As New York continues its recovery, 2 iconic hotels will soon reopen
New York City is opening back up at a rapid clip.
After weeks of sustained declines in COVID-19 case rates and widespread distribution of vaccines, the city's leaders are ready to begin welcoming tourists back to the Big Apple. Case in point, Broadway, a pillar of New York's economy that's been shuttered since March of last year, will reopen on Sept. 14 of this year.
Another sign of the city's rebirth comes in the form of high-end hotels. There's been a steady stream of luxury properties throughout the city that have reopened their doors over the last few months, including the Park Hyatt New York, Four Seasons New York Downtown and the Mandarin Oriental New York, to name a few.
Now, two more premier hotels in New York are set to reopen their doors to guests in the coming days and weeks. First, The Plaza, perhaps the most iconic New York hotel, will welcome guests once again as of May 20. Shortly after, The Peninsula New York, one of the most exclusive properties in the city, opens on June 1.
The Plaza will have been closed for more than a year by the time it's ready to reopen its doors, but guests can expect the experience to be as perfect as ever. An integral part of the city since 1907, the 282-room hotel has impressed celebrities, dignitaries and other well-heeled guests for well over 100 years. If you are considering a stay, don't miss a glass (or a few) of Champagne during the afternoon tea service at The Palm Court, indulgent treatments at the hotel's Guerlain Spa and so much more.
And to celebrate the reopening, The Plaza will offer complimentary transportation to and from the hotel (up to 100 miles) for anyone staying in any of the property's 29 Legacy Suites.
Nearby, The Peninsula New York opens in June after being closed for 14 months. When it does reopen next month, it will have a few new things to show off to guests, including a new "Life en Route" art installation specially curated to inspire "a feeling of wanderlust and cross-cultural impressions;" a female DJ series that will take place on the hotel's rooftop between June 3 and July 29 and an Artist in Residence program with Dutch artist Peter Riezebos.
The Peninsula will also offer two special reopening packages:
- Rediscover Manhattan: includes daily breakfast, complimentary parking and tickets to a cultural experience like the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) or the Top of the Rock at Rockefeller Center
- Suite Escape: includes daily breakfast, a "New York-themed welcome amenity" and either complimentary parking or round-trip airport transportation in the hotel's Mercedes-Benz S-Class sedan
Urban hotels coming back to life
Many hotels around the country -- and the world -- have been open for the duration of the pandemic, but on balance, most of these properties are found in places where people can reach by car. Think beach destinations in the Southeast or Florida and ski destinations in the West that offer plenty of wide-open spaces.
City hotels, on the other hand, have suffered massively during the pandemic. People simply haven't been visiting crowded urban environments, which meant that numerous hotels in cities across the country have either been closed temporarily or have closed their doors for good.
For hotels located in cities that survived the pandemic, spring 2021 is a busy period for reopenings. In New York, more marquee properties are set to reopen (opening dates based on the earliest day you're able to make a new reservation) this season. Top hotels like the Conrad New York Midtown and The Ritz-Carlton, New York Central Park will open once again on May 24 and June 2, respectively.
Chicago had a number of temporarily closed hotels that have already reopened their doors, including The Ritz-Carlton, Chicago; the Park Hyatt Chicago and the Four Seasons Chicago.
Elsewhere, guests will be able to check-in to hotels including the Conrad Chicago, Four Seasons Palm Beach; Four Seasons San Francisco and San Francisco at Embarcadero; Four Seasons Bora Bora; Four Seasons Bogotá; The Ritz-Carlton, San Francisco and The Ritz-Carlton, Boston by early June of this year.
All of these properties join other high-end hotels that have already reopened in markets around the world, such as the Four Seasons New York Downtown; The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel; the W South Beach; Four Seasons Buenos Aires; Four Seasons Westlake Village in California; Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina and Rosewood Baha Mar.
Bottom line
New York is coming back to life in a big way, and the imminent reopening of two of its most storied hotels makes the recovery all the more exciting.
As we continue to see millions more Americans receive a COVID-19 vaccine each day, we can only imagine that this trend will continue as we move to the summer.
As always, before you make any firm travel plans, consult the hotel you're considering booking to make sure it will be open on your travel dates and which amenities you can expect to take advantage of while you're staying there.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.