The Luxury Collection Hotel Manhattan Midtown: Conrad Rebranded

Consider all of the rebrandings that we've heard about recently . . . or even over the past year. They come and go. These property owners don't care about branding. They don't care about network loyalty. They care about their own repeat guests. Nothing more. In a way, they're right: it's really about the specific property, not the network.

Nice property. Originally opened as the Rhiga Royal. Then became The London.

Conrad tweaked the rooms at this property a few years back. I booked my wife a room here in late 2021 based on my past stays at the London thinking she’d had a large suite, and they carved up some of the rooms to make them smaller. Base level rooms are now just a hotel room. Really took away the competitive advantage this property had when it was a London and I would give up Weston points to stay at the London when on business.

Not a loss at all. Pretty shitty service and inflated prices. There are better options in NYC.

Spent a night here last year and the rooms need a big refresh. It was also the most stressful check in I've ever experienced because of how large the hotel is but only 2 check in desks, and seemingly everyone has guaranteed 4pm check out thanks to FHR. Our room wasn't ready until 6pm, despite them knowing we had a 6:30pm dinner event and them putting us on the "priority" housekeeping list.

That is really unfortunate. We had quite the opposite experience. We stayed last year to burn up a free night certificate, and were able to get into our room at 9:30am after a redeye. Overall we really enjoyed our stay.

Terrible for Hilton FNC owners. Unless it is priced around 50k Marriott (doubtful) and I can use my Marriott FNC.

And those option for a suite with Hilton in NYC are? And don’t say the Conrad Downtown as it’s too far away from where I would want to be. I’ve never had service issues at the hotel.

I’m sad to see this leave Hilton and dreading what the redemptions will look like under Marriott.

Tough news. Loved this Conrad and its friendly, welcoming staff. My home away from home for several years. So conveniently located with elegant suites and a glorious Park View if you’re lucky enough to snag one on a high floor. Alas!

I predict 90k Marriott points a night or 800 per night
After all its a high end state of the art premium 5 star luxury hotel
with stellar world class service and stunning public areas
Why is my nose growing like Pinocchio?
There's always the courtyard for 60k Bonvoy
Marriott members many are like sheep they will pay anything Marriott asks plus a resort fee.Just look at MGM situation in Las Vegas with a slew of benefits for Platinum's and up laughable

We’ve stayed at this hotel once or twice a year, when it was the Rihga Royal, the London and the Conrad Midtown. The closeness to the theater district, the adjacency to both Hertz and Avis, the amazing views of the Upper West Side, and the fact that we get a two room suite have kept us there. Hilton did a great job remodeling the rooms, which were very poorly decorated when it was the London. There were a number of service blips, though, when we stayed there in May; I’m hoping it was just because of the transition.

Before it became THE LONDON it was the Righa Royal belonging to Marriott already!

I would say quite the opposite. If they didn't care about having a network, they would simply continue as an independent hotel. But they don't, the leave one chain and immediately join another one.

Presumably when hotels go from hilton to marriott is cos they know marriott will let them get away with anything and dont care how bad they are so long as they remain in marriott.

Had a Conrad booking through Amex plat for July. Reservation will carry over since it’s paid but I wonder if they’ll honor my Amex plat luxury hotel collection benefits. Will call this week to check but very doubtful.

By the way, the Arizona Biltmore has rebranded from Waldorf to LXR. Yesterday, a property might be this brand. Today, that brand. Tomorrow, yet another brand. It is entirely about the specific property. How are the rooms . . . at that property? How is the service . . . at that property? How are the amenities . . . at that property? Brand is meaningless. And, as Ben mentioned in another article, if a brand doesn't really have standards . . . whaddiyagot?

PS - Even within the same ownership group, some properties might have the magic while other properties don't. Even within the same super-luxury ownership group.