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On September 13Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What amenities are provided for business travelers at The Plaza?
For over a century, The Plaza Hotel has been the ideal location for the who’s who of CEOs, politicians and dignitaries. Offering an all-encompassing business travel experience, The Plaza provides every necessary luxury desired by travelers, including world-class amenities, sumptuous décor, impeccable white-glove service, and the latest in in-room technology and comforts. Each guestroom and suite at The Plaza also functions as an individual in-room business center that includes wireless Internet, laptop-compatible flat-screen televisions, iPads that provide touch-screen access to personal butler and concierge assistance, and a wide range of hotel and travel services. Additional business travel features include: complimentary 24-hour business center access, 24-hour white-glove butler service for suite guests, 24-hour in-room dining, power breakfast at The Palm Court includes complimentary use of iPads and daily periodicals, coffeemakers upon request, The Palm Court Chef’s Table for business lunches, Rolls-Royce Ghost courtesy car (based on availability, 10-block radius), complimentary Internet access and local telephone calls (with Fairmont President's Club membership), Fairmont Fit provides adidas workout apparel and shoes (with Fairmont President's Club membership), suit pressing and shoe shine upon request, fitness center La Palestra, and a Clef's d'Or Concierge team to assist with restaurant reservations, tickets for events and more.
If you have time to spare, enjoy the best that The Plaza and our surrounding area has to offer. After you close the deal, treat yourself to a treatment at the Caudalie Vinothérapie Spa with Caudalie Under an Hour. Central Park is our backyard. Join front desk agents Hugo and Bill for Running with the Guest, an early-morning run in Central Park every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 6:30 a.m. Take a walk up Madison Avenue or down Fifth Avenue for world-renowned shopping. -
On August 8Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What should I pack for a trip to New York City?
If you are coming to New York City during the high season, expect to attend galas and other formal events or dinners. Bring elegant clothes for these events, but for the day-to-day walking that you will have to do, bring sturdy, all-weather apparel that will serve you well whether you are hurtling among the crowds in Times Square or coming back from a late dinner near your hotel in the cold of a December night. Pay special attention to the shoes you bring, as you will depend on them for a lot of the walking. -
On August 8Raphael Pallais answered the question:
Where can I go to watch sports in New York City?
Madison Square Garden is the central venue for all sports, from boxing to hockey to basketball. It’s the world’s most famous arena, where Rocky Marciano dethroned Joe Louis and where all the big hockey games have been played. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
Is there a jogging route near The Plaza Hotel?
Central Park is The Plaza Hotel's backyard, offering many options for joggers. There are three optimal places to run in Central Park:
1. Park drives. Circling the entire park, the drives provide three long-distance routes: 6.1 miles, 5.2 miles or 1.7 miles, or shorter distances, if you cross the park at a number of scenic locations.
2. The Reservoir. A soft surface, the Reservoir track is 1.58 miles around and offers some of the best skyline views in the park and many scenic opportunities. In spring, cherry trees alongside the track are in bloom, and in summer, the evaporating water cools the surrounding air.
3. Bridle paths. There are three conjoined soft-surface bridle paths to choose from. The Reservoir loop, adjacent to the Reservoir, totals 1.5 miles, the North Meadow loop totals 1.1 miles and the southern spur totals 1.5 miles. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
Is brunch offered at The Plaza Hotel on the weekends?
Yes, there are many options for brunch within the building. The Palm Court is the traditional location for brunch at The Plaza Hotel, while The Plaza Food Hall by Todd English offers a new option for a more modern dining experience. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What kind of entertainment is offered at the bar at The Plaza Hotel?
The Plaza Hotel was a legendary venue for musical performances throughout the 20th century, showcasing a wide variety of talent. Bob Fosse, Lesley Gore, Ethel Merman, Miles Davis, Eartha Kitt, Liza Minnelli and Duke Ellington are some of the names that have performed at The Plaza. In keeping with this tradition, every Wednesday and Thursday night, The Rose Club hosts live jazz performances by the Kat Gang Band and Lapis Luna. DJ Brian Christopher spins on Friday nights. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What are the beds like at The Plaza Hotel?
The Plaza Hotel is known for its incredibly comfortable beds — plush mattress, crisp linens and cloudy-soft pillows — so much so that our guests often remark that they are hard to get out of and that it was the best night’s sleep they’ve ever had. We’ve received such great feedback that now mattresses, pillows and linens can all be purchased to take home at The Plaza Boutique. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What cool in-room technology does The Plaza Hotel have?
