“Will it reopen or not?” Hotel experts have been thinking about the Waldorf Astoria New York for years. (No MeAbsolutely. I’m an eternal optimist who always thought it was coming back. Cough.) But now, the Waldorf Astoria New York finally has a clear path to reopening.
After being closed for several years following a more than $1 billion renovation, this multi-story, ultraluxury hotel is now taking reservations for December 10, 2025. The re-opening coincides with 375 overhauled guest rooms and suites, a signature restaurant overseen by Chef Michael Anthony, and the return of the hotel’s renowned Peacock Alley cocktail lounge.
But it’s also a major accomplishment for Hilton and her Extension at the end of luxury Hotel food chain.
“It’s a labor of love,” Dino Michael, senior vice president and global head of Hilton’s luxury brands, said of the Waldorf renovation in an interview with TPG at the International Luxury Travel Market in Cannes, France, this month. “I think when people go, they’ll realize why it took so long. They’ll see the details, the silver leaf, the gold leaf, the recreated mosaics, the marble, the paintings, and they’ll be like, ‘Okay, now. We understood it.”
But it’s more than just the Waldorf Astoria outpost in New York City that keeps Hilton busy on the luxury front. Hilton plans to open additional Waldorf Astoria properties in Costa Rica; Osaka, Japan; And Shanghai next year. Candice D’Cruz, Hilton’s vice president of luxury brands for the Asia-Pacific region, told TPG at ILTM that Waldorf Astoria could have as many as 50 hotels around the world in the next two to three years.
Conrad plans to add hotels in Athens and Hamburg, Germany next year, while LXR Hotels & Resorts will expand to Casablanca, Morocco in 2025. The expansion comes amid a flurry of acquisitions and partnership deals for Hilton, including a new partnership small luxury hotels of the world and a deal to expand crazy Brand within Hilton’s leading luxury lifestyle offering.
daily newspaper
Reward your inbox with the TPG Daily newsletter
Join over 700,000 readers for breaking news, in-depth guides and exclusive deals from TPG’s experts
“It’s taken a long time,” Faisal Jaffer, global head of LXR Hotels & Resorts, said of Hilton’s broader luxury game. “I mean, it’s kind of a journey we’re on to really change the perception of luxury.”
But development is not easy. On the brand front, Hilton leadership has to woo hoteliers, breaking away from competition from Marriott, Hilton and IHG.
“They present it around the world with all the excitement and it’s a beauty pageant,” Michael said. “You’re working against other brands.”
The pitch appears to be working. On a separate note from ILTM, leaders of the world’s small luxury hotels noted that 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 Hilton Honors Class.
It appears Hilton’s luxury liftoff is on track to hit the stratosphere in the new year.
Related reading:
