Especially in a city like New York, the unassuming Richard Born- Ira Druckier partnership has to be the quietest-ever hotel success story. The owners of BD Hotels, the management company with 25 hotels and more than 5,000 guestrooms there, have developed what they call white elephants at optimized price points that no one else will do- often projects that were previously injured or with less sparkle. They are aware enough to craft great partner- ships with sizzling operators such as Andre Balasz and Sean MacPherson. They are shrewd enough to be first in line to take advantage of low-cost funds made available to help rebuild downtown after 9/11 and create hip luxury products like the Greenwich Hotel, done in partnership with actor Robert De Niro. And they know their hometown market so well that when they find atypical hotel real estate they are adept at recognizing new opportunities such as the Pod Hotel concept, which they plan to grow nationally and maybe internationally.