Hotel Into and Review
Central Park, Fifth Avenue, spectacular art, thriving culture, endless shopping, unbelievable dining and lively nightlife – this is New York City. Amid the whirl of excitement you will find The Plaza, a timeless landmarked New York hotel defining the next generation of style. A cultural oasis amid a bustling metropolis, The Plaza continues the tradition of defining luxury through unmatched five star service, with a modern spirit.
Striking the balance between its storied past and limitless future, The Plaza Hotel in New York City – the ultimate luxury lifestyle destination – has emerged from a recent $450 million transformation to reflect a new and contemporary spirit. While traditions remain, such as the opulent grandeur of the Beaux Arts décor and the superb ambience of the legendary Oak Room and Oak Bar, exciting new offerings at The Plaza Hotel New York include the elegant Champagne Bar and stylish Rose Club, as well as an interior Tranquility Garden with reflecting pools, elaborate lighting and exotic foliage. We invite you to visit us and rediscover The Palm Court, New York City's premier destination for afternoon tea. The authentic Palm Court has been lovingly restored to its original grandeur following a $6.5 million dollar renovation. The spectacular re-creation of the Palm Court’s luminous 1,800 square foot stained-glass lay light, like The Plaza itself, continues to contribute to the life, vitality and culture of New York City. The Palm Court is currently accepting reservations via Open Table.
The Plaza Hotel offers 282 distinctive guestrooms, including 102 luxurious suites, which boast the largest square footage of any luxury hotel in New York City. From the sumptuous décor to the impeccable white glove service, The Plaza is an extraordinary hotel that offers every indulgence. For our suite guests, The Plaza is pleased to offer Butler Service 24 hours a day.
Old world luxury and elegance are complemented by discreet placement of the latest technology thoughtfully integrated throughout each room bringing guests high-definition television, wireless high-speed internet access, and a touch panel screen to customize the room environment.
Amenities at The Plaza hotel include the world-class Shops at The Plaza, featuring exclusive boutiques and purveyors of fine food, as well as health and wellness facilities including a Caudalie Vinothérapie® Spa and Warren-Tricomi Salon.
Carved from within the great castle-like landmark, it’s The Plaza’s magnificent public spaces that set it apart as the quintessential grand palace of urban democracy. The opulent Grand Ballroom and Terrace Room have been meticulously restored to their original grandeur. Lavish social and business events continue to be held in these historic landmarks, which are at the heart of The Plaza Hotel's legacy.
Timeless. Captivating. Unforgettable. A seamless fusion of traditional and modern luxury, and a passion for uncompromising service combine to create an experience that is indulgent, exquisite, and truly unforgettable.
Hotel History
The Plaza Hotel in New York City is jointly owned by Elad Properties and Kingdom Holdings, a Saudia Arabia based corporation. It has been managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts since 1999.
It was once said, "Nothing unimportant ever happens at The Plaza." One of America's most celebrated hotels, The Plaza opened its doors on October 1, 1907, amid a flurry of impressive reports describing it as the greatest hotel in the world. Located at Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, this luxury hotel was constructed in the most fashionable residential section of New York City.
The Plaza was the dream of financier Bernhard Beinecke, hotelier Fred Sterry, and Harry S. Black, President of the Fuller Construction Company. They purchased a 15-year-old hotel of the same name on the site. The three men set out to replace it with what is surely one of the most elegant hotels in the world. Construction of the 19-story building (a skyscraper back then) took two years at a cost of $12 million - an unprecedented sum in those days. Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, who also designed the Dakota apartments, the Willard Hotel in Washington, D.C. and The Fairmont Copley Plaza Boston, set about his task to provide all the pomp, glory, and opulence of a French chateau. No cost was spared. The largest single order in history for gold-encrusted china was placed with L. Straus & Sons, and no less than 1,650 crystal chandeliers were purchased.
Originally, The Plaza served as a residence for wealthy New Yorkers. Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Gwynne Vanderbilt were the first to sign the register. For guests who chose to rent on a nightly basis at the time, this New York City luxury hotel's single rooms started at $2.50 per night.
Kings, presidents, ambassadors, stars of stage, screen and sports, as well as business executives and travellers from all parts of the world have gathered and stayed at The Plaza. The Plaza was so well known that Ernest Hemingway once advised F. Scott Fitzgerald to give his liver to Princeton and his heart to The Plaza.
Although The Plaza appeared fleetingly in earlier films, this Manhattan luxury hotel's true movie debut was in Alfred Hitchcock's 1959 classic North by Northwest - the first time a crew, director and cast assembled on site to make a picture. Before then, movies were shot almost entirely on Hollywood soundstages and rarely on location. The Plaza has provided the location for other motion pictures such as Plaza Suite, The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Barefoot in the Park, Funny Girl, Cotton Club, Crocodile Dundee I and II and Home Alone II: Lost In New-York.
Designated a New York City Landmark in 1969, The Plaza is listed on the Register of Historic Places and the only New York City hotel to be designated as a National Historic Landmark.
