Luxury Travel Advisor - June 2008 - (Page 27)

Plan ahead during the Tribeca Film Festival, which runs from late April through early May each year. We had heard that Suite 42H at the Waldorf Towers (www.waldorfastoriahilton. com) had undergone a major refurbishment and redesign; however, we weren’t quite prepared for the grandeur of the $1.6 million re-do. The two-bedroom suite, which shares the 42nd floor with the Duke and Duchess of Windsor Suite, is just plush, with sumptuous Italian fabrics, Persian carpets, custom furniture and hand-painted murals. We thought it would be ideal for a fabulous dinner party or an elegant business meeting, but we used it for a lovely get-together with dear family members and it served our purposes just fine by creating an intimate environment with a true residential feel. The moment you step into the suite's circular foyer, you know you’re in for a treat. The marble-lined entry leads straight to a living room, which is very regal, old New York, yet graced with a couch you just want to sink into and never leave. On one end of the room is a stately desk, which would allow a businessperson to easily set up shop while comfortably surveying the entire living room scene. Another outlet from the foyer leads to a hallway that gives way to one of the most romantic guest bathrooms we’ve ever seen; its maroon and gold wallpaper is gracefully illuminated by a golden light, which casts a warm glow on even the most fatigued visage. Keep walking and you’ll find your way to the butler’s pantry, which also houses a treadmill and an artfully hidden stacked washer and dryer. (There’s also a private staff entrance; butler service can be arranged upon request at an additional cost.) Along the same hallway is a full working kitchen, plus a staging area for grand entertaining; there’s a wet bar, a wine fridge and a generously sized countertop. It’s all a great behind-the-scenes prelude to the huge dining room, which has to be one of the loveliest dining venues in all of Manhattan. The dining table seats eight comfortably. If your high-net-worth client does indeed WALDORF TOWERS' SUITE 42H underwent a reserve Suite 42H for a social soiree, she’ll find there’s plenty of privacy should she need to escape the crowd, for the master bedroom has a separate boudoir that divides it nicely from the living room. It also leads to the master bath, which has his-and-her sinks across from each other, both with posh amenities that prove to be an embarrassment of riches. The master bedroom is enormous and gently decorated with cream and offwhite furnishings. A second, equally private bedroom is more masculinely adorned; it has a good working desk and a smaller bathroom. All told, it’s a true retreat from the rest of the suite. We hear another connecting room and bath can be added on request. Note that, throughout the 2,500 square feet of Suite 42H, there are 12-foot-high ceilings and what probably amounts to more closet space than most Manhattan residents will ever see in a lifetime. The sweeping views of the city are to die for; we especially loved the view of the Chrysler Building from the boudoir. Security at the Waldorf is as tight as that of any hotel you’ll ever book; it houses the official Presidential Suite, where every president since the Herbert Hoover era has stayed. We suspect Suite 42H would be equally secure for your special client or head of state. (Note: Frank Sinatra and Cole Porter have both stayed at the Waldorf Towers, which is a boutique property adjacent to the Waldorf=Astoria.) Joel Freyberg (212-872-4983), executive director of The Waldorf Towers, is your personal contact should you wish to secure the suite. Contact Chef Concierge Michael Romei (212-872-4718) to make special arrangements for your client; we hear that he and his team are experts at purchasing clothing, toiletries and other amenities for repeat guests from their favorite stores prior to their stay. Romei was once asked to puppy-sit a guest’s dog and to speak to it only in French because it didn’t "understand" any other languages. He was also asked to arrange for life-sized figures—in dark chocolate—of a recently married couple staying at the hotel. Note: If your VIP wants a truly special experience to complement the elegance and opulence of Suite 42H, they can request the four-course Presidential Tasting Menu, to be enjoyed en suite. Preparation of the meal, which is available to all Towers guests, is overseen by Chef John Doherty; the experience also includes butler service. $1.6 million redesign (living room, opposite). THE MASTER BEDROOM in Suite 42H is adorned with ultra-luxury fabrics (right). www.luxuryta.com June 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 27 http://www.waldorfastoriahilton.com http://www.waldorfastoriahilton.com http://www.luxuryta.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - June 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Paris Shanghai New York Takeover Hotels Townhouse Galleria Florida Spas BVI Bliss Athens, Greece Rainforest Excursions Nigel Page The Pulse Jetset Report Just Back On Location Sightings Agent Access Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - June 2008

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