As New York City claimed the unwanted title of epicenter for the COVID-19 crisis, Governor Andrew Cuomo called for private and public sectors to come together to alleviate supply constraints by providing complimentary housing for medical personnel. Luxury New York hotels stepped up with the Four Seasons on East 57th Street leading the charge.
A Luxury Icon
Located on the prestigious “Billionaires’ Row” between Park and Madison Avenues, the Four Seasons exudes extravagance. Designed by architect I.M. Pei, this 52-story landmark hotel showcases modern art-deco design at its finest. Typically, rates start at $1,200+ solidifying the property’s luxurious image. But we aren’t living in typical times these days and neither is the Four Seasons.
Today, this dreamy property delivers something far more important than dreams. It provides a much-needed place of refuge for the city’s healthcare workers. These frontline warriors face difficulty at every turn. Medical personnel who are New York City residents worry about returning home at the end of a shift and infecting family members. Making the difficult decision to leave home to enter the epicenter of COVID-19, health workers from other states often do so at their own expense. Knowing a comfortable bed awaits at night helps all these workers get through the tough days.
Transformation for Safety
When luxury turns practical, things look a bit different. Nurses donning N95 masks greet guests by taking their temperature and quizzing them about symptoms and handwashing. There’s no indulging in bespoke cocktails at Ty Bar or savoring signature dishes at The Garden. Don’t bother working on your best elevator pitch either. You will be ascending the floors on your own. But if you’ve just worked a 12+ hour shift in the coronavirus wing of the hospital, and all you crave is a comfy bed, the Four Seasons delivers.
Four Seasons Hotel New York owner, Ty Warner, and his team rapidly mobilized to transform the iconic property into a safety-focused facility. “Under the guidance of Dr. Robert Quigley, we were able to transform the hotel and properly train all employees working at the property in a matter of days,” says Rudy Tauscher, General Manager. “In accordance with these enhanced safety protocols, we’ve created as low-risk of an environment as possible for both employees and guests.”
For now, the legendary Four Seasons 5-star service focuses on keeping guests and hotel staff safe. Keys are placed in envelopes and left on a table for check-in. Minibars and housekeeping are suspended. Nightly turn-down service with that coveted little piece of chocolate has disappeared. Replacing the usual amenities are extra towels and a bottle of hand sanitizer.
As Tauscher explains, “This is uncharted territory and we are so proud of our teams – everyone has come together to support this effort in unprecedented circumstances.”
Meanwhile in Brooklyn
Visit the independently owned Wythe Hotel’s website these days and you’ll find this message. “Our hotel is currently closed to the public as we provide housing for frontline health workers in the fight against COVID-19. To all our friends and customers, we look forward to welcoming you back very soon.”
Located on the Williamsburg waterfront in a spectacularly reimagined 117-year-old industrial building, Wythe quickly became a cultural hub for the neighborhood upon opening in 2012. Recognizing the value of Brooklyn’s creative community, the hotel’s owners often host art openings, film screenings and artists’ residences. Guests and locals convene for summer cocktails at Lemons—the property’s inviting rooftop bar.
Today, community involvement remains at this 70-room boutique hotel. But many other things have changed. Four of the guest floors provide lodging for medical workers. Neighborhood volunteers and employees pitch in to help with check-in, constant sanitization and maintaining supplies. The hotel’s restaurant, Le Crocodile, prepares and delivers meals to a local ICU. Fresh shoes and care packages secured through partnerships with ATLIST and HOKA meet some of the practical needs of healthcare workers filling the hotel rooms.
More Hotels Offering Help
Several other New York City hotels have joined the fight against COVID-19. Room Mate Grace Hotel, Yotel and the Hudson Hotel also attended to lodging needs for the brave frontline heroes. The St. Regis and The Plaza—two of the city’s landmark properties—converted rooms into makeshift hospitals for use by non-critical care patients.
This spirit of cooperation is not limited to New York. Cities across the nation and the world have committed properties and staff to get through this pandemic madness. Each deserves our heartfelt thanks and our business when the world reopens.