NEW YORK—For hopeless romantics, simply uttering “Will you marry me?” over dinner is just not going to cut it. Some spouses-to-be are seeking a next-level experience that is equally unique and memorable. At The Chatwal, a Luxury Collection Hotel, the concierge team plays cupid by helping guests with imaginative, over-the-top ways to declare their love.
From the start, the hotel saw an opportunity to provide a service to further elevate the guest experience. “When hotel guests began to ask for recommendations and assistance to make these arrangements, the menu was inspired and created as a quick reference to encourage creative proposals,” said Pierre Delgado, proposal concierge, The Chatwal. “After orchestrating three proposals in the past year, we saw an opportunity to reach out to the engagement market as couples look to experience elaborate ways to propose, whether it be locally or during a romantic getaway.”
To get this new service off the ground, the hotel and concierge teams collaborated, and referenced past proposals that were successfully executed. Classic New York became the central theme for the proposal menu. Packages range in price from $1,000 to $9,000, not including room rates, and vary in style from casual fun to refined elegance.
“There are seven proposal options with each one showcasing the best of New York and how The Chatwal can make these arrangements seamlessly. The hotel is always looking to enhance guests’ experiences and, through this menu, we are able to design special moments that focus on extraordinary experiences,” Delgado shared.
Guests ready to profess their love can pop the question on a billboard in Time Square; watch a Broadway show and then propose backstage; cruise by the city’s skyline in a private yacht while a French chef prepares a sumptuous meal; or take a carriage ride around Central Park complete with a gourmet picnic and a bottle of bubbly. Others may opt to make the grand gesture via a helicopter ride, walking tour or even a scavenger hunt ending in a flash mob.
For the spontaneous, last-minute requests are welcomed, but some of the more elaborate arrangements require a minimum 72-hour booking window, according to Delgado. Guests wanting to divert from the menu can work directly with the proposal concierge to create their own dream event. “The menu is a guide, and we look forward to the opportunity to tailor a personalized moment our couples will always cherish,” he said.
One of his favorite proposals illustrates the lengths The Chatwal is willing to go to please its guests. “A concierge posed as a street vendor in Central Park and was painting a picture of a fountain. He was set up in the park when the couple strolled by to watch him. As he completed the piece, he spelled out the woman’s name. Shocked he knew her name, she was distracted and it was at that moment her soon-to-be fiancé dropped to his knee and proposed. When she said ‘Yes,’ the concierge had a bottle of chilled champagne ready to toast their engagement. A photographer was also arranged to capture the moment.”
Back at the hotel, there are a variety of ways to keep the post-proposal excitement going. Guests can celebrate their impending nuptials at the Lamb Restaurant, led by celebrity chef Geoffrey Zakarian; sweeten the deal with spa services at the onsite Red Door Spa by Elizabeth Arden; or stay in the room and receive butler service.
The Beatles were right. Love really is all you need. The Chatwal is willing to handle the rest.
—Corris Little