Originally opened as The Commodore Hotel in 1919 and reflagged as The Grand Hyatt New York in 1980, the hotel has played host to many dignitaries, celebrities and guests for many years. The hotels $130 million renovation represents a rebirth and resurgence of this historic hotel and is an important part of the overall renaissance of the Grand Central neighbourhood.

Grand Hyatt New York

Located in Midtown Manhattan, the legendary Grand Hyatt New York has just completed its $130 million renovation. Found at the crossroads of Manhattan adjacent to Grand Central Station, the hotel has had a top-to-bottom renovation that includes 1,306 meticulously redesigned guestrooms and suites featuring world-class artwork, the acclaimed New York Central restaurant, a transformed lobby and mezzanine, multiple event and meeting spaces, revitalised ballrooms and the innovative grab-and-go food outlet, Market.

Transformation of the Grand Hyatt New York features talents by internationally-renowned artists Jaume Plensa and Per Fronth, and design by Bentel & Bentel, George Wong Design and Looney & Associates. The Midtown Manhattan luxury hotel commissioned artists and designers to re-animate and re-energise the hotels public places. Works by sculptor Jaume Plensa, known for his monumental public projects in Madison Square Park in New York, Millennium Park in Chicago and Yorkshire Sculpture Park in the UK, will serve as the hotel lobby’s centrepiece; murals representing snapshots of New York by Norwegian artist per Fronth are showcased in the guestrooms and in the New York Central’s Wine Gallery; and vibrant, colourful panels from the German artist Burghard Muller-Dannhausen can be seen in the New Gallery on Lex event space.

The Grand Hyatt New York

The Lobby – Hints of Easter Island Brought to Life
Guests arriving in the grand lobby on their direct holidays to New York will marvel at the two larger-than-life sculptures by Jaume Plensa,

Grand Hyatt renovated lobby

named Awilda and Chloe, which are reminiscent of the Moai sculptures on Easter Island. Created from the same white macael marble used in ancient Roman columns, one stands in a ‘water wall’ adjacent to the entrance, while the second sits on a white onyx stone plinth by the arrivals and departures area. Plensa created the sculptures to appear to be in a dreamlike state, hoping to encourage the rushed world to stop and take time out to join the dream of people just trying to be happy where they are, when they are at the Grand Hyatt.

Guestrooms and Suites – Evoking the Mood of a Manhattan Residence
The 1,306 guestrooms, including 51 suites, combine refined colours, lush textures and luxuriant artwork evoking the design of a sleek, modern Manhattan residence. Designed by Looney & Associates of Dallas and George Wong Design of New York, the rooms offer a calm sanctuary, far from the hustle and bustle of the city centre below. The majority of the guestrooms were designed by Looney & Associates with rich woods, deeply toned pinstripe carpeting, dramatic

Grand Hyatt guestroom

lighting, all inspired by the concept of a ‘sexy Manhattan apartment’. The 20 VIP Suites were also designed by Looney & Associates and offer two distinct concepts; the idea of a ‘loft’ and the idea of a modern ‘residence’. The Loft Suites are perfect for business travellers with a feeling of masculinity and design elements including espresso-tinted walnut furnishings and opulent lounge areas, while the Residence Suites offer a softer tone and a more neutral feel.
The four Premier Suites, designed by George Won Design, are based on the concept of the ‘pied-a-terre’ and feature two main schemes; uptown and downtown. The Uptown Suites capture the tones of a classic Manhattan townhouse while the Downtown Suites are inspired by the light and airy open lofts of TriBeCa.

The Grand Club and Social Event Space
The Grand Club, designed to resemble a rooftop garden, is a residential-style gathering place for guests, with access to technology, work areas and food and beverages. Designed by George Wong, this modern space is filled with warm wood surfaces, sage coloured walls and retro-industrial metalwork which reflect various elements of nature. Surrounded by a private terrace with picnic tables and oversized lounge chairs, the club comprises of an entry foyer resembling a gazebo, a living room with multiple seating areas, a breakfast room with natural wood and stone surfaces and an airy conservatory.
The hotel has a total of 55,000 sq ft of event space ranging from intimate boardrooms to expansive ballrooms. Gallery On Lex is a 4,400 sq ft event area with a club-like feel featuring colourful panels from German artist Burghard Muller-Dannhausen.

