Gild Hall Offers A Gilded Age Escape In New York’s Financial District
The Thompson boutique provides a home away from home for travelers
(The Thompson Suite at Gild Hall)
Location: The Financial District, Manhattan
Perfect For: An understated luxury retreat tucked away in Lower Manhattan
An emphasis on the guest experience is evident from the moment of arrival at Gild Hall, a Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt. The hotel’s front desk staff make sure even the check in experience is engaging and personable. It’s indicative of the philosophy on display throughout a stay at the Manhattan boutique hotel, as Marshneil Bharadwaj, General Manager at Gild Hall, tells A HOTEL PODCAST.
“The most important thing, I believe in general, is also not only just at the hotel, but in my day to day life, is leading with empathy and kindness. These are my core values and I, no matter whatsoever, whether inside the hotel or outside meeting all our stakeholders, these two are my key things that goes with me everywhere, wherever I meet people. Most importantly for me being the general manager of this beautiful hotel, it's retaining and developing the best talent in the company. That's one of my key things over here. Setting up the new dimensions in guest experiences, innovation, technology. That's one of the key things also I look at and not to forget, of course, improving efficiencies (on a) day to day basis. Those are the key objectives as a general manager of this property I look into.”
(The Crostone Ricotta from Felice 15 Gold Street)
Located in Manhattan’s Financial District, Gild Hall houses 130 guest rooms and suites, in addition to wine bar La Soffitta and Italian concept Felice 15 Gold Street. (“All their wines are from their family owned winery out in Tuscany, Italy,” Director of Sales & Marketing Sang Choi shares.) Visitors exploring the hotel will no doubt appreciate design touches courtesy of the late Jim Walrod, including, as Bharadwaj points out, the “antler-shaped chrome chandeliers” that greet guests as soon as they enter the lobby.
(Jim Walrod’s antler-shaped chandeliers installation)
“Jim Walrod is often considered an expert in the field of midcentury and postmodern interior design,” Choi details. “And you kind of see that throughout, from the room all the way throughout the building. And as Gild Hall pays homage to that Gilded Age of New York City, being right here in the Financial District, which is a 1950s, ‘60s, Mad Men, cigar bar, kind of a feel. You do see gold accents throughout the building, whether that's in the lobby or even to your bedsheets, you'll kind of see that. Plush leathers all throughout from couches in the living room to seating areas at the bar and at Felice over to the couch that we're currently sitting on right now. And you see those accents kind of sprinkled out throughout. So Jim Walrod’s influence, you don't see it just in the main lobby when you walk in or in the sleeping room. It is kind of all put together throughout the entire building from our restaurants, from the lobby, also to our rooms.”
“We consider him as a design guru and he has fused that classical European sensibility with a contemporary edge that fits in very well with our Thompson brand,” Bharadwaj adds. “So whether it is those antler shaped chrome chandeliers which I really wanted to talk about because those are one of the key unique selling points for our lobby. But also, just exactly how Sang mentioned, the oversized leather headboards in the room and custom designed wooden furniture.”
(The living room and dining space in Gild Hall’s Penthouse Suite)
The hotel’s welcoming spirit continues in Gild Hall’s understated and luxurious guest rooms, including the spacious Penthouse Suite and Thompson Suite. Both comfort-focused suites include open living rooms for entertaining and minibar stations primed for crafting cocktails, in addition to soaking tubs and more. The guest room experience is intended to provide a home away from home, as Choi explains.
“You do get the personalized, high touch service that everybody craves, and that's what keeps us going here at Gild Hall.” - Sang Choi
“So the number one thing about Gild Hall is all the rooms…(are) very residentially appointed. So we want to make it feel like you're walking into your New York City apartment or studio. So you get off the elevator. There's not that many rooms on each floor. You walk into your room or suite and we want to make it feel very comfortable. So you can walk into your hardwood floors, relax on your leather couches. Lay down on your comfortable bed. Just to tell you about some of the main features. Obviously we have a mini bar on site with those plush leather headboards. It's 400 thread count SFERRA linen. All the amenities are done by D.S. & DURGA, which is based out in Brooklyn. So it's very local.”
(The soaking tub in the Thompson Suite)
Guests will no doubt notice striking wall prints from the late photographer Slim Aarons in Gild Hall’s rooms and suites, including the stunning ‘Beauty and The Beast’ in the Thompson Suite. The photo is indicative of Aarons’ trademark focus on capturing glamour, displaying, as Bharadwaj details, “attractive people doing attractive things in attractive places.”
(Slim Aarons’ ‘Beauty and The Beast’)
For more on Gild Hall, including insights into the management and marketing of the property, as well as Bharadwaj and Choi’s respective backgrounds in hospitality, click play on A HOTEL PODCAST below.
Find more via Gild Hall. And subscribe for more from A Hotel Podcast on LinkedIn, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram. Words and media by Jaime Black.
Accommodations and dining provided by Gild Hall, Felice 15 Gold Street, and Kinship Company.