Image courtesy of The Conrad
Here at Global Glam Magazine, you asked for the best places to stay during your holiday travels to our beloved city that never sleeps and we set out to curate a memorable list. To start things off, I made my way downtown to The Conrad New York.
By Sophia YiRui Liao
Through a tunnel connecting the hotel and Goldman Sach’s headquarters and past glass revolving doors, I found myself in The Conrad New York’s cavernous lobby. From people strapped in business attire immersed in their computer screens to the Sol LeWitt mural that towered thirteen stories above the atrium level, I realize The Conrad is the beginning and end of modern hospitality. I greet Vildana, the hotel’s Senior Marketing Manager, who had kindly arranged to take me on a behind-the-scenes tour of the hotel. We would start in the atrium lobby and find ourselves sixteen stories above on the rooftop which plays host to the insanely popular Loopy Doopy Rooftop Bar. You have surely seen the traffic of colorful popsicles served in glasses of Prosecco on your Instagram feed during the warmer months. The rooftop is closed for the season but I’d say to book a room anyways. Here’s why.
We first head over to the hotel’s fitness center which houses state-of-the-art machines and offers a view of the bustling streets outside the hotel. Lower Manhattan is a hive of activity so the space is perfect for people watching while you build up the miles. A stunning photograph of what appeared to be bicyclists traversing a winding cliff path caught my eye. Vildana told me that a guest once tried to purchase the photograph and the hotel was able to put the guest in touch with the artist. At this point, I have caught on that contemporary and post-World War II art, reflections of the hotel’s ethos, are a crucial focus of management’s in building guest relations and in offering everyone who passes through a better experience. Vildana tells me that a Goldman Sachs appointed curator had actually selected the whopping 2,000-plus works of art scattered around the hotel. Artwork is always a major component of hotel decoration but the Conrad’s focus on contemporary art seemed to extend beyond interior design; at times, it definitely felt as if I were touring a museum instead of a devastatingly sleek and modern hotel.
Vildana and I end up at the hotel’s vast event space next. Pat Steir’s Topsy Turvy can be seen at the top of a futuristic wooden staircase. The winding staircase serves as the centerpiece of an area encompassing a 600 square feet ballroom built over smaller ballrooms and seven studios ideal for more intimate events. Danny Meyer’s prestigious Union Square Events caters all special events at the hotel so you can be sure that your guests have an elevated culinary experience. Up next are the rooms and our first stop is a corner executive suite. Through a living room, past a bathroom fitted with a rainfall shower and soaking tub and into a private bedroom I go. The room is perfect for business travelers and vacationing couples who desire an upscale but fuss-free stay in the heart of Lower Manhattan. And don’t get me started on the vast walk-in closet which you’ll happily tuck your Louboutins and couture into.
For those of you traveling with family, look into the deluxe suite. It’s a two-room suite which means your little ones can have all the fun they want next door while you cozy up with a fresh cup of espresso in the living room. To keep things interesting, the suite features contemporary artwork and is also outfitted with a separate rainfall shower. When you make your reservation, you can choose which side of the hotel you want to stay in. My suggestion is to always request a Hudson River suite for some incredible views to memorialize your trip to the city. The two-room suite is similarly family-friendly but mature enough for the modern couple to never want to leave.
The Conrad’s DNA is tech-centric but environmentally conscious. An app called MyAway allows you to control the TV from your cell phone and one touch integrated automation allows for easy control of the suite. As evidence of their dedication to sustainability, the Conrad New York houses a green garden and chef’s rooftop garden and was awarded a LEED® “Gold” for New Construction Certification established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI). You’ll find businesspeople lounging in the lobby and having power meals at the New American Atrio restaurant but your family will feel right at home at The Conrad with its kid’s menus and seasonal activities. By selecting one of their carefully curated packages, you can skate with Olympic greats at the Brookfield ring next door or go on a luxury shopping spree at the nearby Westfield World Trade Center. As I ended my tour with a delicious meal of prosciutto pizza made fresh from the stone fired oven at Atrio, I took the longest time leaving and realized that this holiday season, The Conrad is the perfect home away from home.
102 North End Avenue, New York, NY 10282
Telephone: +1-212-945-0100