The Plaza Hotel has the honor of being the first hotel in the world to offer in-room iPads that guests can use to control the room environment (temperature and lighting) as well as access an array of guest services. At the touch of a screen, guests can order in-room dining, communicate directly with the concierge, request a wake-up call, schedule turndown service and much more. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
How many guest rooms and suites does The Plaza Hotel have?
The Plaza Hotel has 282 guestrooms, 150 of which are suites with the largest overall square footage of any luxury property in New York City. The rooms were all renovated in 2007 during the building renovation and restoration. Our specialty suites are The Royal Terrace Suite and The Royal Plaza Suite. The Royal Terrace Suite is a 2,200-square-foot two-bedroom duplex suite on the top floor with stunning views of Central Park and an original fireplace. It also boasts a 400-square-foot terrace with magnificent city views. The Royal Plaza Suite is our version of a presidential suite, a 4,400-square-foot spread on the fourth floor of the building. This three-bedroom suite overlooks Fifth Avenue and the Pulitzer Fountain. The suite has 13-foot ceilings, a 12-person dining room, a great room with grand piano, a fitness room, a chef's kitchen and a library. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
Does The Plaza Hotel have a guest loyalty program?
Since The Plaza Hotel is managed by Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, guests may participate in The Fairmont President’s Club loyalty program. Benefits include: complimentary Internet access, complimentary local calls, complimentary shoe shine, daily room delivery of a local or national newspaper, Fairmont Fit (in-room delivery of adidas shoes and apparel), a private reception desk offering express check-in and checkout, and a personal preferences profile. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
When was the last room renovation completed at The Plaza Hotel?
The Plaza Hotel went through a $450 million renovation and restoration from 2005 to 2008. During this time, the hotel was closed and the entire building went through a basement-to-roof reconstruction. The Plaza is a U-shaped building — part of it (the 59th Street and Fifth Avenue sides) was converted into private residences, while the 58th Street side remained a hotel. The entire infrastructure of the 100-year-old building was brought to the most up-to-date standards while all of the landmarked spaces were meticulously restored. -
On June 11, 2012Raphael Pallais answered the question:
What do we love most about The Plaza Hotel?
Five things we love most about The Plaza Hotel are:
1. All things Eloise. The Eloise Suite, designed by celebrated fashion designer Betsey Johnson is our tribute to our favorite (and most precocious) resident, Eloise. Resplendently decorated in an Eloise-approved palette of pink and black, it includes a signature Plaza chandelier fitted with pink-tipped lights, candy-striped walls, a white zebra print carpet, a king-sized bed with a sparkly pink headboard and custom-designed Eloise linens, and Eloise’s name scrawled in neon lights affixed to the wall above. The suite is equipped with a disposable Eloise camera so guests may snap photos of their stay, Eloise DVDs and books, an Eloise tea set, and Eloise robes and towels.
2. Afternoon tea at The Palm Court. A famous tradition at The Plaza, the afternoon tea blends an innovative menu with a formal tea to provide guests with a balance of service and flavorful cuisine.
3. Our Central Park backyard. It has miles of running and walking paths, fields for picnics, a carousel, a marionette playhouse and one of the few places in New York where you can see the change of seasons.
4. The Plaza’s rich history with movies and pop culture. Alfred Hitchcock’s North by Northwest was the launch of The Plaza’s movie career in 1958. Since then, The Plaza has become one of New York City’s most popular movie locations and the set for films such as Barefoot in the Park, Plaza Suite, The Way We Were, The Great Gatsby, Arthur, Sex and the City, Home Alone 2, Sleepless in Seattle, Crocodile Dundee and Bride Wars. The Plaza has also played host to many memorable moments in history: the Beatles’ first U.S. press conference and first trip to America, Truman Capote’s Black and White Ball, and the debut of modern jazz with performances in the Persian Room by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Duke Ellington and Billie Holiday.
5. The Plaza family. The Plaza is a special place for visitors to New York, but is also just as special to the people who work here. We have scores of colleagues who have made The Plaza their home away from home for many years. Our longest-standing colleague, a server in The Palm Court, has been a loyal employee for 41 years.
Chef Concierge
The Plaza Hotel
New York, NY, USA
Raphael Pallais is the Chief Concierge at The Plaza Hotel in New York City. Born in Nicaragua to a French-Nicaraguan father and French mother who was the stepdaughter to famed poster artist Cassandre, Pallais’ family moved to Paris when he was 5 and settled in the 8th Arrondissement, now seat to all that is high fashion and hospitality in Paris. He has been a concierge since 1988. Prior to that, Pallais dabbled in everything from poetry to carpentry, editing magazines, and managing an antiques dealership business in New Orleans. He lives in Manhattan with his American wife, son and daughter.
