Accor has announced refurbishment plans for its Sofitel New York property on West 44th Street in Midtown Manhattan.
The hotel originally opened in 2000 and features 398 rooms including 51 suites – some of which feature outdoor terraces with views of the Chrysler or Empire State buildings.
The project will encompass “all facets of the hotel”, including rooms, the lobby level, meeting spaces, guest lifts and corridors.
Works are expected to commence later this year, with the hotel’s public spaces set to be completed by autumn 2025.
Accor said that the new designs would draw inspiration “from the significant impact of L’Art Décoratif on the city – from the monumental beauty of architectural landmarks that sculpt the skyline to the influence of French fashion and art movements on daily life”.
The property’s entrance will retain its original stonework, with black marble stone and wood at the bell desk, and an art installation which “creates a stunning light contrast with depth and dimension”.
The redesigned lobby area will also feature a custom sculptural lighting installation “inspired by the graceful movement of a ballerina’s tutu”, while the carpet design of the meeting and events space has been influenced “by the bold Art Deco patterns of Parisian fashion houses such as Balmain and Gaultier”.
This month it was also announced that the former Conrad New York Midtown on West 54th Street would be leaving Hilton’s portfolio to join Marriott’s Luxury Collection.
The refurbishment of the Sofitel New York coincides with Sofitel’s 60th anniversary this year, and Accor said that a repositioning of the brand under CEO Maud Bailly would see “a significant number of refurbishment projects”, including the recently renovated Sofitel Montréal Carré d’Or and Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square properties.
BNP Paribas launched the Sofitel brand in 1964 with the opening of the Sofitel Strasbourg Grande Île, and it was acquired by Accor in 1980.
The brand has around 120 properties worldwide, including Sofitel Sydney Wentworth which is currently undergoing a AUD $60 million refurbishment project.
Sofitel Sydney Wentworth unveils AUD $60 million refurbishment plans
Commenting on the news Maud Bailly, CEO of Sofitel, MGallery and Emblems, said:
“We are excited to announce the refurbishment of the iconic Sofitel New York in the same year as our 60th anniversary, marking a new era for Sofitel.
“With around 26 per cent of our global network undergoing or clearly committed to renovations, including Sofitel Legend The Grand in Amsterdam, and Sofitel Sydney Wentworth, we are actively elevating our guests’ experiences.
“This year, we are opening five new Sofitel hotels worldwide and have already announced two new locations—Sofitel Jaipur Jawahar Circle and Sofitel Legend The Mozart Prague.
“Our goal is to bring a little piece of France everywhere, supported by our dynamic pipeline of 30 hotels set to open by 2027. We also see great potential to expand our French flair in North America, beyond our six existing Sofitel properties.
“At Sofitel, we believe in a luxury that also serves a greater purpose. We are committed to a positive impact on our industry, aiming for 100 per cent of Sofitel hotels to be eco-certified by 2025 and ensuring that more than 30 per cent of our general managers are women by the end of 2025.”
To read our recent four hour guide to New York’s Midtown Manhattan, see: