NEW YORK— While multi-million dollar capital improvements have become widespread across the lodging industry, each of these major renovations is distinctive in one way or another. The owner of New York’s historic New Yorker Hotel, for instance, is investing $65 million in upgrades at the property, but the work goes beyond simply enhancing guestrooms and public spaces with new furniture and fixtures. In fact, given the current strong lodging market, the property’s owner, the Unification Church, is converting floors in the 40-story building back into guestrooms after having rented them out since the 1970s as office space and college dormitories managed by an outside agency. “At that time the hotel opened in 1930, it had 2,500 rooms and was the largest hotel in the city. Depending on whom you talk to, it might have been the largest hotel in North America,” said the hotel’s executive vp and general manager, Kevin Smith. “With this renovation, we’re gaining 64 rooms, ending up with 910, including 65 suites, many with Hudson River views. But that’s only half the building. So we still have the potential to grow. I believe we’ll eventually end up with about 1,200 rooms.” The new count includes a number of rooms that have been combined. “Many of the original rooms were quite small. By turning 80 rooms into 40, we were able to satisfy guests’ expectations for a greater amount of space today,” said the hotel’s director of sales and marketing, Thomas McCaffrey. A number of suites are located at the top of the building. “We’re calling the top three floors the towers. The 38th floor especially has four corner suites with huge balconies,” Smith said. “They’re the closest we have to presidential suites.” The time seemed right for a major capital infusion, according to Smith. Not only is the New York lodging market surging, but the hotel’s location— at the corner of 34th St. & Eighth Ave.— has turned around in recent years. The area is already a major transportation hub and there are plans to convert a post office a block away into an expanded train station as well as to house a new Madison Square Garden. In addition, plans are moving forward on a long-awaited expansion of the nearby Jacob Javits Convention Center. Structural improvements at the hotel include installing a new heating and air conditioning system and sprinklers for fire prevention. The four-pipe HVAC will allow management to remove the obtrusive in-window air conditioning units that are presently in place. The front exterior of the hotel is getting a face-lift with the building’s granite limestone façade being re-faced and new signage and marquee being added. “We’re re-highlighting Art Deco touches like the elevator doors and are uncovering and restoring the marble lobby floor,” Smith noted. In guestrooms, the hotel is adding new bedding, including pillow-top mattresses; Art Deco-inspired, but modern design touches; new carpeting and wall coverings; and flat-panel high-definition televisions. McCaffrey described the new room look as “a contemporary version of Art Deco.” Stonehill & Taylor, a New York-based firm, is handling both the architectural and design work. Complimentary WiFi has been available at the hotel and will remain in place. The entire project is scheduled for completion by next August. Infrastructure and décor aside, the hotel is also upgrading its service standards. Smith called it “the third prong” of the renovation. “The same people will be here, but we’re working to enhance our culture of service. With an upgraded property, people expect an upgraded level of service and care.” One matter still unresolved is whether the New Yorker will continue to operate as a Ramada Plaza franchise, a relationship that dates to 2000. Ramada Plaza is the top tier of the Ramada International brand, which is part of the Wyndham Hotel Group. “We’ve had a very positive relationship with Ramada over the years, but with this upgrade, there’s some question whether the fit is
