Height Of Hospitality

Lotte Hotels & Resorts lures guests with the ultimate in comfort and luxury.

- Ilona Kauremszky

IN NEW YORK CITY, one of its grande dame hotels quite arguably reached a new pinnacle.

The revered New York Palace, more aptly known as The Palace, made its opulent debut during the 1980s when the “Queen of Mean,” Leona Helmsley, opened the 55-story tower atop a city heritage landmark in Midtown Manhattan.

Chattering tongues wagged. Headlines roared. Notoriety followed.

Over the years, a coterie of celebrity guests, wealthy tycoons and the most powerful world leaders imbibed inside the storied palace bedecked in gold finishes, hand carved ceilings, polished marble floors and a grand staircase worthy of a Hollywood movie set. The King of Pop, Michael Jackson, was a known regular. “His jacket was inspired by the bellmen at The Palace,” says David Shenman, director of sales and marketing, Lotte New York Palace, recalling MJ’s star-studded epaulette uniform.

In 2015 LOTTE Hotels & Resorts, a Korean company part of the conglomerate The Lotte Group, acquired the 909-room luxury property on Madison Avenue for a reported $805 million, transforming the hotel into the Lotte New York Palace (pronounced Loh-tey). A further $140 million redesign put the hotel back on the map, giving it a facelift.

The Lotte Group, established in 1948, is the fifth-largest business group in South Korea. The consortium consists of more than 60 business enterprises, among them duty-free shops, food and beverage and retail, with a crop of hotels under its Hotels and Resorts division.

Shenman adds, “Lotte purchased this hotel to show 10 million New Yorkers and 60 million visitors what Lotte stands for,” describing the brand new to America but extremely well-known in Korea.