Nobu Hospitality has built upon its long-term partnership with Thailand-based Asset World Corp Public Co. Ltd. (AWC) to develop two luxury Plaza Athenee hotels in New York and Bangkok.
As part of the collaboration, AWC and Nobu will jointly develop two heritage buildings to open the two flagship properties.
The existing Hotel Plaza Athenee New York, a freehold prime asset located on Upper East Side on 64th Street, will be developed into Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa New York. This will be Nobu’s first hotel in New York.
In Thailand, the heritage East Asiatic Company (EAC) Heritage Building, located by the Chao Phraya River, will be developed into The Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa Bangkok. Both hotels are slated to open in 2026. “With our shared vision in creating unique experience to customers and developing sustainable values to all stakeholders, AWC has found the ideal partner for our special flagship projects. We are very excited about the development of these two unique projects, the Hotel Plaza Athenee New York, an award-winning property and one of the best hotels in New York for many consecutive years,” said Wallapa Traisorat, CEO and president, AWC.
AWC and Nobu will work to preserve the original structures of the buildings.
This announcement comes almost a year after AWC signed an exclusive agreement with Nobu in July 2022 to open the first Nobu restaurant in Thailand by this year on the top floor of The Empire. The Empire is AWC’s mixed-use office complex located in the central business district of Bangkok.
Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa New York
The hotel will comprise 145 keys (with suites featuring indoor and outdoor glassed terraces and gazebos), a townhouse with exclusive service, a traditional Japanese Onsen spa and a wellness center.
The luxury hotel originally opened as The Alrae Hotel in 1927 as an apartment hotel before being named Hotel Plaza Athenee, after the famous Hotel Plaza Athenee in Paris. The hotel closed in 2020 after a federal judge struck down the hotel’s insurance claim to recover the money lost during the pandemic.
Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa Bangkok
The hotel will offer ultra-luxury hospitality and an F&B experience. The dining experience will deliver an East meet West concept, integrated under the River Journey concept. Registered as a historical site, the EAC building was founded by Danish mariner and entrepreneur Captain Hans Niels Andersen in 1884. Andersen was also the founder of the EAC.
The hotel will be an addition to the other AWC projects along the Chao Phraya River.
The hotel will offer a Nobu cruise boat for bespoke private events.