Contact: Susan Martin, KRT,  T: 212.242.2550,  F: 212.242.3177,  E: susan@krtnyc.com

Enhancements at Le Parker Meridien:
Style and Function

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New York, NY – A five-year refurbishment project is entering its final stage at Le Parker Meridien.  The twenty-year old property began its 60 million-dollar plan to bring style and function to the 700-room property in 1998. Redesigned by MCCARTAN design group, Le Parker Meridien has achieved the intimate feel of a small hotel with the services and amenities of a larger property.

Starting from the ground up, the hotel remodeled the 10,000-square foot lobby adding light and life to the soaring space.  Sleek cherry paneling and hand painted columns accent the hotel’s modern art works from Damien Hirst and Charles Long. The arrival of NORMA’S in 1998 brought a breakfast-all-day restaurant that quickly gained awards and praise as the best breakfast in New York.  Later that year, Seppi’s, the uptown sister of Soho’s French bistro Raoul’s, filled a void in an area without a true neighborhood restaurant. The introduction of the colorful, circular bar jack’s added the final dimension to the revamped lobby.

1999 brought the biggest undertaking of the project – the rooms.  The 700 rooms and suites have been given a new life from designer Colum McCartan.  Using polished woods and tactile fabrics, the attention to design reflects simplicity, yet provides comfort.  Each room has been given a clean, sophisticated identity with the addition of custom-made beds, window seats, workstations and bedside tables.  Tones of slate blue, heather green and soft grey add warmth to the natural wood creating a refined, intimate space.  Each room also features ergonomic touches including Aeron™ chairs and an innovative entertainment center that swivels for optimum viewing.  All rooms are scheduled for completion by Spring 2001.

Finishing touches are being completed every month at the hotel.  Recent additions include six hi-tech elevators with a twist.  Not your typical accoutrement, the lifts were outfitted with video monitors providing riders with a little humor in the form of comedy legends Laurel & Hardy and Charlie Chaplin.  A major overhaul of meeting and event space is slated for completion in March.  The new design will add two additional spaces to the existing five for a total of 10,000 sq. feet.  Summer 2001 will bring new facades to both the 56th and 57th Street entrances and a +refurbished pool and penthouse area.
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gravity, the hotel’s complete wellness center, has undergone a $600,000 renovation of its own.  The multilevel 15,000 square foot facility features basketball/racquetball/squash courts, yoga, aerobics, rooftop swimming pool, free weights, Cybex circuit and a cardio-fitness center.  gravity will complete their renovation in September with additional treatment space added to house their growing spa services including LaStone Therapy, massage, facials, wraps and exclusive practitioner of Dr. Hauschka treatments

Le Parker Meridien. Uptown. Not Uptight.  For reservations and hotel information please call 800/543-4300 or email reservations@parkermeridien.com.