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The Thompson Central Park New York opened in 2021, and was a rebranding of the former Parker New York (and prior to that it was a Le Meridien… this property has quite a history).
The Thompson has been opening in stages, and reservations have just opened for the new “Upper Stories” concept, which represents a significant (and premium) expansion of the hotel. This is something that World of Hyatt members will probably be interested in, though some won’t be happy about what this means for elite recognition.
In this post:
Thompson Central Park Upper Stories open for reservations
The Thompson New York has started accepting reservations for its Upper Stories accommodations, which are bookable for stays as of early September 2022. This consists of 174 additional guest rooms and suites, located on the hotel’s highest floors (levels 26-33).
Since these rooms are on the highest guest room floors, they’ll feature better views of Central Park and Manhattan. However, the benefits of staying in these rooms goes beyond that.
Upper Stories rooms at the Thompson Central Park will be more premium than existing rooms:
- The rooms will feature upgraded finishes with dark oak casework, walnut floors, and marble bathrooms and tables
- Rooms will have upgraded in-room amenities, including Knours beauty products, in-room coffee from a Nespresso Vertuo, and a Dyson Supersonic hair dryer
There will also be a 2,000 square foot special Upper Stories Lounge, located over the atrium on the hotel’s third floor. This seems to be a scaled down version of a club lounge.
As it’s described, the Upper Stories Lounge features a “thoughtful menu of light bites and sips throughout the day with menus refreshed daily and reimagined seasonally.” The lounge also has coffee, tea, and soft drinks, plus an honor bar (meaning alcohol isn’t complimentary).
Upper Stories guests also receive a more private check-in experience in the lounge, and have access to priority seating for live music and dining at Parker’s, the hotel’s most popular restaurant. Guests will also have access to the fitness studio that’s typically for residents, which features Peloton bikes.
Globalist members won’t get Upper Stories upgrades
I think the first question that OMAAT readers may have is whether World of Hyatt Globalist members can be upgraded to Upper Stories rooms, and/or will receive access to the Upper Stories Lounge. I reached out to a contact to ask, and can now report back with a definitive answer.
Unfortunately as we’ve seen at some other properties, this will essentially be a “hotel within a hotel” concept. World of Hyatt Globalist members won’t be eligible for upgrades from the “standard” rooms to the Upper Stories, and also won’t be eligible for access to the Upper Stories Lounge.
Unfortunately this seems to be the way that the industry is increasingly headed, given the challenging economics of hotel club lounges. This is disappointing, because it’s not really within the spirit of how loyalty programs are supposed to work, but then again, quite a few hotels go this direction.
I guess one silver lining is that Globalist members can continue to enjoy a full hot breakfast in the restaurant. If they had club access, they’d instead just be entitled to continental breakfast in the lounge. Personally I also have a hard time getting excited about an evening spread with just an honor bar.
Thompson Central Park Upper Stories pricing & how to book
How are the Thompson Central Park Upper Stories rooms priced?
- For standard rooms, there’s a consistent $200 premium for booking the Upper Stories vs. the non-Upper Stories
- For the studio suite, there’s a consistent $350 premium for booking the Upper Stories vs. the non-Upper Stories; in fairness, the Upper Stories studio suite is also larger (unlike the Upper Stories standard king room)
If you’re going to book a cash stay at the Thompson New York, you’re best off booking through a travel advisor affiliated with the Hyatt Privé program. Hyatt Privé rates cost the same as standard flexible rates (not member rates, advance purchase rates, AAA rates, etc.), and include additional perks, like daily complimentary breakfast, a $100 property credit, a one-category room upgrade within 24 hours of booking, and more.
Bottom line
The Thompson Central Park New York is expanding with the introduction of the Upper Stories. This includes 174 rooms on the top floors, which offer better views, upgraded finishes and amenities, access to a club lounge of sorts, and more. It’s nice to see the hotel add capacity, though unfortunately Globalist members won’t be upgraded from “standard” rooms to Upper Stories rooms.
What do you make of the Thompson New York Upper Stories concept?
Just got an Upper Stories King room, it was small with no desk and no view but was available for check in at 10 am. Went to the lounge and got breakfast, it was limited but pretty fancy and the service is nearly over-attentive. Concierge said that Globalists staying in Upper Stories may still use the restaurant for breakfast, so they have 3 choices - restaurant, room service, or lounge, 6 am to 11 am....
