The iconic Waldorf Astoria New York has officially reopened its doors on Tuesday, following a notable and extensive renovation. This landmark hotel had been closed to the public since 2017.
The newly redesigned Manhattan hotel now features more spacious accommodations, wiht a total of 375 hotel rooms and 372 condominiums. This represents a reduction from its previous 1,400 guestrooms. The Waldorf Astoria states that the majority of its redesigned rooms and suites now exceed 570 square feet,positioning them among the largest in Manhattan.
Guests can now make reservations at the hotel’s three distinct dining establishments. Lex Yard, an American brasserie with a seating capacity of 220, is helmed by Chef Michael Anthony. The meticulously restored Peacock Alley lounge is also open, as is Yoshoku, a japanese restaurant that offers kaiseki-inspired cuisine.The hotel’s extensive meeting and event spaces, totaling 43,000 square feet and including the renowned Grand Ballroom, are scheduled to reopen on September 1st. Additionally, a 20,000-square-foot Guerlain Wellness Spa is slated to open at a later date.
The Waldorf astoria is a prominent luxury brand within hilton’s portfolio. Hilton CEO Chris Nassetta highlighted the New York hotel’s meaning, referring to it as “the original luxury property and the place where luxury service was perfected.” Nassetta further emphasized its global importance, stating, “In manny ways, the Waldorf Astoria New York is the most important hotel in the world.”
Originally opened in 1931, the Waldorf astoria was famously described by Hilton founder Conrad hilton as “the greatest of them all.” The restoration project involved the preservation of 62,000 square feet of interior space designated as landmark status. Hilton has characterized the undertaking as one of new York City’s most significant preservation and adaptive-reuse initiatives to date. Key ancient elements have been meticulously preserved, including original murals and the iconic Waldorf Astoria Clock, which dates back to the 1893 Chicago World’s fair. A Steinway piano, once owned by Cole Porter, has also been preserved and is now a feature of the restored Peacock Alley.
the Waldorf Astoria was acquired by China’s Anbang Insurance Group from Hilton in 2015 for $1.95 billion.However, the renovation work was impacted when Anbang was taken over by the Chinese government in 2018 amidst a corruption inquiry. The property is currently owned by China’s Dajia Insurance group.