A grand transformation of W New York – Union Square has been revealed following a US$100 million reimagination of the 256-key hotel in the heart of New York City.
Housed in the former Guardian Life Building, a Beaux-Arts style property completed in 1911, the full room-to-rooftop reinvention of W New York – Union Square reclaims the hotel’s place as a cultural cornerstone in the city where the brand was born over two decades ago.
Inspired in part by the grandeur and symmetry of Grand Central Station, the Living Room showcases soaring ceilings, intricate moldings, and early twentieth-century charm. The hotel’s iconic grand staircase has been transformed with a mesmerising carpet that appears to drip and pool in a cascade of abstract colours, guiding visitors up its elegant curve wrapped in lush botanicals.
New and coming soon additions include Union Square’s only rooftop bar. Tucked behind the hotel’s iconic marquee sign, the bar offers sweeping skyline views, and a touch of nostalgic glamour, built for golden-hour cocktails and nightcaps.
The hotel’s former subterranean bar has been transformed into an expansive wellness space, FIT, the brand’s take on the signature hotel gym.
Opening later this season, a new seafood brasserie that pays homage to New York, Seahorse, will debut. Led by industry veteran Chef John Villa, the menu offers a refined take on seafood and raw bar classics, tapping global influences while staying rooted in seasonality. Seahorse will be accessed via its own entrance off Park Ave South.
Says George Fleck, Senior Vice President and Global Brand Leader, W Hotels. “W New York – Union Square holds a special place in our global portfolio. It is at the heart of our brand, powered by the pulse of our birthplace, New York City.
“This is where our story began, and this global flagship reintroduction is about more than honouring our legacy – it’s about leading the next chapter of what a luxury lifestyle brand can be.
“This transformation reflects years of global brand work – evolving our design ethos, elevating the meaning of Whatever/Whenever, amplifying emotion per square foot, and embracing an immersive, culture-forward perspective. “
“With deeply layered interiors, dynamic programming, and an unapologetic point of view, this hotel captures everything W Hotels stands for: energy, edge, and our unmistakable signature sense of style, inspiring stories worth sharing.
“It’s a reimagination rooted in the audacious spirit of New York City, and a bright beacon of how W Hotels continues to be a true catalyst of culture on the global stage from Abu Dhabi to Aspen, Barcelona to Bogota, and Sardinia to Sydney. We’re proud to bring this legendary landmark back – not as a replica of what it was, but as a bold expression of what’s next.”
See https://www.marriott.com/en-us/hotels/nycnu-w-new-york-union-square/overview/