Just got an Upper Stories King room, it was small with no desk and no view but was available for check in at 10 am. Went to the lounge and got breakfast, it was limited but pretty fancy and the service is nearly over-attentive. Concierge said that Globalists staying in Upper Stories may still use the restaurant for breakfast, so they have 3 choices - restaurant, room service, or lounge, 6 am to 11 am. Lounge also serves evening buffet starting at 5 pm.
We needed a desk for work and didn’t want to use the lounge (though it’s common for residents to do work in the lounge like a coworking space, large table in the center, plenty of chargers everywhere and also separated booths). So we decided to go back to the original room I was assigned, which is a lower level Studio King. Still no view and no lounge access but the desk in the room is very convenient and we don’t really need the lounge access.
Anyways, just wanted to correct the post to say that Globalists in Upper Stories are still allowed to take breakfast in the restaurant! It’s one entree plus one hot beverage and one cold beverage per person. No actual dollar limit.
I stayed a few months ago. Not impressed. I’ll never go back. It’s the worst Thompson I’ve ever experienced.
I recently stayed at the Thompson CP prior in a studio suite which looks a lot like the Upper Stories room with slightly different finishes and color palette. We were upgraded to the 17th floor and informed that the only rooms with park views were not open yet (Upper Stories). I found it odd that we had an empty mini-fridge and barware but no coffee maker. This hotel also has a very small lobby with...
I recently stayed at the Thompson CP prior in a studio suite which looks a lot like the Upper Stories room with slightly different finishes and color palette. We were upgraded to the 17th floor and informed that the only rooms with park views were not open yet (Upper Stories). I found it odd that we had an empty mini-fridge and barware but no coffee maker. This hotel also has a very small lobby with the only other indoor gathering space being the restaurant.
It would seem then that the main differentiator for the Upper Stories rooms are having a park view room (versus only city views), a Nespresso machine (versus not having one) and access to a lounge when you want socialize or grab a snack.
As a Globalist, I have no complaints about the service I received during my stay and I also agree that it is frustrating that this premium area being made inaccessible to Globalists.
I don't know how this is permissible. There is NOTHING in the WOH terms that allow a property to deny an elite access to a club lounge.
During the month of Apr 22, I stayed in this hotel . I was upgraded as a globalist with the amazing in room breakfast. There was construction going on in the front of the hotel. However, there was a odd smell coming in my room (dampness). I reported to the front desk. I dont know how they fixed it after I came back from my walk. The staff were friendly and helpful.
If only managements put as much effort into making and maintaining a good product as they do into how to weasel out of loyalty program obligations while taking the loyalty program upsides.
I seriously hate that “hotel within a hotel” stuff. This is the type of stuff Hilton does (ie. What they did with the Waldorf Towers”. So disappointing that a Hyatt property is pulling this BS.
I don’t understand how you can earn points in what is essentially a club or executive floor but not access it with elite status. If you can’t use your status then you shouldn’t be able to earn points. They’re trying to have it both ways. They are either a Hyatt or they aren’t. I have a feeling more Hyatt properties will be going this way.
Sounds similar to the Gold Floor at Fairmonts. ALL Elites aren't upgraded into Gold rooms and can't use the Gold lounges. Really is a hotel within a hotel concept. Must work though because they seem to command a decent premium.
Dyson hairdryer for $200/night - sign me up! :roll eyes:
Unless the lounge is absolutely superb AND moves to include alcoholic drinks, this seems like a tough sell.
I stayed here a few months ago and the room service Globalist breakfast benefit was one of the least inspiring I've ever had as a Globalist. Avocado toast was two halves of an avocado on a soggy piece of bad bread. First world problems I know but I found the regular room to be excellent (apart from not having a coffee machine). It's the food that needs a major upgrade not the rooms.
Couldn’t agree more. Elite recognition was lame bordering on non-existent. Zero upgrade even though many categories were for sale at checkin. Terrible GLOB breakfast benefit. At their price point now often 800 usd+ just look for a corporate rate at the park hyatt across the street….
I accept the fact that this is all personal taste, and that maybe my own taste is not the best, but...
is it just me or is the decor in a lot of the places recently reviewed/reported really meh?
Is it a style that I am not getting? It's not ugly or anything, just very generic and lacking in flair.,
Managements tend to think that the priority is to not offend anybody.
In a location with only a few hotels I can see the logic.
In somewhere like NY where there are lots of competitors so any one hotel can only satisfy <5% of relevant demand, I would have thought they would do better to enthuse say 30% of the market even if that puts off the other 70%.
There are a lot of lower end lounges in various hotels in New York. I think the honor bar idea makes the hotel look bad/cheap. What's the point in having a lounge when you have to pay for the drinks. Then it's just another hotel bar.
