There are more than 34 Waldorf Astoria hotels in 18 countries and territories around the world, and according to Dino Michael, senior vice president and global head, Hilton Luxury Brands, each and every one was influenced by the original—the legendary Waldorf Astoria New York.
“Waldorf Astoria New York is a beacon of timeless elegance, The Greatest of Them All,” he said. “We take that north star—The Greatest of Them All—and we like to manifest that ambition at every new hotel we open across the globe.”
The original Waldorf Astoria opened in New York in 1893, and from the very start, it was a magnet for high-society clientele from around the world thanks to its elevated luxury design and exquisite service. Among the features that were a “first” at Waldorf Astoria New York were in-room telephones, female chefs, room service dining, with menu items that became world-wide sensations, including the Waldorf Salad. The property is also credited with popularizing some of today’s favorites like Red Velvet Cake and Eggs Benedict.
In the years since, Waldorf Astoria has grown from a single hotel to a brand that now brings luxury to 18 countries around the world—and counting—all while retaining a commitment to the highest standards of luxury and customer service set by the original.
“In every Waldorf Astoria around the world, we have tributes to the original,” Michael said. “The intent is they inform our history, they give a guiding nod to the past, but also allow us to reinterpret them for the future.”
One of those elements found in Waldorf Astoria properties around the world inspired by the original is a nod to late 19th century Peacock Alley, a 300-foot marble-lined corridor that connected two buildings of the New York hotel and quickly became the place for high-society to see and be seen. Today, many Waldorf Astoria hotels feature a nod to Peacock Alley in the form of a bar or lounge that is reinterpreted to reflect the hotel’s local craftsmanship and design.
For example, the Peacock Alley at Waldorf Astoria Los Cabos Pedregal in Mexico offers a selection of Agave tasting experiences, nodding to local favorite drinks. Waldorf Astoria Punta Cacique in Costa Rica embraces the area’s “pura vida” lifestyle by offering tostadas and empanadas, plus craft cocktails like the Nicoya, made with Centenario 6-year rum, and the Chorotega, featuring Costa Rican rum.
Many Waldorf Astoria properties also display a tribute to the original hotel’s famous lobby clock. Originally commissioned by England’s Queen Victoria for the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition in Chicago, it features relief portraits of the queen and some United States presidents. It’s also topped with a statue of a gold Lady Liberty. It served as a must-see marker in the hotel’s lobby, as well as a meeting place for travelers.
According to Michael, these nods to what made the original hotel so glamorous would delight Conrad Hilton today as the brand continues to grow around the world.
“I think Conrad Hilton would be overwhelmed and overjoyed by what he sees today. Not only by what we’ve done at Waldorf Astoria New York,” he said. “If he toured the portfolio and saw the destinations we’re in—urban and resort – the culinary excellence, our approach to wellness, the team dynamic, the energy and love everyone has for the brand, I think he’d be delighted by what he sees today.”
