Since opening its doors in 1976, Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, at East 44th Street between First and Second Avenues, has been known for many things. It is the first choice for dignitaries and heads of state visiting the United Nations. Designed by visionary architect Kevin Roche, the building’s stunning gaze-all-day panoramic skyline views over the Empire State Building, Chrysler Building, East River, and five bridges are considered amongst the finest in Manhattan. And it boasts such extraordinary facilities as a swimming pool on the 27th floor and the only indoor tennis court in any New York City hotel.
The hotel will become the benchmark for future luxury properties worldwide. “Millennium UN Plaza Hotel is a distinctive landmark located in the city of New York, which is home to the United Nations Headquarters,” says Kwek Leng Beng, Chairman of Millennium & Copthorne Hotels plc (LSE: MLC). “Our Hotel overlooks the East River and the UN Building that has been the famous signature for the global community’s pursuit of world peace in diversity. The staff of M&C Hotels around the world reflect some of this exciting human diversity. The upgrade of Millennium UN Plaza from the ground up is more than just a physical exercise for us. This will be a transformation that is part of a continuous global process to enhance our hotels internationally to meet the new expectations of our guests.”
The West Tower construction has already begun and when it reopens in the fall, the Tower’s 154 fully-renovated, beautifully spacious rooms and suites, and an exclusive Skyline Club on the 30th floor will showcase a signature design scheme by renowned French interior designer Didier Gomez. Featuring floor-to-ceiling windows and elegant, warm interiors, guest accommodations will combine understated luxury with modern features and amenities to ensure a seamless work environment with all the comforts of home, against a spectacular New York City backdrop.
Guests of the West Tower will appreciate the quiet sophistication of the Skyline Club, complemented by panoramic views of Manhattan and the East River. This private retreat will offer exclusive check-in, personalized concierge services, breakfast, all-day refreshments, evening cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, WiFi, and use of one of the two adjacent boardrooms.
“This iconic structure deserved a transformation of great distinction, far beyond a standard hotel renovation,” states Grace Leo, a global hospitality positioning expert who has been a champion for the project, given her visionary design approach and luxury lifestyle expertise. “Millennium UN Plaza will embrace dignity and refinement as distinguished as the guests whom the hotel welcomes from around the world.”
The hotel’s lobby and public areas will also undergo refurbishment and will feature a new coffee bar. Patrons can enjoy freshly brewed signature coffee and assorted pastries in the morning and an afternoon selection of sandwiches and salads for lunch. Unwind with a glass of wine at the lobby lounge in the evenings.
Scheduled for 2013, Phase II of the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel’s renovation will focus on a new restaurant concept, bar and full lobby renovations. Phase III will see the completion of the East Tower renovation; thereby causing no interruption to the hotel’s day-to-day operations.
“Few New York hotels can compete with our location — close to the action (just a few minutes from Grand Central Terminal, the Broadway Theater District and Madison Avenue shopping), yet outside the frenetic currents of the city. The Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, New York, is more than a great hotel, it’s a sanctuary of style and comfort,” says General Manager Wanda Chan.
Once you take a swim in the late afternoon as the sunset is reflected in the glass walls of the U.N., it’s hard to disagree.
For more information on Millennium UN Plaza Hotel New York, visit http://www.millenniumhotels.com/millenniumunplazanewyork