Hotel Review: The New York EDITION
Marriott’s EDITION hotels are rare; There are only 11 properties that are open (as of 10/10/21), and they are only located in major cities in the world - New York, London, Tokyo, etc. EDITION properties are luxury five-star hotels that represent the epitome of sophistication through luxury and design. I’ve always wanted to stay at an EDITION hotel because it seemed like it fell between a younger version of the Ritz-Carlton properties and a more mature version of the W hotels. Recently, I had a chance to spend a few nights in New York City, and I found out there are two EDITION hotels in the city: the Times Square EDITION and the New York EDITION. Because I do not want to get trapped among tourists anywhere near Times Square, I chose the New York EDITION hotel in Nomad. It was right across from Madison Square Park, perfect for tourists and seasoned New Yorkers. Although I was excited to stay at the hotel, my experience fell extremely short of the luxurious experience that EDITION hotels are supposed to be known for, and I was hugely disappointed with the level of service I received from the hotel staff.
The New York EDITION hotel is located at 5 Madison Ave, New York, NY 10010.
What Card(s) Should You Use to Book?
I earn tons of Marriott Bonvoy points by using my American Express Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 150,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. On top of that, you can earn a free night award, redeemable up to 85,000 points per night. The elevated sign-up bonus ends on 11/03/2021, so apply sooner rather than later to secure the bonus! It earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 3X points on dining and flights booked directly with airlines, and 2X on all other purchases. Paired with Marriott’s promotions and AMEX offers, it opens doors to endless points-earning opportunities.
The Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant card comes with great benefits that can substantially offset its annual fee.
The Bonvoy Brilliant Card does come with a hefty $450 annual fee but offers tons of perks to significantly offset its costs. The card features the following benefits:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite status, the mid-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
$300 Marriott Bonvoy statement credit that can be applied towards your room rate
$100 property credit when booked directly with Marriott and staying a minimum of two nights at Ritz-Carlton or St. Regis properties
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 50,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
Access to Priority Pass lounges
15 Elite Night Credits that can prove helpful for chasing Bonvoy status
Even if you don’t stay at Marriott properties often, this card is still a must-have in my opinion. It’s a true example of a keeper card that offers benefits that outweigh the annual fee.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Brilliant Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSwdXp?xl=cp01
I have another Marriott Bonvoy credit card: the AMEX Marriott Bonvoy Business Card. It is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 125,000 Marriott Bonvoy points when you spend $5,000 within your first 3 months of card membership. On top of that, you can earn two free night awards, redeemable up to 50,000 points per night. The elevated sign-up bonus ends on 11/03/2021, so apply sooner than later to secure the bonus! The card earns 6X Marriott Bonvoy points per dollar when you book directly with Marriott, 4X points on dining, U.S. shipping purchases, U.S. wireless telephone services, and at U.S. gas stations. All other purchases earn 2X points.
The Marriott Bonvoy Business Card is the only Marriott business card on the market.
The Bonvoy Business Card’s annual fee is $125 and offers decent benefits to justify the cost:
Automatic Marriott Bonvoy Silver Elite status, the low-tier status offered in Marriott’s member ecosystem
One free night certificate, redeemable for properties worth up to 35,000 Marriott Bonvoy points per night
15 Elite Night Credits that will help you achieve a higher Bonvoy status
As you can see the card’s benefits are less substantial than the ones from the Bonvoy Brilliant Card, but it is a great long-term keeper card due to its annual free night certificate perk. Furthermore, it is absolutely necessary if you want to chase a higher Marriott Bonvoy status because it is the only Marriott business card that is on the market and will grant you an additional 15 Elite Night Credits. Lastly, even though it is a business credit card, it is very likely that you could get it approved. Check out my article on how to apply for a business credit card as a sole proprietor.
If you’d like to apply for the American Express Bonvoy Business Card, please consider using my referral link. It will continue to help fund my blog operations and help visitors make informed decisions to maximize their rewards. Thank you! http://refer.amex.us/EDWARSi04o?xl=cp01
Lobby & Check-In Review
Because I was coming from another hotel, I dropped my luggage off at the hotel prior to my original check-in time. The lobby was strongly scented with Le Labo’s signature EDITION hotel scent and kept the area minimalistic, other than sparingly spaced candles and warm-toned furniture.
The neutral tone is what EDITION hotels are known for.
There weren’t many work-oriented seating options, but the area was perfect for guests to unwind and lounge.
The lobby had candles everywhere, and you could smell its exclusive Le Labo scent even before entering the hotel.
The check-in desk was also minimal, and there were still plexiglass barriers again COVID-19.
