Community Chat

[hckynut]

It's too bad that this property was sold to China. Would rather see a billionaire US business man purchase and renovate this well known prestigious property in NYC. 

hnj

[beach-mom]

This is sad. I've never been there, but what bothers me most is the influence other countries now have with OUR iconic institutions. 

[Burnsite]

I stayed at the Waldorf in Dec. 2001, visiting friends and also attending a professional conference--so I got a very good rate.  I expected a broom closet with a clanging radiator for the miniscule price I pd and got . . . a beautiful view of the Chrysler Building with fresh snow softly falling around it.  

They will save it as a hotel but turning some rooms to apartments (no more cheap convention rates for them).  The St Regis is, I think, now a time-share, either fully or in part.  II developed a real affection for the Waldorf in the 5 days I stayed.   Great location.

A year earlier, with a professional rate for a convention goer, I had a room at the Mark Hopkins in San Francisco . . . and I think they _did_ give me a broom closet.  In San Francisco, and with a comfy bed and a quiet room, I wasn't mad. 

But I was astonished at the Waldorf.  I think I had a deluxe room, not a standard.  But the hotel was lightly populated at the time due to 9/11 and the temporary lull in tourist activities at the time.

[butterfly123]

@LTT1

Yes, that is correct.

[LTT1]

@butterfly123@Burnsite@beach-mom@hckynut@ValuSkr

It bothers me, too, for parts of our very own country to be owned by other countries.

[Hoovermom]

DH and I stayed there five years ago.  As a Hilton Diamond traveller we were upgraded to a suite.  It was gorgeous with all of the gold fixtures, huge bathroom, sitting room and wonderful views.  The lobby itself was an attraction LOL.  Anyway, good memories for me.

[butterfly123]

@LTT1

I was wondering if NYC had rules as to what can be torn apart and gutted since the building is currently a hotel. I also wonder if the Waldorf is considered a landmark.

[Shelbelle]

Back in Aug, 1996, we were on vacay in NYC, one night my teenage son and I wandered into the Waldorf, sat in lobby for a while, then decided to ride upon the elevator to explore the rest of the hotel. We spotted a banques room where the door was ajar, we went in, no one was in there but the room was decorated, and there was a huge banner hanging up, that said, Happy 50th Bday, Mr. Pres., we looked around the room. Next day in the paper was a big article on the party that day for Pres Clinton at the Waldorf, we realized we had literally crashed his party!!

[LTT1]

@butterfly123

I wonder, too, if The Waldorf is considered a landmark? If so, the remodeling would probably have to be within a certain code. : (

[lovinglife]

I thought WA was part of the  Historic Hotels of America (part of the National Trust for Historic Preservation). 

We are a throw away society, where history has little impact on what we do going forward.  If we don't destroy it by war, we destroy it by greed! 

Very sad!