Introducing a.kiosk, the first-ever kiosk concierge service from a newsstand

by Le Anne Linday, Editor

The global luxury hotel residences AKA Rittenhouse Square (located at the corner of 18^th and Walnut Streets) launched the first-ever kiosk concierge service from the sidewalk newsstand.

What does this mean? Residents staying at AKA Rittenhouse Square (which just underwent an extensive renovation with refreshed interiors) can now indulge in newsstand candy bars and drinks by contacting the front desk.  The charge will be applied to the bill, and the doormen will deliver the goods. 

It was the request from a world-renowned singer to stock his AKA suite with Diet Cokes and Snickers that gave Larry Korman, the visionary behind AKA, the leader in hotel residences, the idea to offer a kiosk concierge service from the sidewalk newsstand that sits outside AKA Rittenhouse Square on the corner of 18^th and Walnut on Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia. To kick off Kiosk Concierge, the newsstand is temporarily being rebranded “a.kiosk powered by AKA” with a three-sided AKA wrap and electrical power from AKA.  

“The marketplace has a misconception about luxury,” said Larry Korman. “The affluent do not only buy expensive. Everyone loves Snickers and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.

It helped that Larry was already friendly with the stand’s owner Mrs. Ha, who brings him homemade kimchi and dumplings.  

Mrs. Ha was born in Korea, has a daughter who graduated from Princeton University, a son who is in finance and another daughter who sometimes works with her at the newsstand and in Mrs. Ha’s dry-cleaning businesses. 

Larry Korman, President of AKA Hotel Residences and Co-CEO of Korman Communities, is also the Board Chair for the Philadelphia Film Society, producers of the Philadelphia Film Festival (click for T&T coverage).

In addition to Korman’s involvement with the Film Society, he is also a Board Member of Philadelphia’s Film Commission, and is involved with the Tribeca Film Festival in New York and the British Arts, Film, and Theater Association in Los Angeles. He is also a member of the Board of Overseers at the schools of both Drexel Hospitality and Penn Design, and initiated a full-time internship program between AKA and Drexel.

About AKA     

AKA, a division of Korman Communities is a growing portfolio of 12 innovative properties in prestigious metropolitan locations, including New York City (AKA Central Park, AKA Times Square, AKA Sutton Place, AKA United Nations, AKA Wall Street and AKA Tribeca), Los Angeles (AKA Beverly Hills and AKA West Hollywood), Philadelphia (AKA Rittenhouse and AKA University City), Washington, D.C. (AKA White House) and London (AKA Marylebone). Spacious accommodations offer the privacy of luxury residences integrated with hotel services and amenities. All suites include top-of the-line contemporary furnishings; luxurious bathrooms; a.sleep, AKA’s custom Italian bedding; meticulous housekeeping; premium cable. While each property is unique and has distinct resident and guest offerings, all feature AKA brand standards and amenities, such as exclusive lounges, eateries, a.fitness workout centers outfitted with TechnoGym equipment, business centers, complimentary meetings spaces, complimentary high-speed Internet access in suites and throughout the properties, en-suite dining, 24-hour front desk assistance and dedicated doormen. In addition, residents at most of AKA’s properties can enjoy a.cinema, AKA’s intimate screening room.