The Roosevelt Returns for the Millennium

Once the Grand Dame of Madison Avenue, the Roosevelt Hotel in New York City reopened in June, offering 1,040 rooms and 28,000 square feet of meeting space, including a three-tiered Grand Ballroom. The new owner, the Pakistani government, spent $65 million in renovations designed to return the hotel to its original 1920s elegance. The oval-shaped, two-story Palm Room, with a ceiling mural depicting a broad sweep of sky, is just one of the stunningly restored features we viewed in November. Of course, some things have changed. The Madison Club is now open to women, and planners can take advantage of the latest trend and hold a "Martini Madness" party for meeting attendees. Positioning itself as mid-tier in price and high-class in atmosphere, the Roosevelt has already hosted meetings for corporations including Chase Manhattan Bank, Colgate-Palmolive, and Nokia.