Would you pay US$125,000 for a rooftop view of New Year’s Eve in Times Square celebrations?
The Knickerbocker Hotel – which first opened in 1906 and reopened in 2015 – offers a luxurious rooftop experience during the event, far above the crowds
An estimated one million people crowd into New York’s Times Square to watch the famous countdown and ball drop during the final seconds before the start of every new year.
However, that is not the only way for you to be there and enjoy the celebratory night in person.
You can experience an exclusive party on The Knickerbocker Hotel’s St Cloud rooftop, only 150 feet (45 metres) from the iconic time ball – if you are willing to pay at least US$4,335.
The 330-room hotel, which still features its original Beaux-Arts facade, sits on the corner of 42nd Street and Broadway, giving guests the Times Square experience without the crowded streets.
The original hotel was built in 1906 by Jacob Astor IV, whose family was also responsible for building several other properties in New York including the St Regis Hotel.
The hotel was converted into offices in 1920 – following the start of Prohibition, when the manufacturing and sale of alcohol was banned in the United States – but reopened as a hotel under its original name, after extensive rebuilding work, in 2015.
Several historic events reportedly took place inside the original hotel, including the creation of the first-ever martini and the first use of a red velvet rope to help control dinner crowds.
However, one of the hotel’s most luxurious offerings is a rooftop experience for guests to celebrate the new year.