Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Travel

New York’s Iconic Chrysler Building Could Become a Luxury Hotel

Mike Richard
By

The Chrysler Building has been an icon of the New York City skyline for more almost 90 years. However, the interior has always been almost entirely off-limits to visitors. That may change thanks to new owners who are teasing they may convert part of the building into a luxury hotel.

For decades, most of the Chrysler Building’s 77 floors have remained occupied by well-to-do companies seeking a prestigious, ultra-exclusive Manhattan street address. Most folks are surprised to learn that the highest floors including the crown are currently used for storage. (For shame!) Outsiders looking to catch a glimpse of the stunning Art Deco building are limited to a quick lobby visit, a few sidewalk photos, or an aerial view from the window seat of their flight into the city.

Recommended Videos
chrysler building new york city
Chrysler Building in Manhattan. Drew Angerer/Getty Images

The building’s historic status means much of its original design will likely need to remain intact and changes will need to pass an approval process.

Now, after a decade in the hands of an Abu Dhabi-based investment firm, the building was sold earlier in March 2019 for a reported $150 million. The new owners told Bloomberg they’re considering converting part of the building — presumably the upper floors — into a luxury hotel. As one of the city’s tallest structures, we can only imagine the view from the top. The transformation won’t be cheap or easy, however. The building’s National Historic Landmark status means much of its original Art Deco design will likely need to remain intact and any changes will need to pass a lengthy and rigorous approval process. Plus, the renovations necessary to turn it into a working hotel could top USD $250 million.

While the Chrysler Building stands as one of New York City’s most recognizable structures, the days of billion-dollar companies using towering skyscrapers as office buildings are waning. Many are now seeking sprawling Silicon Valley-style campuses like the city’s shiny new Hudson Yards project. Considering that the building’s average rent is around $50 per square foot and the fact that it’s losing $20 million annually, it seems it might be better off as a hotel.

Definitive plans for the future of the Chrysler Building have yet to be announced. If the new owners move forward with their grand hotel plan, it will be a few years before visitors get a glimpse inside. When they do, you can bet The Manual will be hosting one hell of a Gatsby-style company Christmas party on the observation deck.

Editors' Recommendations

Mike Richard
Mike Richard
Contributor
Mike Richard has traveled the world since 2008. He's kayaked in Antarctica, tracked endangered African wild dogs in South…
Norway’s Coolest New Hotel Is the Former Home of a Famous Shipping Line
Oslo Cruise Dock Hotel

You won’t need a boat ticket to check into Oslo’s new boutique hotel, Amerikalinjen, but you did a century ago. The building formerly housed The Norwegian American Line, a 20th-century passenger and cargo shipping company with routes to America, and the space still evokes all the seafaring maritime vibes of this waterfront capital.

Renovated by local Oslo design firm Kritt Architects into a slick 122-room hotel, the original building was built in 1919 by prolific Norwegian architects Andreas Bjercke and Georg Eliassen. Note the soaring vaulted ceilings, ornamental moldings, grand staircases, and maritime trimmings that have been kept intact to give the Amerikalinjen a balance between nostalgic and forward-thinking.

Read more
New Orleans Hotel Offers $15,000 Luxury Stay in Return for the Best Stolen Item
The Roosevelt New Orleans Stolen Matches

Sugar packets and mini shampoo bottles aside, stealing from hotels is rarely encouraged. However, one New Orleans hotel is encouraging light-fingered guests to step out of the shadows for the chance to win a seven-night stay worth more than $15,000.

To celebrate its 125th anniversary, The Roosevelt New Orleans has announced a unique new contest. As part of the 125th Anniversary Giveback Sweepstakes, the hotel is simply asking guests to return anything they’ve previously taken. No questions asked, and no item is too insignificant. Guests have already returned dinner plates from the original Blue Room restaurant, a tablecloth, menus, matchbooks, and invoices from the 1940s. The artifacts will be displayed in a special lobby exhibit over the next few months. Those particularly attached to their scores should note that the hotel has even offered to return the items, provided you ask nicely.

Read more
Kickstarter, a Team of Designers, and a Determined Owner Brought the Jennings Hotel Back to Life
jennings hotel oregon feat

With the rise of boutique hotels offering high style at affordable prices, it’s getting harder for new places to stand out. Even hostels have started receiving trendy makeovers to appeal to a larger audience. So how do you create a hotel that is one-of-a-kind when everyone around you is offering the same thing? Just ask Greg Hennes, artist and owner of the Jennings Hotel.

The Jennings Hotel is the hotel that isn’t. It doesn’t offer food service. It doesn’t have a lobby. It doesn’t have televisions. And not all of the rooms have private bathrooms. But it isn’t a hostel. The Jennings is something all new in more ways than one.

Read more