By: Jerome Brookshire

After eight long years of shuttered doors, construction chaos, and a carousel of delayed announcements, the iconic Waldorf-Astoria Hotel is now slated to reopen in September, according to an Instagram post from Hilton. The long-anticipated relaunch, originally promised in 2021 and repeatedly delayed through 2023, 2024, and most recently this past spring, marks the return of one of New York City’s most historic and storied landmarks. As The New York Post reported on Thursday, this relaunch has been a saga steeped in missed deadlines, high-stakes development, and lingering skepticism from hospitality insiders.

Though Hilton’s social media post sounded the celebratory horn, a spokesperson for the Waldorf-Astoria was more cautious in speaking with The New York Post, saying, “We expect to open our doors sooner. Our exact opening date is still being determined.” That hedging comes amid industry fatigue over a project that has made and missed multiple opening pledges. As one hotel industry source candidly told The Post, “No wonder they’re being cautious. Every time they touted a reopening, it didn’t happen.”

The reopening is expected to be a crucial moment for Hilton, which still holds 90 years on its 100-year management contract for the Park Avenue institution. Since the Waldorf’s doors closed in 2017, Hilton’s flagship luxury hotel in New York has remained in a state of architectural limbo, leaving a conspicuous void in Manhattan’s hospitality landscape.

The historic hotel, first opened in its current location in 1931, is treasured for its Art Deco design, opulent interiors, and legendary guests—from heads of state to Hollywood royalty. Among its most cherished features is Peacock Alley, home to the grand piano of famed Broadway composer Cole Porter, which will again be prominently displayed in the revamped hotel. According to the report in The New York Post, the relaunch will also include “Lex Yard,” a new restaurant helmed by award-winning Gramercy Tavern chef Michael Anthony.

Despite high-profile announcements about staff uniforms designed by British couture maestro Nicholas Oakwell and interior decorators shaping the hotel’s new aesthetic, the elephant in the room has long been the question of when the hotel would actually be ready. A New York Post investigation in February cited construction sources who were skeptical even of a fall 2024 reopening, with some predicting that October would be the earliest feasible target. While the September announcement brings renewed optimism, many remain wary until the first keys are handed over to guests.

Much of the delay traces back to the Waldorf’s high-stakes change in ownership. In 2015, Hilton sold the landmarked property to China’s Anbang Insurance Group for a staggering $1.95 billion. The plan: slash the hotel’s 1,400 guest rooms down to 375—each larger and more lavish than their predecessors—and convert much of the building into 375 ultra-luxury condominium residences.

But by 2018, the project was thrown into disarray after Anbang’s CEO was imprisoned by the Chinese government in an anti-corruption crackdown. The development baton was passed to a newly formed Chinese entity, Daija Insurance Group, which took over but, according to The New York Post report, proved no more efficient than its predecessor.

As construction slogged on, industry sources told The Post that Daija prioritized condo completion over the hotel component. “The hotel part wasn’t on the fast track,” one insider explained. While the hotel languished in development purgatory, Daija focused on moving multimillion-dollar residences—ranging from studios just under $2 million to four-bedroom homes approaching $15 million. A few of those units have already welcomed their new owners, even as the hotel itself remained closed to the public.

Now, with September marked as the tentative return of a true New York City landmark, anticipation is building. But so is caution. Hilton executives, according to the information provided in The New York Post report, have been “privately fuming” over the numerous delays that have kept the brand’s crown jewel hidden from public view for nearly a decade.

Still, with construction finally nearing completion and hospitality staff in training, there is renewed hope that the Waldorf-Astoria will reclaim its place atop New York’s luxury hotel hierarchy. The grand reopening promises a mix of historical reverence and contemporary refinement, complete with modernized rooms, opulent event spaces, and world-class dining—all under the storied brand of Waldorf Astoria.

Yet, as The New York Post report astutely observed, the ultimate proof will be in the opening day itself. New Yorkers, tourists, and the international elite may soon be able to once again walk the storied halls where Porter once composed and dignitaries once danced—assuming, of course, there are no more surprises.