Thompson Central Park New York Hotel Explained

Thompson Central Park New York
Former Names:Le Parker Meridien, Parker New York
Address:119 West 56th Street
Location City:New York City
Location Country:United States
Opened Date:March 13, 1981[1]
Renovation Date:2020–2022
Destruction Date:-->
Floor Count:42
Unit Count:-->
Number Of Rooms:587

The Thompson Central Park New York is a 587-room[2] hotel located at 56th Street in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. Located near Central Park, the 42-story hotel building houses restaurants, a gym, and other retailers.[3]

History

The hotel opened on March 13, 1981, as the Hotel Parker Meridien New York.[1] The hotel opened on Friday the thirteenth, a date considered lucky in France. Because the date is considered unlucky in the US, however, the actual grand opening celebration was held a week later, on Friday March 20, 1981. The hotel was developed by the New York-based Jack Parker Corporation and managed by Air France's Meridien Hotels division. In 1979, the New York City Department of City Planning gave Parker permission to construct a 40-story building, eight floors past the 32-story maximum for a building with that lot area, provided that the corporation add a public atrium. The hotel was later slightly renamed, becoming Le Parker Méridien New York. The atrium seating was removed in 1990, and subsequently restored after a "high-profile" campaign by the New York City Department of Buildings.[4] Under the Parker Corporation's management, Le Parker Meridien was one of the few luxury hotels in the city that accommodated wild animals as guests.[5] In 2012, the hotel's coffee bar was flooded with concrete following a construction accident at a neighboring building.[6]

The hotel, along with its sister Le Parker Méridien property in Palm Springs, left Le Méridien (by that point, a division of Starwood) in January 2018, and the hotel was renamed Parker New York Hotel. GFI Capital Resources Group and Elliott Management Corporation purchased the hotel for approximately $420 million in 2019. The companies planned a $100 million renovation, along with the conversion of a portion to private residences,[7] and the potential addition of 67 luxury condos atop the existing structure.[8] [9] The hotel joined the Thompson Hotels division of Hyatt as Thompson Central Park New York on November 1, 2021.[10]

Facilities

One of the hotel's restaurants is Burger Joint, a "speakeasy-style burger hut" behind the hotel's lobby curtain.[11] The restaurant opened in 2002 and has since expanded to other locations. Burger Joint was ranked number two in Eater New York list of the "27 Top Burgers in NYC".[12] People often queue in the restaurant's entrance corridor, which is marked by a simple neon sign of a hamburger.[13]

Reception

Douglas Rogers of The Daily Telegraph rated the hotel 8 out of 10 and summarized, "At first glance this Midtown hotel seems like a nondescript commercial tower block, but once inside a myriad of resort-like treats await. Aside from sprawling guest rooms there's a barbershop, makeup salon, spa, rooftop pool and – the ultimate gem – world famous Burger Joint."[14] Parker New York ranked number 118 on U.S. News & World Report list of "Best New York City Hotels".[15] Jessica Colley Clarke of Fodor's rated Le Parker Meridien as 4.5 out of 5 stars,[16] and Frommer's rated Parker New York 2 out of 3 stars.[17]

