Two symbols of international hospitality are preparing for a long break for important restoration work.
At the Plaza, Kevin McCallister ordered room service with his father’s credit card, while Eloise, the protagonist of Kay Thompson’s books, transformed the hotel corridors into her own playground. In Milan, the Prince of Savoy welcomed queens, film stars, musicians and fashion stars, becoming one of the most recognizable addresses of Italian hospitality. Two cities, two different ways of interpreting luxury and almost two centuries of history added together. Yet, from January 2027, both hotels will temporarily close their doors to undertake major restoration work. A coincidence that pauses two places that have entered the collective imagination, far beyond the world of hotels.
The Plaza, a piece of New York between cinema and literature
Overlooking Central Park, at the intersection of Fifth Avenue and Central Park South, the Plaza has been one of the most familiar images of Manhattan for over a century. Inaugurated in 1907 and designed by architect Henry Janeway Hardenbergh, it has gone through eras and transformations of the city without losing its monumental character.
His guests included F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Beatles, but part of his celebrity was above all due to cinema and literature. From Mom, I missed the plane again: I got lost in New York to The Great Gatsbyuntil the adventures of little Eloise, the Plaza has become a place that millions of people know without ever having stayed there.
Its closure, announced for January 2027, will last at least four years. At the center of the intervention is the restoration of the historic façade, subject to architectural protection restrictions. The complexity of the works will make it necessary to suspend hotel activities, including those of the most famous spaces, such as the Palm Court, a traditional destination for afternoon tea, and the rooms dedicated to events.
The reopening does not yet have a definitive date, but according to the timing communicated it will hardly happen before 2031. For New York it means temporarily giving up one of its most recognizable scenarios, just as the hotel approaches its one hundred and twentieth anniversary.
The Prince of Savoy, almost a century of Milanese elegance
In Milan, the Prince of Savoy is preparing to celebrate his centenary with a radical transformation. Inaugurated on 6 April 1927 in what was then Piazza Fiume, now Piazza della Repubblica, the hotel was born in an area that at the time appeared distant from the center of city life. A far-sighted choice by architect Cesare Tenca, destined to accompany the development of modern Milan.
Over the decades, the Prince has become a familiar presence in the city’s luxury geography. From Queen Elizabeth II to the Rolling Stones, it has hosted personalities from entertainment, politics and culture, consolidating a privileged bond with the Milan of fashion and business.
Dorchester Collection has announced the closure of the hotel starting January 1, 2027, with a reopening expected in 2029. The project represents one of the most significant investments in the history of the structure and aims to redefine its spaces without erasing its architectural heritage.
Rooms and suites will become larger, while a selection of private residences will introduce a new dimension of hospitality. There are also spaces dedicated to well-being, a renewed gastronomic offer and a panoramic terrace overlooking the Milanese skyline.
The result will be a more intimate hotel, designed to meet the new expectations of international luxury, maintaining the character that has made the Principe a point of reference for generations.