The concierge desk was closed, and the desk representatives were not helpful.
The lobby featured the Lobby Bar, and although I didn’t have drinks there during my stay, it was a popular destination for hotel guests during my stay.
The bar transformed the atmosphere in the lobby at night, and as expected, the drinks were pricy.
The Clocktower, one Michelin-starred restaurant by chef Jason Atherton, is home to the New York EDITION, but it was closed during my visit due to COVID-19.
Can you see why the restaurant is called the Clocktower?
The New York EDITION hotel’s signature staircase by Ian Schrager was beautifully illuminated in the back of the lobby.
The hotel’s signature staircase was truly a piece of art.
Additional seating options were available in front of the staircase, which became an intimate and romantic setting with numerous candles lit at night.
Some people may find the hotel to be too minimalistic.
One thing I liked about the lobby was the elevator. The system was digitalized, and each elevator was only allowed to take one party at a time to a requested floor level. This system guaranteed privacy and fast service to your floor, which worked out well to keep guests socially distanced.
The private elevator system functioned wonderfully and made me feel safer since I didn’t share my ride with others.
After touring the lobby, because my room wasn’t ready at the moment, I returned to the hotel after 4 PM to check into my room. I booked a Superior King room, and upon checking in, I wasn’t upgraded even with my Titanium Elite status. The desk representative put me in a room facing the Empire State Building, and I understood the lack of upgradable rooms since complimentary upgrades are subject to availability. Then, I sat near the check-in desk and waited for my previously dropped luggage. As I was minding my own business, two women came up to the front desk and complained that their room is “too small” and demanded to be upgraded to a more spacious room. The representative appeared to be hesitant but granted the demand by upgrading to a suite. At that moment, I was confused because when I spoke to the representative, there was no upgradable room. I went up to my room on the 13th floor., feeling uneasy.
Bedroom Review
The bedroom did have a beautiful view of the Empire State Building and overlooked Madison Square Park.
The first room had a great view overlooking Madison Square Park.
However, I immediately noticed that the HVAC system was abnormally loud. I called the front desk, and they sent “engineers” to take a look at the HVAC system. Upon brief inspection, they informed me that it is indeed unusual, and I can talk to the front desk to request a new room. I called the front desk and the representative told me that there is only one room in the entire hotel that I can change to. I had to bite the bullet, and as informed, the room had no views and was smaller than my original room.
The one and only window for my second room had this pathetic view.
At this point, I was baffled. To be frank, the HVAC malfunction unit was not my problem, and I was forced to downgrade to a room with a terrible view and less square footage. I brought up what I witnessed while waiting to pick up my luggage, and she quickly dismissed that such an event did not happen. I insisted that I was with my travel partner when this happened, and it was unfair for me to be forced to be placed in an inferior room. Then, the representative hung up on me. This never happened to me at luxury properties, and I was shocked. I recalled that the hotel's general manager emailed me before my arrival, thanking me for choosing the hotel. I quickly emailed him and explained the situation, and about an hour later, I got an email from the front desk manager, who told me that the downgrade did not happen as both rooms are in the same category, and what I witnessed by the check-in desk was not true. She offered me 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points for the inconvenience. I was extremely disappointed in the level of service I received. I was ready to cancel the stay and check in to a different hotel but decided not to because of my upcoming dinner reservation.
10,000 extra Marriott Bonvoy points was not worth the disappointment and frustration I experienced.
With my unpleasant experience aside, my new room was ok for a luxury hotel. Since it was in the heart of NYC, the room was tiny as expected. The bed took up most of the space, and the bed was comfortable.
The first room had a TV mounted on the wall.
The oversized, walnut headboard was a simple way to decorate the room with its natural tone. It had integrated mood lighting along its outline, and it certainly added the intended cozy, home environment along with natural wooden flooring. The nightstands were compact due to the room size, and the nightstands were aesthetically pleasing and functionally great with a dial knob to adjust the brightness of the lights.
The mood lighting gently brighten the room at night.
A lounge chair and a simple end table were situated at one corner, and I felt as if the furniture were thrown in at the last minute to fill in the space. The room was tiny without them, to begin with, and I could not justify the purpose of the furniture when every inch of the room’s real estate was highly valuable.
The room featured one of Melvin Sokolsky’s iconic 1963 “Bubble” series.
The last remaining space was occupied by a work desk, a Smart TV, and a discreetly hidden mini-fridge. Various glasses were available above the fridge, depending on the type of beverage guests may enjoy.
Having a smart TV broadened our entertainment options during the stay.
Champagne glasses came in hand because the hotel gave me a complimentary bottle of champagne. The champagne was a bit too sweet for my taste, but I still appreciated the kind gesture from the hotel.