The Evening Standard Lauren Keary included the Parker in her list of "best pools in NYC".[18] Lorna Parkes of The Independent described the hotel as "a Hyatt with subtle style" and a "secret burger joint".[19] The Daily Telegraph Tracy Kaler included the Parker in her 2020 list of "8 fabulous family-friendly hotels in New York".[20]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: The city's newest luxury hotel, the Parker Meridian Hotel,... – UPI Archives . United Press International . March 13, 1981 . March 21, 2022.
  2. Web site: Thompson Central Park N.Y. Opens in Midtown Manhattan . November 2021 .
  3. Web site: The Parker sold, management changed: Travel Weekly. Travel Weekly. en. April 6, 2020.
  4. News: Dunlap. David W.. A Chair Is Still a Chair and a Deal Is Still a Deal; After a Three-Year Absence, Public Seating Is Restored to Le Parker Meridien Atrium. August 25, 1993. The New York Times. April 6, 2020. en-US. 0362-4331.
  5. News: Finkelstein. Katherine E.. Hotel Guests With Fur, and Boas; A Few Select Places Will Let a Snake Curl Up in Style. December 27, 1999. The New York Times. April 6, 2020. en-US. 0362-4331. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406191455/https://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/27/nyregion/hotel-guests-with-fur-boas-few-select-places-will-let-snake-curl-up-style.html. live.
  6. News: Harris. Elizabeth A.. Neighbor's Wet Concrete Floods Hotel Cafe. April 18, 2012. The New York Times. April 6, 2020. en-US. 0362-4331. October 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019142918/https://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/19/nyregion/wet-concrete-floods-coffee-bar-at-le-parker-meridien-hotel.html. live.
  7. News: Morris. Keiko. Developer of Ace and NoMad Hotels Scoops Up Parker New York Hotel. January 24, 2019. The Wall Street Journal. April 6, 2020. en-US. 0099-9660. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406142703/https://www.wsj.com/articles/developer-of-ace-and-nomad-hotels-scoops-up-parker-new-york-hotel-11548348423. live.
  8. Web site: Allen Gross' $420M Bet on the Parker New York. February 5, 2019. Commercial Observer. en-US. April 6, 2020. October 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019142916/https://commercialobserver.com/2019/02/a-more-affordable-billionaires-row-allen-gross-420m-bet-on-the-parker-new-york/. live.
  9. Web site: The A-Word Comes to Billionaires' Row: Affordability. Habitat. en-US. April 6, 2020. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406144708/https://www.habitatmag.com/Publication-Content/Co-op-Condo-Buyers/2019/2019-February/The-A-Word. live.
  10. Web site: Thompson Central Park New York Hotel Opens . Hotel News Resource . March 21, 2022.
  11. Web site: Burger Joint New York City, USA Restaurants . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200406145231/https://www.lonelyplanet.com/usa/new-york-city/restaurants/burger-joint/a/poi-eat/1242235/362079 . April 6, 2020 . April 6, 2020 . . en.
  12. Web site: April 17, 2015 . 27 Top Burgers in NYC . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20200404164316/https://ny.eater.com/maps/new-york-city-best-burgers . April 4, 2020 . April 6, 2020 . . en.
  13. Web site: Marshall . Andrew . January 21, 2019 . Culinary tourism: 10 must-try dishes in 10 different countries . April 6, 2020 . The Vancouver Sun.
  14. News: Parker New York. July 22, 2019. The Daily Telegraph. March 7, 2020. en-GB. 0307-1235. April 6, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200406145729/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/new-york/hotels/parker-new-york-hotel/. live.
  15. Web site: Parker New York . . March 7, 2020 . October 20, 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201020181542/https://travel.usnews.com/Hotels/review-Parker_New_York-New_York-New_York-23184/ . live .
  16. Web site: Le Parker Meridien Hotel Review. Fodor's. en. March 7, 2020. September 30, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200930205944/https://www.fodors.com/world/north-america/usa/new-york/new-york-city/hotels/reviews/le-parker-meridien-485234. live.
  17. Web site: Parker Hotel in New York City. Frommer's. March 7, 2020. October 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019142917/https://www.frommers.com/destinations/new-york-city. live.
  18. Web site: Need to cool off? 11 of New York's best rooftop pools. July 22, 2019. Evening Standard. en. April 6, 2020. January 14, 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20200114073624/https://www.standard.co.uk/insider/living/best-pools-in-nyc-rooftop-hotel-and-outdoor-swimming-pools-to-visit-in-new-york-this-summer-a4183701.html. live.
  19. News: Our guide to a Christmas fairytale in New York. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/https://www.independent.co.uk/travel/americas/new-york-christmas-restaurants-things-to-do-bars-shows-decorations-a9219681.html . May 7, 2022 . subscription . live. November 27, 2019. The Independent. en. April 6, 2020.
  20. News: Kaler. Tracy. 8 fabulous family-friendly hotels in New York, from characterful suites to indoor adventure kits. January 18, 2018. The Daily Telegraph. April 6, 2020. en-GB. 0307-1235. October 19, 2022. https://web.archive.org/web/20221019142917/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/north-america/united-states/new-york/articles/best-hotels-in-nyc-for-families/. live.

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