Other
Ian Schrager
Hotelier
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
Hotel-making in Ian Schrager’s work treats the lobby, room, bar, and circulation path as social equipment, using hospitality, art, and lifestyle cues to turn properties into places where people gather rather than simply stay.
The Making
Hospitality as a social format is the through-line: Ian Schrager studied at Syracuse University in 1968 and earned a law degree from St. John's University School of Law in 1971 before co-founding Studio 54 in New York City, which operated from 1977 to 1980 and established a nightlife model built around crowd mix, room energy, and cultural positioning. Hotel development entered the work in 1984 with the co-founding of the Morgans Hotel Group, where Schrager remained until 2005. The same concern for atmosphere, audience, and identity carried through the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City, 40 Bond, and 50 Gramercy Park North; the Delano Hotel in Miami from 1995; the Mondrian Hotel in West Hollywood from 1996; London's St. Martins Lane Hotel and Sanderson Hotel in 1998; and the Clift Hotel in San Francisco and the Hudson Hotel in New York City in 2000. Since 2005, that practice has continued through the Ian Schrager Company as developer, manager, and brander, with PUBLIC Hotels from 2011 and a partnership in the EDITION Hotels.
Present Day
Current hotel, residential, and mixed-use work at the Ian Schrager Company keeps development, management, and branding under one practice. At PUBLIC Hotels, Ian Schrager retains full creative authority, applying the stated idea of "luxury for all" and the belief that "there’s nothing more boring than being in a room with just one kind of person" as operating principles for audience, access, and atmosphere.
The Record
Industry recognition includes Ian Schrager’s inclusion in Global 100 in Hospitality (2022).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Ian
What is Ian Schrager's present role?
Ian Schrager is owner and creator of PUBLIC Hotel.
Where did Ian Schrager train or study?
Ian Schrager trained at Syracuse University and St. John's University School of Law.
What recognition has Ian Schrager received?
Global 100 in Hospitality (2022).
