The Americas

The Waldorf Astoria, one of New York’s most iconic hotels, is set to close its doors for up to three years while much of the hotel is converted into luxury condos.

 

 

The landmark hotel, located on New York’s prestigious Park Avenue, will close in the Spring of 2017. The hotel’s new owners, China’s Anbang Insurance Group, plan to transform almost three quarters of all rooms into luxury condominiums.

 

 

Famous for being a celebrity hot spot and an icon of glamour, The Waldorf Astoria was the world’s tallest hotel from when the current building opened in 1931 until 1963.

 

 

Many of the hotel’s suites have been named after famous faces who either stayed or lived in the hotel such as the Cole Porter Suite, The Royal Suite and The Churchill Suite.

 

Here at Waldorf inside the amazing #elizabethtaylor suite at @waldorfnyc

A photo posted by Spa Chicks On The Go ® (@spachicksonthego) on Jun 25, 2016 at 11:47am PDT

 

The building was bought by the Chinese Insurance group for US$1.95 billion in February 2015, a sum that was a record price for a U.S. hotel at the time. the development is expected to cost another $1 billion on top of what they have already spent.

 

 

When the hotel reopens in 2020, the remaining 300 to 500 rooms (right now there are over 1,400 bedrooms) will have been upgraded to modern levels of luxury. If you plan to visit before the hotel closes next spring, be sure to check out the new Golden Girls theme cafe that plans to open later this summer.