Newly refreshed rooms. A real sense of history. And a tremendous location.
The Hotel Pennsylvania has been one of the top places to stay in New York City for decades, and it shows no signs of slowing down in its 100th anniversary year.
I recently was in town for a night and managed my first-ever stay at the hotel, located on 7th Avenue and 32nd Street; directly across from Madison Square Garden and Penn Station. It may not be the centre of the universe, but darned if it doesn’t feel like it.
They’ve refurbished a number of rooms and have more changes in the works.
Known by the nickname of “The World’s Most Popular Hotel,” The Hotel Pennsylvania is marking its 100th anniversary with the launch of their new ‘Penn Plaza Collection’, a new web site and exclusive celebration offers.
A new Penn Plaza Collection room at the Hotel Pennsylvania in New York City. HOTEL PENN PHOTO
The new Penn Plaza Collection celebrates the traditions of the hotel while incorporating new features and amenities. The property invested in these upgrades and amenities with the goal of improving guests’ experience from the moment they arrive. Modernization comforts include:
• Self check-in/checkout kiosks;
• Complete refurbishment of the rooms from top to bottom;
• Smart Televisions and Bluetooth Speakers, allowing you to stream your own content;
• Communal gathering area on each floor acting as the perfect work-space and lounge.
The hotel has even setup a secret room: On the 12th floor, guests and history buffs can experience ‘The 1919 Pantry’, a visual historical experience of the amenities, services and images from the hotel’s past.
I didn’t have a secret room but I did have tons of space; probably 800-1000 square feet; with a separate bedroom, spacious living area with a sofa, chair and big-screen TV, a big closet and a nice, old-style bathroom with a claw tub and shower.
We had an event on the top floor for our Trippzy app and it was spectacular; tons of natural light and wonderful views of the Manhattan skyline.
“We are honoured to mark our 100th anniversary, a feat not many hotels can claim. All of our modernized comforts and features were created with one person in mind – our guests – who have supported us over the years,” says Eugene Nicotra, Vice President and General Manager of Hotel Pennsylvania. “We look forward to showing our new Penn Plaza Collection to the world and invite everyone to stay with us at the ‘new’ New York’s Hotel Pennsylvania and our perfect location in the heart of New York City. We have more news coming, so stay tuned – here’s to the next 100 years!”
A sleek, stylish common area at the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York City. HOTEL PENN PHOTO
The hotel is known as an iconic property in New York City, acting as Host Hotel status for the Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show, and for being one of a few Manhattan hotels to earn the prestigious ENERGY STAR award, which exemplifies superior energy performance and efficiency.
In 1919, Pennsylvania Railroad built the stately neo-Renaissance-style Hotel Pennsylvania as the largest hotel building in the world’s greatest hotel city – New York. This was the last addition to a chain of luxury hotels operated by the Statler Company. The hotel was designed by the prominent architectural firm of McKim, Mead and White, which also completed landmark properties such as the Waldorf Astoria, the original Pennsylvania Railroad Station, Pierpont Morgan Library, Columbia University and the United States Post Office Building on Eighth Ave. Considered New York’s Grand Dame and place to stay by dignitaries and discriminating travelers, Hotel Pennsylvania hosted many presidential visits.
Bounded on the west by Seventh Avenue and on the north and south by 33rd and 32nd streets respectively, the hotel was erected on a building site measuring 200 x 400 feet. The hotel building has 22 floors from street level to the roof inclusive and three levels in the penthouse. The first four stories are faced with Indiana limestone and treated with Roman Ionic pilasters, with rusticated walls in between. The Seventh Avenue façade contains a magnificent portico of six Ionic columns marking the main entrance. These structures remain intact today, retaining the ambience of a bygone era.
Hotel Pennsylvania is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The room I stayed in recently had several great remembrances of days past.
Originally there were 2,200 bathrooms, 3,537 beds and the world’s first high-rise elevator system. Underground passages connected the hotel to Pennsylvania Station so guests arriving in New York avoided any exposure to inclement weather. Upon opening, the rate for a single room was $3.50 per night. Today, Hotel Pennsylvania remains the fourth largest hotel in Manhattan, with renovations designed to enhance room size making the number of rooms 1,700.
Ellsworth Statler, the prominent hotelier was contracted as the first general manager of the property. Later named Hotel Man of the Century by the American Hotel Association, he is best known for his quote, “There are things that make a hotel famous…location, location, location.” Ellsworth Statler was referring to the Hotel Pennsylvania, which remained the largest in the world until 1927.
The hotel is famous for its grandeur and place in the world of musical entertainment. The renowned Café Rouge Ballroom (considered one of the most popular nightclubs in New York during the late 1930’s and 1940’s) hosted many of the Big Band Era’s musicians. These included the Dorsey brothers, Fred Waring, Benny Goodman, Count Basie, Duke Ellington and the Glenn Miller Orchestra who regularly broadcast “live from the Café Rouge” around the country.
The Hotel Pennsylvania has kept the same telephone number since 1919, which was immortalized in the 1938 Glenn Miller hit “Pennsylvania 6-5000.” This is New York’s longest continually used telephone number.