Food and Beverage Options
Designed by Bentel & Bentel, the 6,000 sq ft New York Central restaurant includes a lounge, restaurant and wine gallery featuring WineStation technology, an innovative wine dispensing system allowing guests to taste a variety of different wines. Chef Christian Ragano offers a diverse menu inspired by the flavours of Western Europe while head pastry chef Katzie Guy-Hamilton has an inventive style, blending classic French baking techniques with eclectic New York City taste.
Market is a 24-hour ‘grab-and-go’ outlet located in the main hotel lobby, offering tasty New York treats to hotel guests and the Grand Central neighbourhood.

Take advantage of the many late deals available to New York and experience this amazing hotel first hand.

Have just come across this travel guide for New York and found it very interesting and informative.

The guide includes info on sightseeing, shopping, eating, nightlife and beaches. I have visited New York many times, usually on last minute holidays ( I am a very busy person), and found that after reading this guide there are still places i need to visit and things i need to do!

Trevor Butler set up his first ‘travel’ related business in 2004 and has written many other destination articles with tips and information. I have found these articles both interesting and helpful, hope you do too.

Travel search site Skyscanner reveals the most popular destinations that Brits are heading to for New Year.

Times Square New Year

In the number one position is New York, the only city outside of Europe to feature in the top ten.  The big apple has long been one of the most famous places to see in the New Year, and the weakening US dollar may help explain its popularity.

Times Square is the place to be in the Big Apple if you really want to experience the festive throng and the famed “ball drop”. New York at New Year can be chilly, so wrap up warm and wear comfortable clothing.
The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball is a 12 foot geodesic sphere, weighing 11,875 pounds.  Covered in 2,668 Waterford Crystals and powered by 32,256 Philips Luxeon Rebel LEDS, the ball is capable of creating a palette of more than 16 million vibrant colors and billions of patterns producing a spectacular kaleidoscope effect atop One Times Square.

Times Square Ball

Each year, millions of eyes from all over the world are focused on the sparkling Waterford Crystal Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball. At 11:59 p.m., the Ball begins its descent as millions of voices unite to count down the final seconds of the year, and celebrate the beginning of a new year full of hopes, challenges, changes and dreams.

Statue of Liberty

Take a ride to the observation platform at the top of the 151ft high Statue of Liberty in New York Harbour. See the Wall of Honor on Ellis Island, commemorating over 600,000 immigrants to the United States.

Take the lift up to the observatory on the 86th floor of the 102-storey Empire State Building where you can see for about 50 miles.

Visit Times Square, with the renovated Biltmore Theatre and the world’s largest toy store, with a 60ft Ferris wheel and life-size Barbie house.

Take the Staten Island Ferry from Battery Park for a view of the classic New York skyline, and cruise past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.

Niagara Falls

Sail on the Maid of the Mist to view the awesome Niagara Falls.

Tour the five enormous locks of the Erie Canal on the  Lockport Cave Tour, which travels through a tunnel blasted out of rock in the 19th century, and ends in an underground boat ride.

Visit the International Museum of Photography and George Eastman’s house in Rochester. George Eastman invented the Kodak camera and roll film in 1892.

Woodstock

Relive the days of the 1969 Woodstock Festival, the most famous rock concert in history, now commemorated at the Bethel Woodstock Museum at Kauneonga Lake. Here you will find many art and craft galleries and shops.

Take a tour of Albany’s New York State Museum, the country’s oldest and largest state museum, which portrays the urbanisation of New York City and has lifelike dioramas on Native Americans, gems and birds.

Discover the wonderful Catskill Mountains, from the lush greenery in the south to the unspoiled peaks of the north.

National Baseball Hall of Fame

Visit the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum in Cooperstown, on the shore of Otesgo Lake. Here you will find the Doubleday Field and numerous trading card and memorabilia shops.

