It’s safe to say any number of New York City hotels would be thrilled to roll out the white carpet when Pope Francis breezes into town for a much anticipated 40-hour touch down.
But following a custom begun in 1979 with Pope John Paul, home base for the Argentinian pontiff on his first visit to New York will be a five-story townhouse on the Upper East Side. Read more
The streak is over, and we’re not talking about Serena.
When President Barak Obama comes to New York later this month for the opening session of the UN General Assembly, he and his considerable entourage will check in at the Lotte New York Palace Hotel, the elegant 55-story glass tower behind St. Patrick’s Cathedral that was renovated top to toe in 2013. Read more
In what seems the latest pop video must-have (see Taylor Swift: “Bad Blood”), Madonna calls in some favors and stocks “Bitch I’m Madonna,” her loopy new vid, with enough famous faces to fill an issue of Entertainment Weekly (or the next Grammy Awards). Nicki Minaj, Beyoncé, Katy Perry, Kanye West, Rita Ora, Diplo, Alexander Wang and Chris Rock pop up along with Madonna’s sons Ricco and David, but they’re just the warm ups. The Standard Hotel at the High Line snaps up the biggest cameo as the backdrop for Madonna’s 4-minute-2-second party. Read more
Along with Canadian Club, the Oyster Bar and the commuter train from Grand Central, New York city hotels figured big in the lives of Don Draper and his Sterling Cooper cohorts. Here’s where they checked in — and what you’ll see today if you check in (or check them out). Read more
Here’s what you’ll see in the lobby at The Carlyle hotel this week, whether you’re in residence for 48 hours like the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge or taking the shortcut from Madison Avenue to East 76th Street like I did last week.
Why did Britain’s First Family of Royals — or their minders — choose the Carlyle over the half dozen or so other Manhattan hotels that offer celebrated travelers a silky mix of privacy, security and splendor? Read more
No hotel has ever won an Oscar. But that does not mean hotels haven’t had close ties with the Academy Awards over the years. Read more
Best in Show 1924, Champion Barberryhill Bootlegger, Sealyham Terrier.
As if Fashion Week wasn’t enough, the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show scampers into town February 10 and 11 at Madison Square Garden. And for the 16th straight year, Affinia Manhattan is putting on the dog (sorry) with its dedicated dog suite and terrace where dogs can be dogs – and a staff member is on hand to clean up the Astroturf.
The Affinia’s puppy love is no fluke. Though pet friendliness is in its DNA – an oversized pet bed, food and water bowls, waste bags, and maps for dog walks are available year round – the hotel has the good fortune to stand across the street from the Garden and moves into high gear for Westminster. Read more
As anyone who hasn’t been in solitary confinement this week knows, February 9 marks the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ first visit to the U.S.
Specifically, it heralds their appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show, an event watched by 73 million people including the 728 in the studio audience.
Not surprisingly, there are hotel connections. Read more
From North by Northwest and Sleepless in Seattle to Crocodile Dundee, it’s hard to imagine a hotel with more Hollywood screen time than The Plaza. Last year alone the hotel racked up vivid cameos in The Great Gatsby and American Hustle. Read more
It’s time for my annual over-the-shoulder look at the year that was in New York City hotels.
If New York felt unusually crowded in 2013 there was good reason. The city hosted 54.3 million visitors, up from 52.7 in 2012 and nearly 20 million more than in 2002.
And while some of them no doubt stayed with friends, relatives and Airbnb, others helped fill the 30 million hotel room nights sold, up 1 million from 2012. The results? Visitors on average paid a pricey $296 a night, and hotels enjoyed an 87.8 percent occupancy rate. Read more