Amid the frenetic hours leading up to the 2024 Met Gala and the glamorous celebrations that followed, the Mark Hotel was one of New York’s most star-studded destinations — and Page Six got an exclusive look inside.
Kylie Jenner, Cardi B and Emily Ratajkowski were among dozens of notable celebrities who stayed in the iconic hotel’s lavish suites — priced between $2,500 and $45,000 a night — during fashion’s biggest night from Monday.
“There are many attributes of the property that make the Mark Hotel the ideal location aside from its geographic location,” general manager Etienne Haro told Page Six.
“Of course we are one of the closest hotels to the Met, but also in terms of product we have the largest suites in New York,” he explains of the rooms, designed by the famous legend French interior designer Jacques Grange.
In addition to its 106 boutique rooms and jaw-dropping $75,000-a-night penthouse, the Upper East Side mainstay features 46 magnificent suites ranging in size from 700 to 10,000 square feet.
Spacious suites feature stunning modern and contemporary finishes, fresh floral arrangements delivered daily, fragrances by Frédéric Malle and distinctive artwork curated by Karl Lagerfeld and Todd Eberle.
The upscale units are welcoming yet elevated and offer elegant bedrooms, a full dining room for dinner parties, a sophisticated office space, and several luxurious lounge areas overlooking the city’s spectacular skyline.
Some suites even have a long terrace where visitors can sunbathe on reclining chairs under large umbrellas or enjoy morning coffee with a view.
Fully equipped kitchens feature an avant-garde breakfast nook, stove and bar area, Nespresso machine, two state-of-the-art Bosch ovens and a Sub-Zero fridge and freezer stocked with ‘Evian, San Pellegrino and upper shelves. liquors like Clase Azul tequila and Johnnie Walker whiskey.
The pristine marble bathrooms are equally sumptuous with Toto toilets, deep soaking tubs, separate showers, double sinks, and luxury bath and body products from revered Italian manufacturer La Bottega dell’Albergo.
Closets and storage spaces line the hallways and are stocked with gorgeous offerings like plush bathrobes, cozy slippers, and orange yoga mats.
The intentionally designed natural lighting is perhaps one of Mark’s most treasured elements of the Met Gala evening.
“When the hotel was created, a big idea from designer Jacques Grange was actually to use softer colors, shades of beige, lots of natural light, which was not necessarily what you would find in most New York hotels,” says Haro. .
“When you’re dressing for an event like this – for the glam squad, for the designers – that natural light has enormous value.”
The hotel provided additional Hollywood vanity mirrors and makeup chairs for the ultimate glamorous experience as stars prepared to climb the legendary steps of the Met in style.
Staff members often receive special requests from their celebrity clientele, including requests to gut or completely reconfigure the furniture in the suites to accommodate each star’s design team, glam squad and entourage. .
“We have seen many times a large living room gutted and transformed into a glamor room and fitting room for multiple celebrities dressed by the same designer,” Haro shares.
He also notes that celebrities rarely send a complex passenger, so his team will contact guests preemptively to better understand their needs before their stay.
“It’s more us, the hotel, reaching out to celebrities to try to figure out what’s going to make this very stressful day of the Met Gala a lot easier,” he says.
Requests can be as simple as requesting a specific type of flower for the room, wanting a particular brand of perfume for the space, or, in the case of a VIP, demanding an endless supply of fried chicken throughout the day .
“It was the soothing remedy for a particular person, when we reached out to them, to have a constant supply of fried chicken,” Haro recalled with a laugh about the mystery guest at the Met Gala. last year. “It was the comfort food to make you feel at home.”
The hotel’s 24-hour in-room dining experience is extremely popular throughout the busy prep day, with coffee being the most ordered item on the room service menu.
On average, employees brew 48 cups of coffee every 15 minutes and deliver more than 200 coffees from 6 a.m. to noon on the day of Anna Wintour’s party.
This year, VIP guests enjoyed special edition cappuccinos decorated with Met Gala latte art designs on the foam.
They were also treated to decadent deliveries of homemade chips accompanied by a tin of White Sturgeon caviar from one of the on-site restaurants, Caviar Kaspia, to snack on during the day.
“There’s a real level of happiness, but there’s also a level of stress, which is palpable because a lot of guests are there to watch the show,” Haro said. “They are not here to present something. They are there to introduce themselves, so we as a team are very attentive during this time to make sure they feel comfortable.
Between the Met Gala and its afterparties, celebrity visitors could stop by the hotel lobby, where the iconic Mark’s hot dog cart served gourmet hot dogs with organic chicken and human-fed beef. Jean-Georges herb, garnished with kimchi relish.
Celebrities also had the option of grabbing a box of the hotel’s signature Met Gala fries for a late-night bite, or Macallan’s specialty, the ‘Castle Garden’ cocktail, from the Mark Bar.
Several stars have been spotted munching on the famous fries after the Met Gala in the past, including Gabrielle Union and Janelle Monáe.
The brand also coordinated guests’ transportation to and from the lavish fundraiser, taking into account their expected arrival times and clothing sizes.
“Some of these suits or dresses are bulky. We stopped using cars to transport guests and had to use larger vehicles like vans or buses,” says Haro, pointing out that an anonymous celebrity once had to use one of the famous pedicabs on measure from the hotel to go to the party even though her dress didn’t fit her. in a car.
“We always have a pedicab nearby, just in case,” he laughs.
As a parting gift, the hotel presented each guest with a limited-edition Met Gala 2024 baseball cap featuring its recognizable “M” logo.
The Mark Hotel’s attention to detail, high-quality amenities and year-round experience with a high-profile clientele are just some of the impressive attributes that keep stars coming back for the Met Gala year after year.
“For us, it’s a privilege to be involved because it’s a great event, and as a hotel, that’s very rare,” says Haro.
Other celebrities seen wearing looks worthy of this year’s “Garden of Time” theme while staying at the Mark Hotel on Monday included Doja Cat, Irina Shayk, Tyla, Kerry Washington, Karlie Kloss, Matt Damon and Serena Williams.
Past guests who prepared for the annual occasion at the legendary institution include Anne Hathaway, Lizzo, Lupita Nyong’o, Cara Delevingne, Gigi Hadid and Emma Stone.
New York Post
