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.
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 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. |
| 5X | New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Valuable dining and food-related credits
- Flexible rewards with airline and hotel transfer partners
- Multiple travel and purchase protections
- No foreign transaction fees
- Access to Amex Offers for additional savings (enrollment required)
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 $8,000 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.
- New! Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotel stays booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked through AmexTravel.com, the Amex Travel App, or purchased directly from airlines.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid car rentals booked through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App and cruises booked and paid through AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- Pay It® lets you tap in the American Express® App to quickly pay for small purchase amounts throughout the month and still earn rewards the way you usually do. Plan It® gives you the option to split up big purchases into equal monthly payments with a fixed fee. You’ll know upfront exactly how much you’ll pay.
- Updated! $120 Dining Credit: Earn up to a total of $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the Gold Card at Grubhub (including Seamless), Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, The Cheesecake Factory, and Wonder. This can be an annual savings of up to $120. Enrollment required.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year at over 10,000 qualifying U.S. Resy restaurants after you pay for eligible purchases with the American Express® Gold Card. That’s up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: Earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin’ locations. Enrollment required.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Enjoy up to $120 in Uber Cash annually with your Gold Card. Just add your Card to your Uber account and you'll get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an Amex Card for your transaction.
- New! As an American Express® Gold Card Member, you can enjoy complimentary Hertz Five Star® Status. Enjoy benefits like skipping the counter at select locations, adding an additional driver at no additional cost*, and vehicle upgrades**. Benefit enrollment and Hertz Gold+ registration are required. *Additional drivers must meet standard rental qualifications and must be a spouse or domestic partner to qualify as complimentary. Other additional drivers subject to fees. **Benefits are subject to availability and vary by location. Additional Hertz program Terms and Conditions including age restrictions apply.
- Take advantage of a $100 credit towards eligible charges* at over 1,300 upscale hotels worldwide when you book The Hotel Collection through AmexTravel.com or the Amex Travel App **. *Eligible charges vary by property. **The Hotel Collection requires a two-night minimum stay.
- Book your travel through the Amex Travel App with added peace of mind – backed by American Express® service and support. Only for American Express® Card Members.
- Whenever you need us, we're here. Our Member Services team will ensure you are taken care of. From lost Card replacement to statement questions, we are available to help 24/7.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.