New York Stay Diplomats Seek Rooms With Proximity to U.N., Added Security by Larry Luxner No U.S. city, perhaps other than Washington, has suffered more from terrorism than New York, and when foreign diplomats these days travel to the Big Apple, security is uppermost in their minds. But so are personalized service and proximity to the United Nationsóa fact not lost on the half dozen or so New York hotels that compete year round for diplomatic business. All these properties are located along Manhattanís East Side, most of them within walking distance of the U.N. headquarters at 45th Street and First Avenue. One of the closest hotels is the aptly named Crowne Plaza at the United Nations, just a short walking distance from U.N. complex itself and not much farther from the Empire State Building, Times Square, Grand Central Station and other major New York points of interest. Originally built as the Tudor Hotel in 1931, the building has been owned and operated by Six Continents since 1997 and is a recognized historic landmark. Its 300 guest rooms and suites are newly decorated and feature modern amenities. Argy Koumas, director of sales at the Crowne Plaza , says government and diplomatic business accounts for around 12 percent of the hotelís revenuesóand that percentage is growing annually. ìWe get quite a few representatives of African countries and also delegations from the South Pacific,î Koumas told The Washington Diplomat in a telephone interview. ìOut of our 300 rooms, 14 are suites, so we tend to deal with smaller delegations. Itís more of a niche market. The larger countries would likely migrate to the Waldorf-Astoria or the Millennium.î In September, when the U.N. General Assembly is in session, the Crowne Plazaís room rates range from $259 to $329 while suites go for $500 to $600. During the rest of the year, rates vary from $179 (a promotional government rate) to $229. Dining options include Cecilís Bistro, which serves traditional American fare, while the hotelís Regency Lounge and Cecilís Bar offer light snacks and a variety of cocktails. In addition, the Crowne Plazaís flexible meeting and banquet facilities can cater for up to 120 guests in a reception setting. Audio-visual equipment is available together with the services of a typical business center. For fitness and relaxation, a complimentary fitness center is available. Kate Simpson, the hotelís general manager, said ìitís not unusual for a hotel to have 700, 800 or 1,000 rooms, so by New York standards, weíre relatively smallîówhich enables the Crowne Plaza to pamper its guests a little more than usual. ìWeíve always placed an emphasis on personal service,î said Simpson, who came to the hotel two months ago after running the Crowne Plaza Times Square Manhattan for 10 years. ìWeíre extremely friendly, which unfortunately is not always the norm for New York hotels. We try to anticipate peopleís needs, from the doorman to the person who checks you in.î Besides foreign dignitaries and diplomats, the Crowne Plaza also caters to U.S. government officials representing agencies ranging from the newly created Department of Homeland Security to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). Simpson added that many of the hotelís employees have ìan extremely good relationship with the local precinctî of the New York Police Departmentóespecially since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11 and the more recent FBI terrorism warnings that have put the entire city on edge. ìIn times of high alert, we check the IDs of everyone entering the hotel and everyone getting on an elevator to make sure they are guests at the hotel,î she said. ìWhereas that once might have been looked at as an inconvenience, weíre now taking all possible measures to make sure our guests are secure.î Added Koumas, ìI donít want to say anything specific, but I can say that security has been a big concern of the hotel. We have always been approved to house diplomats.î He noted that the buildingís exterior is mostly brick rather than glass, which reduces the risk of injury in the event of a terrorist attack. ìAside from that fact, we have proximity to the U.N.,î he said. ìDiplomats who stay here avoid traffic issues. If you need to give a speech, you want to be there pretty much on time and not hold up everybody else.î Another option for diplomats is The Helmsley Middletowne, located on Manhattanís East Side at 48th Street. ìThe hotel is pure New York and totally Helmsley,î hypes the Helmsley corporate Web site. ìEnjoy the kind of hospitality that makes U.N. diplomats, corporate executives and others feel that the Helmsley Middletowne is their home away from home in New York.î Yet another fine choice is the Millennium Broadway Hotel at 145 West 44th St. This hotel, with more than 600 guest rooms, ìoffers contemporary lodging in an atmosphere of modern sophistication, well-matched with the refreshing comforts of hotel features. We offer the spaciousness, style and solace needed to get the most out of your stay.î For diplomats who want something smaller and a bit more intimate, The Pierre at Fifth Avenue and 61st Street might fit the bill. The Pierre boasts 201 rooms, including 52 suitesóeach with a unique interior. Situated across the street from Central Park, this venerable New York landmark prides itself on its multilingual staff (35 languages spoken) and its CafÈ Pierre restaurant, highlighted by impeccable service and internationally acclaimed cuisine. ìBecause we are more of a European hotel in look and feel, many European diplomats are at home here,î said Tiffany Cilor, director of public relations for the property. One thing all these hotels share is a depressed market. According to the Hotel Association of New York City, average room rates have dropped between 15 percent and 25 percent since 9/11, although theyíve recovered slightly since then. John Fitzpatrick is the owner of the Fitzpatrick Grand Central Hotel, located on 44th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues. The hotel has 155 rooms, including a penthouse on the roof, and charges anywhere from $170 to $225 a night during high season. ìItís basically what we call a European boutique hotel,î said Fitzpatrick, who claims his is the only Irish-owned hotel in all of New York. ìA lot of people have sought us out because weíre small and personalized.î Fitzpatrick, who also owns another hotel on 57th and Lexington, said between 15 percent and 20 percent of his clientele are diplomatsómainly from Ireland, England and other European countries. ìBecause itís small, they can get in and out of it very quickly. A lot of customers donít like long check-in lines, especially diplomats who are always under pressure.î Fitzpatrick added, ìWeíve got only one entrance, not like a high-rise building which could be a nightmare to look after. People feel safe with us. Our elevators are right across from the front desk, so we can see everybody coming in and going out.î The Fitzpatrick Grand Central, which began its life as a hotel in the 1940s, eventually became an office building. In 1993, Fitzpatrick bought the property and converted it back into a hotel. Since then, a number of world leaders have stayed there, including Irish President Mary McAleese and Irelandís prime minister, Bertie Ahern. ìAbout 80 percent of our clientele is repeat business. We were one of the first hotels to come back after 9/11, thanks to our repeat customers,î said Fitzpatrick, estimating current occupancy at around 75 percent. ìThatís not where weíd like to be,î he said, ìbut we canít complain.î Larry Luxner is a contributing writer for The Washington Diplomat.