When one thinks of iconic hotels, the Waldorf Astoria New York has to be right up there at the top. It was so grand in fact, that when first built the hotel spanned two buildings, but it wasn’t until its successor, the current Waldorf on Park Avenue was built in 1931 however, that it truly became a Manhattan legend.
Waldorf Astoria New York, 1932
After visiting the building in 1932, NYC’s tallest hotel at the time, famous hotelier Conrad Hilton proclaimed it to be ‘the greatest of them all’, and from that moment on he was obsessed about adding it to his already burgeoning collection of luxury hotels. He finally purchased it in 1949, by which time it was well and truly established as one of the most lavish and prestigious hotels on the planet. Today, the Waldorf Astoria New York is the jewel in the crown of 26 Waldorf properties spanning the globe, all of which take inspiration from the original yet offer their own distinct personalities, which can be seen, for example, in the palatial design of the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah.
Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah
The lavishness the brand has become known for over the years has yet to dwindle, too. The group are renowned for their customer service, which is embodied by their True Waldorf Service, an unparalleled experience for guests that tailors to their every need. Over the years though, it’s innovation that the Waldorf Astoria group has become known for.
View from the Waldorf Palm Jumeirah
Firstly, the grandiosity of the 1931 property was unheard of at the time it was built, it was the world’s tallest hotel up until 1963, boasting nearly 1,500 rooms. Secondly, a focus for them has always been to offer all-around luxury, and food has been a big part of this. Oscar Tschirky was resident chef at Waldorf NYC for 50 years, and during his reign he invented Eggs Benedict and Thousand Island dressing under the roof of the hotel. Now though, Waldorf Astoria Hotels and Resorts are offering a new service, and it involves an unforgettable experience with three supercars.
The Waldorf Astoria Driving Experience is, quite simply, a must for petrolheads. In a nutshell, it gives you the opportunity to experience the unabashed luxury of a stay at one of the group’s selected hotels, as well as the chance to drive a trio of mid-engined supercars including the choice of a McLaren 650S, a Ferrari 458, a Lamborghini Huracan and a Porsche 911 GT3.
Similar to how each and every Waldorf property boasts it’s own character, these supercars offer unique personalities, which can be explored to the maximum on the open road. Rare is the opportunity to drive a single one of these machines, but here Waldorf is offering the chance to pitch all three together on the same day.
Taking place at Waldorf Astoria properties across Europe, North America and the United Arab Emirates, the driving experience is bucket list stuff. Each course – departing from the respective hotel – has been pre-arranged by driving director Didier Theys, himself a two-time winner of 24 Hours of Daytona. This means minimum traffic and maximum twists and turns, enough so that drivers can get the most out each automobile.
We were lucky enough to sample the UAE iteration of the Waldorf driving experience, meaning a 260km drive from the Waldorf Astoria Dubai Palm Jumeirah to the group’s spectacular hotel in Ras Al Khaimah. In convoy, cruising along Dubai’s wide, four-lane motorways was an unashamed exercise of excess, perfectly fitting in with the opulent culture of one of the world’s fastest growing economies. It wasn’t until we ventured off the highway that the real fun began though.
Narrow village streets complete with goats and stray dogs led to the Jabel al Jais mountain, the tallest in all of the United Arab Emirates. Standing at 1,910 metres tall, there is only one way up. A corkscrew of winding hairpins and twisting apexes leads to the top, acting as a sweltering proving ground for three of the quickest, most agile cars on the planet.
Regardless of whether you do this in Dubai or Rome however, you can guarantee an awe-inspiring drive, and one that you won’t forget any time soon. The Waldorf Astoria Driving Experiences are available at 12 resorts across North America, Europe and United Arab Emirates, starting from now until 20th December 2015. The driving experience costs from £899 (excluding accommodation). For more information, click here.
The Gentlemans Journal » Cars