Club member) Stanford White in 1905; and architect Thierry Despont, who has designed some of the most exclusive hotels in the world (yet this is his first head-to-toe Manhattan hotel). “I met Thierry years ago and have been an admirer of his work for a long time. I always knew that I wanted to collaborate with him—it was just a matter of finding the right project,” explains Chatwal, who is also a fan of White’s work. “This being our most luxurious hotel yet, it seemed the perfect time to call on his exquisite design talents.” Working hand-in-hand with the New York Landmark Preservation Commission, Despont preserved not only the exterior of the building, but many important elements throughout, while infusing a glamorous, romantic feeling reminiscent of its former life. “I was inspired by the American Art Deco period which was shaped by the fascination with 110 hospitalitydesign www.hospitalitydesign.comhttp://www.hospitalitydesign.com