“To reopen or not to reopen?” hotel cynics have wondered about the Waldorf Astoria New York for years. (do not have myselfof course. I am an eternal optimist and believed that I would recover. cough. ) But now, the Waldorf Astoria New York finally has a clear path to a reopening date.
The storied ultra-luxury hotel is now accepting reservations for December 10, 2025, after closing for a multi-year renovation costing more than $1 billion. The reopening will feature a complete refurbishment of 375 guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant overseen by Chef Michael Anthony, and the return of the hotel’s famous Peacock Alley Cocktail Lounge.
But it’s also a big feather in Hilton and its corporate cap. luxury finish extension of the hotel food chain.
“This is a labor of love,” Dino Michael, Hilton’s senior vice president and global head of luxury brands, said of the Waldorf renovation in an interview with TPG this month at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, France. It was a tough job,” he said. “I think when people go, they’ll see why it took so long. They’ll see the details, the silver leaf, the gold leaf, the restored mosaics, the marble, the paintings, and they’ll be like, Okay, I get it now. Ta.”
But it’s not just the Waldorf Astoria outpost in New York City that keeps Hilton busy in the luxury space. Hilton plans to open additional Waldorf Astoria properties in Costa Rica. Osaka, Japan. And next year I’ll be in Shanghai. Candace D’Cruz, Hilton’s vice president of luxury brands in Asia Pacific, told TPG at ILTM that Waldorf Astoria could have up to 50 hotels around the world in the next two to three years.
Conrad plans to add hotels in Athens and Hamburg, Germany next year, and LXR Hotels & Resorts plans to expand to Casablanca, Morocco in 2025. The expansion comes amid a flurry of acquisition and partnership deals at Hilton, including a new partnership with Hilton. Small Luxury Hotels of the World and, nomad We have established the brand as a luxury lifestyle product that represents Hilton.
daily newsletter
Get rewarded in your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers and get breaking news, in-depth guides, and exclusive deals from TPG experts.
“It’s been a long time coming,” Faysal Jaffer, global head of LXR Hotels & Resorts, said of Hilton’s broader luxury business. “So this is kind of the journey we’ve been on to really change the perception of luxury.”
But growing up isn’t easy. Hilton management must separate hotel owners from what competitors Marriott, Hilton and IHG are offering brand-wise.
“They’re passionately promoting it all over the world. It’s a beauty pageant,” Michael said. “So you’re competing against other brands.”
It looks like the pitch is working. At another point at ILTM, Small Luxury Hotels of the World leaders said more than 80% of their properties are now participating in the new Hilton partnership. They see value in gaining more exposure and bringing in new types of customers from the industry. hilton honors orbit.
Hilton’s luxury line appears to be on track to reach the stratosphere in the new year.
Related books:
