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Luigi Romaniello , managing director of Waldorf Astoria New York , with aspiring hospitality workers and leaders at the School of Hospitality Administration at Boston University .
of their questions . By the end of the tour , he found himself energized by their vision of the future of hospitality .
“ You say , ‘ This is going to be inspiring to them ,’ but I found it to be very inspiring to me as well ,” he said . “ All the ambition that comes out of these types of engagements ; it ’ s absolutely rewarding to me . There ’ s such a great vision already and I was impressed at [ their ] young age , just coming out of college — their confidence , their assertiveness , their ability to really own the conversation . There ’ s a level of maturity that was unexpected .”
The tour also provided Romaniello a view into what motivates the next generation of travelers . Through social media , word-of-mouth and their own personal experiences , they ’ ve amassed the kind of exposure to hotel trends and traits that once took years to acquire .
The result is that they have definite opinions , not only for what they look for in a guest experience , but to the operational culture of the organizations they ’ re looking to join — a view Romaniello
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wholeheartedly endorses , but one that would have been nearly unthinkable at the beginning of his own career .
“[ It ’ s much more than ] just flipping beds ,” Romaniello said . “ You ’ re not just setting a table or checking in a guest . That ’ s why I went to the colleges , not only to recruit , but also to give an opportunity to this young audience to really feel the passion about the hotel business .”
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NEW SCHOOL While everyone knows the name Waldorf Astoria New York , the hotel these new hires
The refresh includes this space coming in from the Lexington Avenue entrance .
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will join is going to be very different from the original .
First opened in 1931 , Waldorf Astoria New York personified the ultra-luxury hotel experience before the term existed . With more than 1,400 rooms , opulent chandeliers , a grand ballroom and palatial trappings , over time it required a refresh to meet its own standards of service . In 2017 , then owner , China ’ s Anbang Insurance Group , in association with Hilton , which has a 100- year operating agreement on the hotel , took the audacious measure to shut the hotel down completely and undergo its first major renovation in nearly a century . ( Dajia Insurance Group took over ownership of the hotel when Anbang went bankrupt in 2020 .)
The room count has now been scaled down to 375 with 375 private residences above them , expanding the square footage , as well as simplifying the volume of guests to manage , enhancing the team ’ s capabilities to serve .
Led by architects Skidmore , Owings & Merrill , with interior
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design by Pierre Yves-Rochon , the reemerged hotel is designed to reflect and recapture the glamor and glory of the old hotel , and to feel today as new and contemporary as it did to guests back in 1931 .
“ Guests are going to appreciate the respect that the design team has given to all the landmark protected areas — the ballroom , the different floor mosaics , all the murals ,” Romaniello said . “ You really don ’ t know what ’ s old and what ’ s new , but everything blends in together .”
When Waldorf Astoria New York has its grand reopening in spring 2025 , it will be sure to impress . But Romaniello hopes that the experience will begin with the bright young staff joining its ranks .
“ I recommend [ a hiring tour ] to anyone ,” he said . “ For a while after COVID , I thought this industry was becoming transitional . By the time I went to these colleges , I realized that people are still doing it for a profession , which was very encouraging . I ’ m thankful that hospitality is still alive .”
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16 hotelsmag . com Mar / Apr 2025 |