The Plaza Hotel in Midtown Manhattan will close for at least four years beginning next January to repair and restore its landmark facade, according to Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, the hotel’s operator.
Details regarding cost of the work or exactly what the work would consist of were not disclosed, but a statement from the hotel read: “Understanding the unique place in New York City’s architectural heritage and cultural history it holds, The Plaza Hotel is advancing plans for repair and restoration works to its landmark-protected façade. The undertaking reflects the complexity of maintaining a property of such architectural and historical significance, with careful consideration given to preservation requirements and the building’s long-term care, as well as the safety of our guests, employees, and the wider community.”
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts is owned by France’s Accor.
The 18-story hotel opened in 1907 and has stood for more than 119 years. Since 2018, the hotel has been owned by the Qatari firm Katara Hospitality.
The most recent top-to-bottom overhaul ran from 2005 to 2008 under Elad Properties, which bought the hotel for $675 million. The building was in poor condition before the work. A 2005 report described about 30 of its 805 rooms as unusable because of water damage, and staff set out buckets near the Palm Court during heavy rain.
Elad originally planned to convert every guest room into a condominium. The hotel workers’ union opposed the plan because it stood to lose 900 jobs, and preservationists also objected. A deal brokered with then-Mayor Michael Bloomberg kept 282 hotel rooms, down from 805, and created 181 apartments.
Fairmont signed on to operate the hotel in 2005. Architect Thierry Despont redesigned the Palm Court in 2013, keeping to the room’s original look. The hotel closed again from March 2020 to May 2021 during the coronavirus pandemic. That closure was not a renovation, and the hotel received deep cleaning and routine upkeep.
Movies filmed at the hotel include “Home Alone 2,” “Bride Wars” and “The Great Gatsby.” In “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York” (1992), Kevin McAllister, played by Macaulay Culkin, checks into the hotel with his father’s credit card.
