The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection Welcome Back Guest with Brand new Food and Beverage Concepts

NEW YORK (June 9, 2022) - Today, The Algonquin Hotel Times Square, Autograph Collection welcomes back guests after closing its doors for a complete renovation of all public spaces. With more than a century of illustrious and unconventional history, The Algonquin Hotel, now managed by Highgate, debuts a new Lobby, Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge and Oak Room, as well as brand-new food and beverage concepts.

As New York City’s oldest continuously operating hotel, The Algonquin, which opened in 1902, provided plenty of historical inspiration for architecture and interior design firm Stonehill Taylor.  The firm, which prides itself on its storytelling, emphasized narrative design to revitalize one of the most anticipated hotel reopening’s in New York City. From the composition of My Fair Lady by Lerner and Loewe in one of its rooms to the establishment of The New Yorker, several of the hotel’s notable moments were woven into the design narrative.

“We referenced the sophistication of this special period in New York City and the hotel’s history with design motifs that nod to the cultural icons and personalities of the Roaring 20’s who once called the hotel their second home’, said Sarah Duffy, Principal of the Interiors Division at Stonehill Taylor. “To give the design its full effect, we harmonized richly textured furniture, velvet drapery, theatrical lighting and historical art pieces throughout the hotel.”

LOBBY AND RECEPTION

The renovation of The Algonquin is a confluence of old and new. An expansive, open lobby welcomes guests upon their arrival with original vaulted ceilings, woodwork and Corinthian-style columns outfitted in a fresh, brilliant ivory paint that brightens the room and is an emotional reveal to visitors and New Yorkers alike. Striking modern elements, such as new light fixtures and wall sconces, complement the hotel’s original Beaux-Arts architecture. The new design details accentuate the historic elements of the property previously lost in the cavernous spaces of the hotel.  To the right of the main entrance, the reception area features a new, sleekly designed desk with a curved, golden stepped base, hidden lighting and topped with blue and red veined marble. Behind the desk, a custom 3D art piece created from pages of books that belonged to hotel guests has been installed, further honoring past visitors.

The reception area would not be complete without a new home for the hotel’s most beloved resident, its orange tabby cat, Hamlet VIII. The hotel has become synonymous with the various resident cats it has housed since the 1920s, when legend has it a stray cat wandered into the hotel and was taken in by hotel staff, who named it after famed hotel guest and Broadway actor John Barrymore, in honor of his greatest stage role. A private seating area featuring custom-made bookshelves and playful openings for guests to interact with Hamlet sits across from the reception area.

BLUE BAR RESTAURANT & LOUNGE

Originally conceived by John Barrymore, who famously quipped that actors looked best under blue lights, Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge has welcomed patrons since the repeal of Prohibition. In a nod to the cocktail culture of yesteryear, made infamous by the collective Round Table witticisms, the updated menus will enliven classic beverages rooted in New York tradition and lore. Each drink is paying homage to mixologists, political and social figures and Algonquin legends dating back to the 1920’s.  A robust world wine program and tap cocktails will pair perfectly with a modern interpretation of classic bar dishes focused on sustainability and shareable items.

Relocated for the fourth time in the hotel’s history, now the focal point of the Algonquin lobby, Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge’s signature indigo lighting remains a theatrical design element, creating a dramatic ambiance, complemented by backlit shelves that radiate powder blue and champagne-colored hues.  The surrounding velvet banquettes and custom rugs in deep royal blue provide intimate spaces to people watch or settle in for an evening of old New York glamour.

Blue Bar Restaurant & Lounge is divided by landmarked columns and theatrical crushed velvet drapes, reminiscent of Broadway’s curtain calls.  The back of the restaurant can be sectioned off for private, catered events and The Algonquin is planning to revive the “Salon Spirit” of the space by booking local singers, dancers, burlesque performers, poets and authors to create new legendary experiences.  The new space, in deference to the original and iconic Algonquin Round Table group of creatives, including Dorothy Parker and Alexander Woollcott, features a circular marble table illuminated by a chandelier inspired by the iconic velvet ropes that once kept the press and fans at bay. Through an exclusive partnership with the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, the space also features the American cartoonist’s framed sketches of the Round Table personalities. Framed screens on either side of the bar will feature a rotation of classic and contemporary Hirschfeld artwork.

THE ‘OAK ROOM’ AND MEETING SPACE

The Algonquin’s private event space, The Oak Room, has been expanded to 1,650 square feet with the ability to host groups of up to 105 people seated in theater style. If needed, the room can also be divided into two rooms, perfect for gatherings of groups of up to 40 people. The newly designed venue maintains the room’s traditional oak wall paneling, refreshed and decorated with additional Hirschfeld pieces and paired with brilliant white accents to create playful movement in this contemporary meeting space, while still retaining The Oak Room’s traditionally warm feel.

