The Titanic, The Bloody Mary, Dali And Beyond

A landmark of timeless traditions, The St. Regis New York has a wonderful, eclectic history.

- Steve Williams

The early hours of April 15, 1912. After escorting his pregnant wife Madeleine and her nurse into a lifeboat, and realizing there were not enough lifeboats, Colonel John Jacob Astor IV freed his beloved Airedale dog Kitty from the kennels, and calmly sat in the lounge of the RMS Titanic smoking a cigar, awaiting the inevitable. Was he contemplating what he had achieved in his 47 years? His diverse businesses, his military career, his inventions, his science fiction novel, his hotels?

I was thinking about that tragic night while traveling to Astor’s most iconic hotel, The St. Regis New York.

My wife and I were booked into The St. Regis New York for five nights, having stayed at many other St. Regis properties. There are now 61 St. Regis hotels across the world, including 28 in Asia Pacific. It was wonderful to be in residence at the flagship hotel, and one of the oldest luxury properties in NYC.

The incredible history of this classic Manhattan landmark is difficult to ignore – from the moment you walk in the revolving doors into the imperious Italian marble lobby with vaulted ceilings and ornate chandeliers, gold-leaf cornices and Italian marble, you are immersed in Astor’s timeless legacy. The St. Regis New York has so many stories. Imagine who has walked these floors.

A Rival to Europe’s Finest

In the early 1900s, Astor was a co-owner of the Waldorf Astoria with his cousin, but had a vision to create an even more luxurious and modern hotel. This was to rival Europe’s finest, a lavish urban haven for his family and friends, “as convenient and as luxurious as the most expensive private house in the city.” The guest rooms and suites still have a residential aesthetic and timeless allure.