Waldorf=Astoria Opens Executive Meeting Rooms

NEW YORK— After a year of reconstruction, the Waldorf=Astoria here opened its new executive meeting center, located on the 18th floor, on Oct. 1 creating an additional 9,000 square feet of meeting space at the hotel. Formerly the Canadian Mens Club, the 18th floor was later converted into office space in 1974 and has remained dormant for the past few years, according to Waldorf=Astoria General Manager Eric Long. The private Canadian Club opened with the hotel in 1893 and closed several decades later when “private clubs fell out of favor,” said Long. After struggling “to find a proper use for the space,” the hotel underwent a $15 million reconstruction late last fall to turn the 18th floor into an executive meeting center. Consisting of 13 rooms, the executive center brings the hotels total meeting rooms to 38, not including its two ballrooms. “We have a program coming here that didn’t think they’d originally fit, because our third and fourth floor meeting rooms were too small. They were about to sign a five-year program with one of our competitors, but out of courtesy they came and looked at the executive center. They just signed all five years [with us].” He noted the 18th floor will be marketed with the adjacent Waldorf Towers and will be accessable from both building’s entrances and elevators. “Architecturally the space is very dramatic,” said Long. “It’s a collection of one of a kind rooms.” —Diana M. Rodriguez