Once described as “the greatest of them all” by Hilton’s founder Conrad Hilton, Waldorf Astoria New York, US, has reopened its doors after one of the largest preservation projects in the city’s history.

The property shut in 2017 for remodelling and while the hotel and residences have now started welcoming guests, the remodelled Guerlain Wellness Spa will be revealed in September.

The original Waldorf hotel was built at the corner of Fifth Avenue and 33rd Street in 1893, connected to the additional Astoria Hotel next-door four years later via Peacock Alley. The hotel was forced to relocate when the site was razed to make way for the Empire State Building.

Waldorf Astoria New York reopened on Park Avenue in 1931 and has welcomed every US president as well as legends including Marilyn Monroe, Elizabeth Taylor, Queen Elizabeth II, Cole Porter, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly and Prince Rainer III of Monaco.

Guerlain Wellness Spa

The 2,787sq m Guerlain Wellness Spa will be the largest of all Guerlain’s spas when it opens.

It will, once again, be managed by Trilogy Spa Holdings. Trilogy operated the spa at the property between 2011 and 2017, when the re-modelling began.

Undertaken by interior design firm Wimberly Interiors, the re-designed space will feature contemporary styling, blended with Art Deco and Parisian influences in line with the style of the French cosmetics brand.

The spa will be on the hotel’s fifth floor, with 16 treatment rooms (including two VIP double suites). There will also be an expansive fitness centre. On the ground floor, Guerlain will have two boutiques offering skincare, fragrance and make-up.

The 372 Waldorf Astoria Residences New York – located in storeys above the hotel – will offer exclusive ‘at-home’ spa experiences curated by a dedicated wellness concierge and with access to a wellness area separate from the hotel spa with a 25-metre pool, dedicated fitness centre and two treatment rooms for Guerlain treatments.

David Stoup, chairman of Trilogy Spa Holdings, told Spa Business exclusively, "For me, the reopening of Guerlain Wellness at Waldorf Astoria New York is a celebration of Trilogy's role in forging a grand partnership between two icons of hospitality, beauty and wellness.

"A lot has changed since the hotel and spa closed for renovation 8 years ago, including a new vision for how spa, wellness and retail seamlessly integrate into each facet of the property," added Stoup. "With more space dedicated to spa and wellness and two brand new Guerlain boutiques, our operation is bigger and more complex. It requires a management team that utilises proprietary data and wellness technologies to create both a world-class guest experience in the spa and world-class consumer experience in our Guerlain boutiques.

"Our 'secret sauce' remains the same: hiring great people and providing them with the resources and tools they need to succeed," continued Stoup. "For Guerlain Wellness at Waldorf Astoria New York, that means hiring extraordinary technicians that deliver flawless service to every guest and management that can harness our data and technology to align our teams and drive the bottom-line performance our partners have come to expect Trilogy to deliver."

Treatments

The Guerlain Wellness Spa will offer exclusive treatments inspired by the celebrated events and icons in the property's past.

The Spirit of Achievement – This is a deep massage accompanied by breathing exercises that invites guests to reconnect with themselves, named after the property's iconic statue.

Rhythm of Wellness – Piano music is played during this treatment that is inspired by the many musicians who often stayed at the hotel to compose and play their next pieces.

Like Clockwork – Named after the famous clock that is a central feature at all Waldorf Astoria hotels, this treatment is accompanied by an audio track of synchronised sounds to promote deep relaxation.

The spa will also introduce two exclusive programmes.

One Hour Power – This is a targeted care programme, designed to address specific guest preferences such as enhancing skin radiance, improving sleep or promoting weight loss.

Wellness Programmes – Ranging from three to six months, these are longer programmes for guests to address individual goals – again including a focus on healthy skin or improving sleep quality.

Diane Davody, international spa business director for Guerlain, said: “By partnering with Waldorf Astoria New York, we’re creating a revolutionary wellness destination featuring our Guerlain skilled experts paired with our innovative technology. Our bespoke wellness programs are designed to provide New Yorkers, guests and residents profound renewal and total wellbeing for body, mind and soul.”

Renaissance in luxury hospitality

Architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) worked with the city's Landmarks Preservation Commission to align the required adaptations to the hotel with the grandeur of its original Art Deco architecture. This involved in-depth digital archive research to ensure new design decisions didn't deviate from the character of the building.

Pierre-Yves Rochon has reimagined the hotel’s interiors. This has meant reducing the rooms from 1,400 to 375 guestrooms and 372 new Waldorf Astoria Residences. The residences’ interiors are by Jean-Louis Deniot.

The property’s redesign has improved access, created more space and introduced new pathways for natural light. For example, the reduction in number of rooms means that the hotel now offers some of the largest guest rooms in Manhattan, with the majority measuring more than 570sq ft.

Prospective residents can choose turnkey furnished residences that have been furnished by contemporary furniture designers B&B Italia.

Guests can also now enter the hotel via three entrances, including a new discreet covered entrance on 49th Street between Lexington Avenue and Park Avenue.

The reception area has a newly constructed fireplace made with the same marble that appears in the columns of the hotel’s storied cocktail bar Peacock Alley (named after the connecting corridor between the two original hotels on Fifth Avenue). The bar itself has received its own upgrades, including a new cocktail programme curated by award-winning mixologist Jeff Bell.

The hotel’s iconic murals, some of which date back to the 19th Century, have been restored by ArtCare Conservation. Other decorative features have been preserved, including the famous “Spirit of Achievement” statue by Icelandic artist Nina Saemundsson, which returns to its spot atop the Park Avenue entrance. The 1893 World’s Fair Clock and Cole Porter’s piano have also returned to the property.

Modern features such as integrated lighting systems, automated curtains and custom-designed furniture refresh the spaces.

British couture designer Nicholas Oakwell, creative director of NO Uniform, has also designed a new functionally tailored wardrobe for hotel staff to set a new tone for the property’s hospitality experience. The outfits, complete with sharp three-piece suits, are rooted in the building’s heritage and inspired by the city’s fashion scene.