New York
The Waldorf Astoria New York commenced the first phase of a renovation conducted by architectural firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and interior designer Pierre Yves Rochon. The hotel, owned by Chinese insurance giant Anbang, has been closed since March in preparation for the reported $2 billion project. Upon completion, which is expected in two to two-and-a-half years, the iconic Art Deco landmark will feature restored public and event spaces, 350 guest rooms and suites—down from its original 1,400 and an earlier estimate of 800 guest rooms following completion of the project—and approximately 350 residences. Owing to its designation as New York City’s largest private interior landmark, the renovation will preserve prized historic items such as its Cole Porter piano, the World’s Fair Clock Tower, the Kennedy Rocking Chair and the MacArthur Desk.
InterContinental Hotels Group and LRR Holdings announced the opening of Crowne Plaza HY36 Midtown Manhattan. Located at 320 West 36th St., the property is a few blocks from the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center and the Hudson Yards neighborhood. Designed by New York-based architecture firm Stonehill Taylor, the hotel showcases a New Modern industrial facade inspired by the surrounding neighborhood’s transportation centers, emulating nearby mega hubs such as Penn Station, the Lincoln Tunnel and Grand Central Station. The 251-room hotel hotel houses two meeting rooms, the Hudson and Midtown Board Room. Other highlights include a bar and retractable skylight roof.
Trump International Hotels Management and the Board of the Trump SoHo Condominium New York announced the buyout of the remaining term of the management and license agreement of Manhattan’s Trump SoHo Hotel. At press time, the transition was anticipated to take place by the end of 2017. A restaurant in the hotel closed earlier this year. Following the buyout, the SoHo Hotel will no longer carry the Trump name or be affiliated with the family.
Massachusetts
Boston’s Kimpton Nine Zero is undergoing a top-to-bottom renovation that will transform its 190 guest rooms and suites, living room-style lobby and 2,400 square feet of meeting and event space. The hotel will remain open during the process, which is scheduled to wrap in late winter 2018 and will include a classic American style that will blend contemporary amenities with antique nuances. Highlights include guest rooms with leather bed frames and Eames chairs, and accessorized by books and dynamic artwork. The lobby will feature rich velvets with metallic finishes and vintage accents such as typewriters and leather-bound books. Nine Zero is located in Boston’s social, commercial and cultural hub at the crossroads of Beacon Hill, Downtown Crossing and the Financial District.
Pennsylvania
Allenberry Resort reopened its doors following a complete one-year renovation. The property is located along the Appalachian Trail in Central Pennsylvania in the village of Boiling Springs. The 75-room Allenberry offers nine reception venues that cater to gatherings ranging from intimate meetings to corporate events and weddings. Highlights include the restored Carriage House, with wall-to-wall windows, the open-air 1798 Terrace that overlooks the grounds and the Creekside Tent, which is ideal for outdoor receptions. Dating to the 1790s, the renovation sought to maintain its historic charm while enhancing the guest experience. Allenberry comprises 20 lodges and cottages dotted across 57 acres, with all interior and outdoor spaces renovated to offer elegant and contemporary amenities. Outdoor adventure opportunities include kayaking and tubing on its creek, hiking the Appalachian Trail, golfing and a variety of seasonal activities at nearby Roundtop Mountain Resort.