Terry Trucco

The Grand Hyatt New York’s Top-to-Bottom Renovation Reaches the Finish Line

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Last year the Grand Hyatt New York, in the throes of a massive renovation, strung holiday lights from the construction scaffolding. This year the scaffolding is history, and a towering Christmas tree constructed from glass balls brings on the cheer.

A $130 million renovation is worth cheering – in part because it’s finished (the work unfolded in phases over three years). But the changes are smart, embracing nearly every inch of this midtown behemoth. “We’ve modernized,” said Mark Pardue, general manager, at a party celebrating the new building.

What they really did was un-Trump the place. Read more

Terry Trucco

The Algonquin Gets Set to Close for Refurbishment in Early 2012

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Historic hotels have their charms – the evocative architecture, the whiff of time travel, the (often) dazzling out-of-the-past guests lists. But there’s nothing charming about historic plumbing, which could be one reason the Algonquin, New York’s oldest operating hotel, is closing for four months of renovations beginning on January 1, 2012. Read more

Terry Trucco

At Long Last — A New Look For The Marriott Marquis Lobby

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Good-bye, power suits. Hello, 21st century.

Earlier this month the Marriott Marquis unveiled its new lobby, centerpiece of its $39 million renovation. As befits a big hotel almost three decades old and 1,900-plus rooms strong big changes are on view in the sprawling 8th floor John Portman atrium lobby, punctuated by colorfully lit elevator cars whizzing up and down. Read more

Terry Trucco

More Light (for now) at Le Parker Meridien, or What Happens When They Knock Down the Building Next Door

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For a short time, you can see Le Parker Meridien as it hasn’t been seen in years. Or to put it another way, the south side of West 57th Street between Sixth and Seventh Avenues looks like a wide smile with a tooth missing. Read more

Terry Trucco

Is The Hotel Check-in Desk Dead — And Does It Matter?

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The massive, inquisition-style check-in desk, once as basic to hotels as beds, pillows and running water, occupies a spot high on the endangered amenity list. But so, in some cases, do check-in staff members. Read more

Terry Trucco

A First Look At The Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers’ Renovated Rooms

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Some renovations are the hospitality equivalent of an out-patient procedure – new bed dressings, curtains, carpeting and TVs. Others are tantamount to a quadruple bypass — deep-dish metamorphoses that entail messy stuff, like ripping out showers, furnishings and climate systems. Read more

Terry Trucco

The Finish Line’s in Sight for the Grand Hyatt New York’s Big Renovation

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We’ve followed the Grand Hyatt’s three-year march into the 21st century since it began, and after what we saw on a recent visit it’s official – the glass and metal behemoth nudging Grand Central Station is edging closer to the finish line, shedding the last vestiges of shoulder pads, Dynasty and other creaky 80s trappings. Read more

Terry Trucco

It Won’t Last Forever: In The Midst of The Sheraton New York’s Much-Needed Renovation

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The 1,781-room Sheraton New York Hotel and Towers, a classic midtown skyscraper, is in the midst of a $150 million makeover.  And not a moment too soon from what we saw on a recent visit. Read more

Terry Trucco

The Paramount Tweaks its Signature Lobby — Again

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Last year Time Square’s Paramount hotel underwent major surgery.  And not a moment too soon.  Once quirky and cool, the Paramount was conceived in the early 1990s by hotelier Ian Schrager and designer Philippe Starck as the hotel equivalent of Target, offering chic on the cheap. A decade later, cheap had trounced chic, and the place was a dirty, neglected mess. Read more

Terry Trucco

The Royalton’s Un-extreme (Visual) Makeover — Or Did They Really Do Anything to the Place?

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Hotels are notorious for tardiness when it comes to everything from opening their doors to refurbishing the lobby. But not the Royalton. Read more