Luxury French Hotel Says Bonjour to Manhattan
Company Press Release
July 17, 2000
NEW YORK, NY -- With a nod toward its French heritage, the 398-room Sofitel New York opened Friday, making a Bastille
Day debut in midtown Manhattan. It is the ninth Sofitel in the United States and 135th in the world.
Targeting upscale business and leisure travelers, the luxury Sofitel New York is located on 44th Street, between
Fifth and Sixth Avenues, on a prestigious block already home to the New York Yacht Club, the American Bar Association
and the Harvard Club. It is the second Manhattan hotel for its parent company, Paris-based Accor, which operates
the 480-room, three-star Novotel on 52nd Street and Broadway.
An official ribbon-cutting ceremony was held this morning, presided over by Accor's chairman, Jean-Marc Espalioux
of Paris; Sven Boinet, president of Accor Hotels; John F. Lehodey, president of Accor Business & Leisure Hotels,
North America; and Richard Duque, New York's General Consul to France.
``We are very pleased to place Sofitel on the map here in New York City,'' stated John Lehodey during today's ceremony.
``This Manhattan location is a very important addition to Accor's network of more than 3,300 hotels worldwide.''
Brennan Beer Gorman/Architects of New York designed the 280,000 square foot luxury hotel to satisfy Accor's request
for a ``21st century building.'' The end result: a soaring, 30-story curved glass tower, flanked by two 20-story
wings on a base of limestone, adding a touch of modernity to 44th Street while complementing the historic buildings
that are its neighbors.
The interiors, created by noted Parisian interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon, offer a contemporary twist on classic
Parisian and Manhattan 1940's Art Deco styling. The Paris-New York theme is played throughout the hotel, with black-and-white
photos of each city's notable attractions in the guest rooms, a colorful ceiling mural depicting the same in the
restaurant and other clever references found in the hotel's sophisticated public spaces.
The Sofitel's opening also adds a new restaurant to New York's theatre district: Gaby, a traditional French brasserie
with live music at the bar. Executive Chef Eric Fraudeau's menu features such classic favorites as Soupe a l'Oignon
Gratinee (French Onion Soup), Escargots, Coq au Vin and other palate-pleasing appetizers, entrees and desserts.
The restaurant, which seats 128, is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. (phone: 212-782-3046).
Additional hotel facilities include seven function rooms designed for corporate meetings, a 2,500 square foot ballroom
that accommodates up to 180 people, a lobby lounge, fitness center and gift shop.
Room rates will start at $239 for a premiere room, single or double occupancy, through September 5. From September
6, rates start at $369 for a premiere room and $469 for an executive suite, single or double occupancy.
In addition to the Sofitel New York, Accor North America currently manages eight other Sofitels in the United States,
in Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, San Francisco Bay and Washington, D.C, as well
as nine Novotels in North America. Additional Sofitels are in development in Chicago, Dallas and Washington, D.C.
For reservations, call 1-800-SOFITEL (763-4835).
Sofitel Hotels & Resorts, the deluxe brand of Accor, has 145 hotels in 48 countries. Paris-based Accor currently
operates the world's largest hotel network, serving all segments of the business and leisure hospitality markets
from budget to luxury. The Accor group encompasses seven other brands in addition to Sofitel. These include Novotel,
Mercure, Ibis, Formule 1, Etap Hotel, Motel 6 and Red Roof Inns. Accor, whose 129,000 associates are active in
140 countries around the world, is the European leader and worldwide group present in travel, tourism and corporate
services with two principal international businesses: hotels (more than 3,300 hotels) and travel agencies, restaurants
and casinos; services (cards and vouchers) with Accor Corporate Services.
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Contact:
Laura Davidson Public Relations, New York
Scott Croft/Beth Walsh
212/696-0660
scott@ldpr.com or beth@ldpr.com