I will never say no to free champagne.
On the desk, complimentary bottled water and a basic wellness kit containing disposable face masks and alcohol wipes were available. The desk was decently sized, but it wasn’t kept well, and the surface was roughened and scratched up.
Many services were not available during my stave due to COVID-19.
The mini-fridge was fully stocked with drinks, and I ended up taking them out to store bottled water for me to stay hydrated.
Don’t be afraid to take those beverages out to store bottled water!
The closet was well-lit and had a collection of snacks and liquor on top of a drawer that housed a safe.
The bath robes were soft to touch but didn’t absorb moisture well.
A bottle of Hudson Bourbon Whiskey was certainly tempting, and being able to purchase a Le Labo scented EDITION candle was a nice touch, should you want to bring a souvenir from the hotel.
You can purchase an exclusive EDITION candle, priced at $60.
This is my very subjective, personal opinion, but the room was not worth the high price tag. The New York EDITION hotel can cost upwards of $800 a night with taxes and fees included, and I would much rather stay at the Conrad New York Downtown, where rooms are actually spacious and equipped with amenities that you’d value and appreciate. I moved on to the bathroom to see if it could prove me different.
Bathroom Review
The warm beige-toned bathroom was beautiful but lacked functionality. The door was a sliding door and didn’t block the noise from the bathroom efficiently. I presume the hotel used it to spare any space they could find. The same theme continued in the bathroom because there wasn’t enough space to lay out toiletries.
The bathroom severely lacked countertop real estate.
Oddly, there was a tiny shelf above the toilet, which I was reluctant to use. The shower was a walk-in shower with a minimal barrier, and it featured a rainfall and a handheld showerhead.
The shower needed to have a barrier to keep the water from splattering everywhere.
I am a sucker for rainfall-type showerheads, but the water pressure was not strong here. To make things even worse, the water splattered out of the shower booth every time I took a shower. I had to use extra towels to mop up water on the floor, so I didn’t slip when stepping out of the shower. The only redeeming part of the bathroom was its toiletry.
The luscious fragrance of Le Labo products is unequivocally phenomenal.
The property used Le Labo toiletries with a scent specially developed for EDITION hotels. As expected from Le Labo products, the scent was amazing, and the quality was superb.
I enjoyed the exclusive scent for the New York EDITION.
The simple and modern aesthetics of the bathroom was all it had, and everything else fell short. My shower experiences were messy every single time, and storing toiletries was a hassle. The Le Labo products were amazing, but I questioned the value of the hotel even more after reviewing the bathroom.
Gym Review
The gym and spa were located on the 39th floor of the hotel. I cannot speak for the spa since I didn’t use the service, but the gym was below my expectations. By the gym entrance, neatly rolled towels and cool bottled water were available for gymgoers.
If you are thirsty, stop by the gym to grab some bottled water.
The fitness center was divided into two areas: cardio and strength.
There were only three treadmills for the entire gym.
The cardio space featured LifeFitness treadmills, ellipticals, and cycle machines, along with two Peloton bikes.
At least there were two Peloton bikes to make up for the lack of premium gadgets.
Most cardio machines were visibly getting outdated, which is rare to see at a Category 7 Marriott hotel.
Cardio machines were not severely outdated, but for a luxury hotel, this was unacceptable.
The strength room had two adjustable benches with a standard set of dumbbells, as well as an all-in-one workout machine.
Who would think this is a gym at a Marriott’s Category 7 hotel?
There was a few muscle-specific strength equipment, but that was it.
At the minimum, the fitness center had an all-in-one machine.
For a luxury property, the gym was not impressive. To start, there was no pool. The low ceiling made me feel cramped, and the equipment was not modern and was on par with the ones I would see from Hilton Garden Inns (except for Peloton bikes). I understand EDITION hotels are not for value-seekers. However, the New York EDITION’s amenities were severely lacking for a splurge-worthy hotel, and I could not stop regretting my stay.
Summary
I imagined my stay at the New York EDITION hotel to be somewhat perfect. The welcoming, home vibe from the lobby was a great start to my three-night stay, but everything fell apart from there. I had tons of negative incidents from the hotel staff, from downgrading me to a less desirable room to hanging up my phone when I gently requested the rationale for the downgrade. The room’s overall tone was warm and restful, but the bathroom didn’t feature an enclosed shower and lacked ample countertop space for personal toiletries. The hotel didn’t have a pool, and the gym lacked technology and amenities. Needless to say, my first experience with the EDITION brand was a miserable failure. I do not recommend the New York EDITION hotel to those looking for upscale service and amenities in NYC.
