Found in Translation
Park Hyatt — Tokyo, Japan
Reopening Spring 2025
Few hotels have become as immortalized as the Park Hyatt Tokyo, sleekly backdropping Sofia Coppola’s 2003 cult classic Lost in Translation with both winsome grandeur and poetic ennui — as much a character as Bill Murray and Scarlett Johnson. Film nerds and Japan lovers alike may rejoice in the icon’s return, after a meticulous 17-month refresh in celebration of its 30th anniversary last year. This rejuvenation spans guestrooms, suites, public spaces, event areas, restaurants, and bars, alongside an upgrade to its technical infrastructure. The renovation will reduce the room inventory from 177 to 171 and introduce a new suite category, while restoring the New York Grill & Bar (that moody, glittering view through glass and steel!) and the Japanese restaurant Kozue to their original splendor. In collaboration with Parisian design firm Studio Jouin Manku, the project pays tribute to the design legacy of John Morford, the hotel’s original interior architect. Signature elements, such as the distinct layout and the iconic black-anthracite contrast, will be preserved, while a lighter update to their signature green carpet will usher in a fresher feel.
A New Gilded Cage
Waldorf Astoria — New York, USA
Reopening Spring 2025
With a guest list spanning Frank Sinatra to Marilyn Monroe, Ella Fitzgerald to Liza Minelli, and a countless slew of American presidents and foreign royals — the Waldorf Astoria has held an inarguably glittering legacy (the place literally invented the concept of room service). Now, after eight years under construction, it’s finally returning to its heyday. Each of its 375 rooms have undergone a complete redesign towards the airier and more subdued, while still rooted in its Art Deco bones, alongside new restaurant offerings (with its signature eatery led by Chef Michael Anthony of Gramercy Tavern) and wellness experiences. Famed architecture firm Skidmore, Owings & Merrill were tapped here, in partnership with interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, and a whole host of preservationists. We’re particularly keen to experience the new lobby and its centerpiece (the 1893 World’s Fair clock) brought back to full gleam.
A Port City Pillar
Conrad The Ilisian — Athens, Greece
Reopening Winter 2025
