Owners of the opulent but aging New York Palace hotel is planning to launch a US$100 million renovation works to restore the glory of the historic hotel.
The renovation aims to modernize the Palace's 900 rooms although the works will be done in phases so that guests will still be able to check in and disruptions will be minized.
The New York Palace blends the historic landmark Villard Mansion with a modern 55-story tower. Located at the center of Manhattan in Midtown at the corner of 50th Street and Madison Avenue, it is directly across the street from St Patrick's Cathedral, and a short walk from Rockefeller Center and Saks Fifth Avenue.
The hotel is featured prominently on the CW series Gossip Girl,The star of Gossip Girl, Blake Lively, celebrated her 21st birthday with a flapper-themed party at the New York Palace Hotel in NYC on Sept. 6,Blake’s high school friends and family were among the crowd, along with Gossip Girl co-stars Chace Crawford, Leighton Meester, Jessica Szohr, Ed Westwick, Connor Paolo and Michelle Trachtenberg. Her boyfriend Penn Badgley was there too. James Franco was also on hand, and crooner Michael BublĂ© even sang “Happy Birthday” to Blake.