I have stayed here 3 times since it reopened. During my first 2 visits there was still a lot of construction happening and only on my last visit was the main restaurant finally open. I'm a globalist and received a suite upgrade on each visit. The staff has been lovely, breakfast is very nice as is room service. The Andaz on 5th was my preferred Hyatt property in NYC but I've been repeating the Thompson...
I have stayed here 3 times since it reopened. During my first 2 visits there was still a lot of construction happening and only on my last visit was the main restaurant finally open. I'm a globalist and received a suite upgrade on each visit. The staff has been lovely, breakfast is very nice as is room service. The Andaz on 5th was my preferred Hyatt property in NYC but I've been repeating the Thompson because it has a superior gym (and 5 Peloton's although 3 were not signed in on my last visit). I hope you can clarify that comment Ben because I've used the gym on each visit and if it will eventually be only for the upper stories I'm not sure I would ever stay here again. Considering the plethora of suites and odds of an upgrade I'm not sure it would be worth it to me to book the upper stories. The only downside of the renovation is that the doors and hallways still feel like one of the old versions of the hotel although I'm not sure they could do too much with them.
Is the Burger Joint still open?
Yes, and it's unchanged.
Don't understand NA hotel alot, when was having Dyson hairdryer such a good point to advertise? The nanning Renaissance charging less than 100USD have Dyson hairdryer down to the most basic room, with lounge that closes due to too many guests and instead offer a buffet to all. The room quality look better in Nanning renassiance than this hotel's new wing anyways. NA hotels seems like miles away from Asian hotels.
Most people would probably choose New York as a destination rather than Nanning, however.
You can use better examples - all UrCove by Hyatt, as cheap as $30 per night, use Dyson.
Similar concept to the Qianhai JW Marriott's Glory Tower that opened last month, however, the glory tower is 1km away from the main jw site. Apparently the owner have difficulty selling them as apartments and converted them into a hotel with a hotel.
"If I had to guess..." Here's an idea: Rather than guessing, why not reach out to both hotel the hotel's management and WOH. And, god forbid, you could actually make a phone call.
@ Dom -- I'm always open to constructive feedback, but please be polite. There's no need for your tone. I think I addressed your point in the sentence immediately above the one you quoted:
"I’m working on getting an answer to that, and will report back when I have one."
I have official inquiries out about this, but as you'd expect, answers typically aren't instant. Why don't I phone up the hotel? Because I...
@ Dom -- I'm always open to constructive feedback, but please be polite. There's no need for your tone. I think I addressed your point in the sentence immediately above the one you quoted:
"I’m working on getting an answer to that, and will report back when I have one."
I have official inquiries out about this, but as you'd expect, answers typically aren't instant. Why don't I phone up the hotel? Because I highly doubt front desk agents have been trained on this weeks before the new rooms even open. Beyond that, we all know that frontline employees have notoriously bad information. I don't want to go off what they tell me, then have people book based on that information, and then have that not be true.
That's why I'm waiting for an actually "official" response.
Fair?
Dom, it's been a while since you posted - care to respond to Ben's immediate, thoughtful response? Or no, you're gone?
I stayed here in November 2021 around Thanksgiving time. It had an incredible location, amazing staff who were very friendly and eager to help (they seemed like they wanted to be there), the rooms were beautiful and practically designed (though smaller than average hotel rooms, which is expected in Manhattan, but they didn't seem cramped, I don't know if their a bit more spacious or if it was their design). They also had an awesome...
I stayed here in November 2021 around Thanksgiving time. It had an incredible location, amazing staff who were very friendly and eager to help (they seemed like they wanted to be there), the rooms were beautiful and practically designed (though smaller than average hotel rooms, which is expected in Manhattan, but they didn't seem cramped, I don't know if their a bit more spacious or if it was their design). They also had an awesome hole in the wall burger joint downstairs, and the Macy's day parade was less than a block away (you could hear it from the hotel room).
I also recently stayed at the Park Hyatt Toronto, which just recently opened after a renovation, and the design seemed quite similar in feel to the Thompson Central Park.
@ JB -- Happy to hear you had a great stay! I'll have to check this place out, I guess. I still have bad memories from the games they played in the Starwood days.
Sounds like Nomad hotel inside the Park MGM in Vegas.
This is what I was reminded of too
“Direct line to Nordstrom flagship ambassador” is the best they can do for shopping in Manhattan?
Sounds a lot like the Hotel Beaux Arts within the JW Marriott Marquis in Miami. In that case it is treated as a separate hotel and not upgradeable from the main hotel.