On the hotel’s second floor, two meeting rooms have been updated with new, eight-seat boardroom tables in each and carpeting featuring patterns inspired by stacks of books. Adorning the walls are photos of Helen Hayes, known as the “First Lady of American Theater” and whose namesake theater neighbors the hotel on the same block. In the library, two bookshelves are filled with books signed by their authors. For decades, the hotel collected these books — and for an author, it would be considered an honor if their book was featured in the hotel’s collection.

“We are so excited to mark a new chapter for this iconic New York hotel,” says Willis Loughhead, General Manager of The Algonquin Hotel. “We look forward to inviting guests to experience its re-envisioned spaces that have been transformed with a fresh, modern take on a classical design that pays homage to the hotel’s storied past and the theatrical and literary characters who frequented the hotel in the 1900s.”

BOOK A STAY

To celebrate the reopening and redesign of Times Square’s most historic and iconic public hotel spaces, The Algonquin Hotel is offering rates starting from $319, based upon availability. For more information, or to make reservations, call (212) 840-6800 or visit www.algonquinhotel.com.

About The Algonquin Hotel, Autograph Collection

The Algonquin Hotel, Times Square, Autograph Collection opened November 22, 1902. The hotel is the oldest and longest operating in New York City and is located on historic Club Row on West 44th Street. The 181-room property is known for its rich history, famous clientele over the years and prime location just one block from the lights of Times Square and steps from the shops of Fifth Avenue. The legendary hotel underwent a complete transformation of its public spaces in 2021, introducing a reimagined lobby, Blue Bar and its private event space, The Oak Room. Hamlet is the current feline in residence and continues The Algonquin’s tradition of having a house cat since the 1920s. Instagram: @AlgonquinNYC. The Algonquin Hotel, 59 W 44th Street, New York, New York 10036. www.algonquinhotel.com.

About Highgate

Highgate is a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company widely recognized as an innovator in the industry. Highgate is the dominant player in major U.S. gateway cities including New York, Boston, Miami, San Francisco and Honolulu, with a growing footprint in Europe, the Caribbean and Latin America. The hospitality forward company provides expert guidance through all stages of the property cycle, from planning and development through recapitalization or disposition. Highgate has a proven record of developing its diverse portfolio of bespoke lifestyle hotel brands, legacy brands, and independent hotels and resorts with contemporary programming and digital acumen. The company utilizes industry-leading revenue management tools that efficiently identify and predict evolving market dynamics to drive outperformance and maximize asset value. With an executive team consisting of some of the most experienced hotel management leaders, the company is a trusted partner for top ownership groups and major hotel brands. Highgate maintains corporate offices in New York, Dallas, Los Angeles, Miami, Seattle, Waikiki and London. www.highgate.com.

About Stonehill Taylor

Stonehill Taylor is a hospitality-focused architecture and interior design firm, which takes a contextual approach to designing destinations. Stonehill Taylor-designed hotels are inspired and have distinct reflections on each project's location, space, history, and culture. The firm's distinguished portfolio of hotels from across the United States includes: TWA Hotel, Ace Hotel New York and Brooklyn, the Graduate Hotel Roosevelt Island, Renaissance New York Chelsea, The Industrialist Hotel in Pittsburgh, and the Limelight resorts in Snowmass and Aspen. Stonehill Taylor is at the forefront of sustainable design, developing projects that are conscious of their impact on local communities and the world such as The Crosby Street Hotel and The NoMad Hotel. Among the renowned hospitality brands and developers with which the firm has worked are GFI Capital, Intercontinental Hotel Group, Firmdale Hotels, Marriott International, and the Sydell Group. For more information, visit: www.stonehilltaylor.com

About Autograph Collection Hotels

Autograph Collection Hotels advocates for the original, championing the individuality of each of its 200+ independent hotels located in the most desirable destinations across more than 35 countries and territories. Each hotel is a product of passion and a personal realization of its individual founder’s vision, making each hotel singular and special:  Exactly Like Nothing Else. Hand-selected for their inherent craft and distinct perspectives on design and hospitality, Autograph Collection hotels offer rich immersive moments that leave a lasting imprint. For more information, please visit  www.autographhotels.com, and explore our social media channels on Instagram, Twitter, and  Facebook to be inspired by immersive moments that are #ExactlyLikeNothingElse.  Autograph Collection Hotels is proud to participate in Marriott Bonvoy™, the global travel program from Marriott International. The program offers members an extraordinary portfolio of global brands, exclusive experiences on Marriott Bonvoy Moments and unparalleled benefits including free nights and Elite status recognition. To enroll for free or for more information about the program, visit MarriottBonvoy.marriott.com.