Take a tour of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here Egyptian, Roman and Greek Art, along with Oriental paintings, modern art and ancient glass, feature in some of the museum’s many collections.

“New York, New York (So Good They Named It Twice)”

New York

No other city comes close to New York City in terms of population, diversity of culture, entertainment, business and commerce. And yet within a day’s drive you can find beautiful beaches, mountain forests, quaint towns and historical sights.

Long Island, with the seaside resort of The Hamptons, is just a short train ride east of Manhattan and is popular with the native city dwellers.

To the north of New York City there are two major resort areas, the Catskills and the Adirondack Mountains. These are popular for outdoor sports, hiking, camping, hunting, fishing and skiing. Adirondack Park is the largest state park in the USA, covering 6 million acres.

The Finger Lakes region, with 11 slender lakes extending from north to south, is dotted with resorts, campsites, water recreation areas and woodland. This is also New York States prime wine-producing region.

The capital of New York State is Albany, which lies in the Capital-Saratoga region, north of the Hudson Valley. Saratoga Springs has been a leading spa and horse racing centre since the late-19th century.

The Greater Niagara region is home to the state’s second-largest city, Buffalo. This is a major industrial centre and is best known for the 184ft Niagara Falls.

The lakes and rivers of the Chautauqua-Allegheny region are a centre for outdoor recreational activities, Amish communities, Native American reservations and wineries.

The adjacent Thousand Islands-Seaway region boasts a scenic route stretching 454 miles past Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St Lawrence River.

Here are some of the many things to do whilst visiting New York

Manhattan's Chinatown

Visit Manhattan’s Chinatown, a labyrinth of narrow streets, crammed with Chinese stores and restaurants and home to over 100,000 residents. Chinatown extends from Canal Street into Little Italy and the Lower East Side.

Visit upmarket Greenwich Village and Soho, a melting pot for art, literature and music for decades, with plenty of galleries, cafes, boutiques and loft spaces.

Visit the Rockefeller Centre, famous for its wintertime ice skating rink. Tour the NBC Studios, or take a ride to the Top of the Rock observation deck for unobstructed views of the Brooklyn Bridge, the Chrysler Building and Central Park.

Coney Island

Visit Coney Island where you can see freaks and wonders at the circus sideshow, and take a walk along Brighton Beach which is full of Russian shops and restaurants.

Visit the famous Bronx Zoo and stroll in the New York Botanical Garden which covers 250 acres and includes 50 gardens and a landmark conservatory.

Visit the famous Central Park, created in 1856. John Lennon can pay their respects at Strawberry Fields. During summer, the park hosts afternoon and evening concerts.
 

Native Americans

For a bit of exploring visit the national heritage area of the Hudson River Valley. This area was originally inhabited by Native Americans, then settled by the Dutch. A retreat for the wealthy in the mid- to late-19th century, it is now popular year-round for outdoor activities.

Enjoy the watersports in Westchester County which is bordered by the Hudson River and Long Island Sound. Here you will find 40 private and public golf courses, exclusive boutiques and discount malls.

Take lunch at the Culinary Institute of America, one of the world’s great cookery schools. Diners can sample the cuisine at one of the restaurants on its campus, the American Bounty Restaurant, Ristorante Caterina de Medici or Escoffier Restaurant.

Adirondack Park

Visit America’s largest wilderness reserve outside Alaska, the Adirondack Park. Explore miles of sandy beaches, secluded swimming holes, lakes for windsurfing, boating and fishing, plus nine ski areas and thousands of trails for cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

Explore the winter playground of Lake Placid by ski, snowmobile, snowshoe, dogsled or horse-drawn sleigh.

Known as ‘the snowmaking capital of the world’, Hunter Mountain has more than 50 trails on three mountains which cater for everyone from beginners to experienced skiers.

Saratoga Springs

Visit Saratoga Springs, a leading spa and horseracing centre since the late 19th century. Here the streets are lined with regal Victorian mansions. Here visitors can see harness racing, summer polo matches and the country’s most prestigious thoroughbred racing in late July and August. Saratoga Spa State Park has 2,200 acres of woods, manicured lawns, Georgian architecture and mineral bathhouses.