InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of the newly-renovated InterContinental New York Barclay, which made its grand debut to New York society in 1926 as one of the original "Railroad" hotels.
For generations the hotel served as one of New York's most preferred addresses, and now The Barclay is celebrating its return following a $180 million, 20-month top-to-bottom renovation with more than 420,000-square-feet of redesigned interiors.
The revitalized property brings to life The Barclay Experience, which IHG describes as a combination of New York sensibility, sustainable practices, a and a celebration of the thriving, fast-paced local culture, while continuing to offer international expertise.
New Features
Located in Midtown Manhattan, The Barclay hotel now has a more open and inviting lobby leading to a new Carrara marble grand staircase. The redesigned property also has 704 guestrooms and suites reminiscent of a classic Park Avenue home, plus an expansive Club InterContinental and 15,000 square feet of meetings and events spaces.
Located off The Barclay's lobby area and inspired by 1920s Dutch and English gin bars, the new Gin Parlour offers 88 premium gins as well as wines and spirits. Signature cocktails include the Midtown Apothecary, served over aromatized cracked ice and botanicals, and The Hive, featuring honey harvested in New York City complemented by a honey cluster. The Gin Parlour's menu serves up such savory treats as Alphabet City Soft Pretzels, as well as locally-sourced Broiled Oysters "Reuben" with Barclay Pickle Relish.
Design
Featuring a New York heritage, The Barclay was originally designed by Cross & Cross, the famed architectural firm behind Fifth Avenue's Tiffany & Co. building. Under the direction of IHG Design Studio, architects Stonehill + Taylor, interior design firm HOK (formerly BBGM) and Shawmut Construction worked together to restore and enhance the property's original style, while adding contemporary touches.
Artwork was carefully selected to reflect the hotel's 1920's legacy. Antique maps and early 19th century Hudson River School landscapes that romanticize nature and highlight the Catskill Mountains and the Adirondacks, among other local landscapes, are featured in public spaces and guestrooms.
Period details including classical urns, sculptures, and busts, as well as damask and rinceau patterns are used throughout the hotel. In keeping with the Federalist design motif and sophisticated style, eagle medallion door plates are affixed on each guest room, a feature that has been preserved from the original Barclay.
Meetings and Events
The Barclay now is ready to welcome business and leisure groups, including corporate gatherings, social events and weddings. The property has two large ballrooms and five meeting spaces.
The Barclay's 4,954-square-foot Grand Ballroom and its 3,500-square-foot Empire Ballroom have 17-foot coffered ceilings, chandeliers, and custom crown molding and millwork.
At Club InterContinental, travelers can enjoy a quiet yet engaging space for business and social interactions while indulging in a range of complimentary food and beverage offerings.
The hotel's culinary team is procuring organic, local, seasonal and responsible ingredients from nearby growers, farmers, forages and artisans including Norwich Meadows Farm, Old Chatham Sheepherding Creamery and Satur Farms.
History
Throughout the hotel's 90-year history, The Barclay has been a place where both global and local politicians, tastemakers and captains of industry convene, ranging from Harold Stirling Vanderbilt, Ernest Hemingway, and Eugene O'Neill to Henry Cabot Lodge, Martin Luther King, former President William Jefferson Clinton, and most recently President Barack Obama.
For more than 80 years The Barclay housed Caswell-Massey, a personal care product company and apothecary shop founded in 1752. In a nod to both brands' shared history, the hotel commissioned the famed apothecary to develop a line of bath products with custom fragrances created by olfactive firm Nose Knows Design, which were designed to capture the essence of the hotel and are featured in the suites.
The presence of juniper berry evokes the new Gin Parlour, while subtle metallic notes pay tribute to The Barclay's industrial age beginnings.
The new Barclay aims to be the first hotel to align with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Becoming the benchmark of the hospitality industry, The Barclay is using the IHG Corporate Responsibility Pillars: Green Engage, IHG Academy and IHG Foundation.
Committed to environmental protection, The Barclay supports a number of ecological initiatives including the Billion Dollar Oyster Project, which helps to grow oysters, build reefs, and monitors water quality. The hotel is also providing work and growth opportunities through the IHG Academy, allowing the hotel to collaborate with educational providers and community groups to help local people build their hospitality skills and improve their employability.
The property is also partnering with City Harvest to combat hunger in the five boroughs, as well as working with Clean The World to save lives with items that traditionally end up in landfills.
Located at 111 E 48th St., The Barclay is owned by 111 East 48th Street Holdings, LLC and managed by IHG. For more information, visit www.intercontinentalnybarclay.com.