LXR Luxury Resorts, the new high-end chain owned by Blackstone Real Estate Advisors, is launching a sub-brand. The group will transform two of its urban properties — the Righa Royal in New York City and the Bel Age in West Hollywood, CA — into the London NYC and London LA.

Besides the name change, the hotels will receive total makeovers in design, architecture and food and beverage. The transformation team includes British designer David Collins and celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, who will open his first U.S. restaurants in both hotels. The London LA will have two outlets by Ramsay, as well as a Golden Door Spa.

Company officials say the recast properties will offer “an unencumbered sense of luxury with casual ease.“ Designer Collins is known for combining boutique design elements with European influences. Collins and LXR will also collaborate with Waterworks to create signature bathrooms for both hotels.

The two hotels remain open during the renovation process. The London NYC will debut this fall, while the Los Angeles project will be complete in spring 2007.

Blackstone created LXR last August as it finalized its acquisition of Wyndham International. The company cherry-picked 14 of Wyndham's best properties and its Golden Door Spa brand and joined them with the five hotels in its Boca Hospitality Collection. Blackstone subsequently sold the franchising and management rights to Wyndham to Cendant Hotel Group.

In addition to the soon-to-be London properties, the LXR collection includes such notable hotels as The Boulders in Arizona, The Peaks in Telluride, CO, Boca Raton Resort in Florida and the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico.