The Dorchester Collection also announced major investment plans for both properties. The intention is to transform The New York Palace into one of New York�s most luxurious hotels. The refurbishment will take place over the next 3 years and will include a total redesign of the public areas and guest rooms. Whilst at the Hotel Bel-Air a new $6m Spa will open in 2009. 

Christopher Cowdray, CEO of Dorchester Collection, says, �We are delighted to welcome both these iconic hotels to the Dorchester Collection. All our hotels have their own style of individuality and these are no exception. We have ambitious plans for growth and are targeting 15 hotels in key North American and European cities in the next 5-10 years. To have secured such landmark hotels in the gateway cities of New York and Los Angeles is of tremendous benefit to our portfolio.� 

The New York Palace is one of the city�s most iconic hotels and is located in midtown Manhattan on Madison Avenue. With 899 rooms it consists of the landmark Villard Mansions, built in 1882 which houses the hotel�s Michelin-starred Gilt restaurant and a contemporary 55-storey tower. 

Christopher Cowdray said: �The hotel has great potential and we fully intend to preserve and enhance the heritage, reputation and unique character of the hotel whilst at the same time ensuring that it provides the highest possible standards of service and excellence that Dorchester Collection is known for.� 

The Hotel Bel-Air has 91 guest rooms and suites set in 12 acres of landscaped gardens, privately nestled in Stone Canyon. Constructed in 1946 by Texan entrepreneur Joseph Drown, it has developed into one of the most iconic and respected properties in the world and is perhaps most famous for �Swan Lake� with its own resident swans. In 2006 the hotel underwent a $22 million renovation and each of its 91 rooms has its own unique design, some of which are tailor-made for frequent guests. Renovations also included a newly designed restaurant, the addition of the Wine Terrace and state-of-the-art equipment in the fitness centre. 

The New York Palace Hotel Key Facts
 � 899 rooms including 86 suites 
 � Michelin-starred Chef, Christopher Lee�s Gilt Restaurant and Bar 
 � American brasserie Istana 
 � 7,000-square-foot Spa & Fitness Centre that overlooks St. Patrick�s Cathedral 
 � Extensive conference & banqueting facilities 

Hotel Bel Air Key Facts 
 � 91 rooms including 36 suites 
 � 12 acres of landscaped gardens and courtyard fountains including Swan Lake 
 � 3 conference & meeting rooms from 10 � 160 people 
 � Al fresco dining at The Terrace 
 � The Restaurant offering Mediterranean style cuisine 
 � Fitness Centre & private Spa suites 
 � 80ft outdoor heated swimming pool 

Dorchester Collection 
The Dorchester Collection is the successor to the Dorchester Group, originally established by the Brunei Investment Agency in 1996 to manage its collection of hotels in Europe and the USA. The Dorchester Collection is a portfolio of the world�s foremost five-star luxury hotels. 

The launch of Dorchester Collection in 2006 signalled a change to the strategic goals of the company. By applying its unrivalled experience and capability in owning and operating some of the world�s great individual hotels, the company�s mission is to develop an impeccable portfolio of the world�s finest hotels, both traditional and contemporary, through acquisition as well as management of wholly-owned and part-owned hotels, and to enter into management contracts for luxury city hotels. 

Backing the strategy is a strong company branding that expresses the market�s universally high regard for the current portfolio and the distinctive common values held by all Dorchester Collection hotels. 

The current portfolio is owned and managed by Dorchester Collection: 

The Dorchester in London 
The Beverly Hills Hotel in Beverly Hills 
Le Meurice in Paris 
Hotel Plaza Athénée in Paris 
Hotel Principe di Savoia in Milan 
 

 Dorchester Collection
Anna Glover, Dorchester Collection 
Telephone: 0207 319 7524 
Email: [email protected]

www.dorchestercollection.com