an Out Hotel in Chicago is probably off the table too.)

Merchants Hospitality is in the process of buying the property from owner/developer Ian Reisner. Once that deal goes through, Merchants will put in another boutique hotel brand, as well as bring in a “premier night club group” to takeover the XL Nightclub and hire celebrity chefs to freshen up the hotel’s lounges and restaurants. The 105-room hotel also has a large spa space and two pools, which Merchants will also makeover and rebrand.

And now, let the guessing games begin as to which boutique brand will take over The Out! (Or if you know something, say something!)

[Photo: The Out NYC] 

Juliana Shallcross
A self-confessed hotel addict, Juliana Shallcross has been reporting on hotels around the world for more than a decade. She was previously the managing editor HotelChatter.com. A good portion of her job involves sleeping in new hotels, obsessing over technology and keeping tabs on the ever-changing hospitality landscape. She's based in Los Angeles.