Maximise your Avios, air miles and hotel points

Marriott unveils a brand new Le Meridien hotel in New York

Links on Head for Points may support the site by paying a commission.  See here for all partner links.

Marriott has unveiled Le Meridien New York Fifth Avenue, a brand new 21 story hotel featuring 165 rooms and 175 ‘apartment-style residences’. You can find out more on the website here.

Located on Fifth Avenue between West 30th and West 31st, it is near key tourist spots such as the Empire State and Flatiron buildings, NoMad, Herald Square and Fifth Avenue shopping destinations.

The hotel “takes cues from the European-born brand’s mid-century modern design aesthetic”. To quote:

Le Meridien New York Fifth Avenue

“Designed by Gene Kaufman Architect, the hotel’s light-colored masonry façade and grid of windows with dark railings blend traditional elements with a modern flair. The timeless chic interiors, designed by Paul Vega and Vennie Lau of New Jersey-based design studio VLDG, pay homage to the neighborhood that was dominated by the textile mercantile trade in the 20th century. Bold geometric patterns, contrasting colors, and textured fabrics are woven into the hotel’s design scheme and infused with iconic New York City cultural elements and modern, mid-century design details. Signature design details include curated artwork throughout the lobby, including a luminous acrylic wall sculpture, a textile column that merges units of color and patchwork to create a patterned field, and a scale map printed on wood acoustic walls.”

Within the New York-inspired guest rooms, design takes shape with the brand’s signature mid-century modernism along with custom murals that depict a map of Manhattan, with connecting waterways. Featuring a color palette with shades of grey and blue with pink accents for a cohesive aesthetic, the rooms – six of which have walk-out terraces – include the Le Méridien signature bed, MALIN+GOETZ bath products, 4K smart TVs, an elevated desk inspired by higher surfaces used by creative individuals, and more.”

What this means in reality is that:

  • if you stay here, you will get a totally fresh room with all modern facilities
  • room rates may be a little softer than usual as the hotel builds up a reputation

For this reason alone I think it’s worth considering. For a typical midweek night in late January, rates are around $250 plus taxes. Oddly I can’t see any points rates yet and, even more oddly, only fully cancellable flexible rates are available.

The hotel website is here.

PS. If you don’t have one yet, here is our full review of the Marriott Bonvoy American Express credit card


How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards

How to earn Marriott Bonvoy points and status from UK credit cards (April 2024)

There are various ways of earning Marriott Bonvoy points from UK credit cards.  Many cards also have generous sign-up bonuses.

The official Marriott Bonvoy American Express card comes with 20,000 points for signing up, 2 points for every £1 you spend and 15 elite night credits per year.

You can apply here.

Marriott Bonvoy American Express

20,000 points sign-up bonus and 15 elite night credits each year Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points by converting American Express Membership Rewards points at the rate of 2:3.

Do you know that holders of The Platinum Card from American Express receive FREE Marriott Bonvoy Gold status for as long as they hold the card?  It also comes with Hilton Honors Gold, Radisson Rewards Premium and MeliaRewards Gold status.  We reviewed American Express Platinum in detail here and you can apply here.

The Platinum Card from American Express

40,000 bonus points and a huge range of valuable benefits – for a fee Read our full review

You can also earn Marriott Bonvoy points indirectly:

and for small business owners:

The conversion rate from American Express to Marriott Bonvoy points is 2:3.

Click here to read our detailed summary of all UK credit cards which can be used to earn Marriott Bonvoy points

(Want to earn more hotel points?  Click here to see our complete list of promotions from the major hotel chains or use the ‘Hotel Offers’ link in the menu bar at the top of the page.)

Comments (13)

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

  • Lou says:

    I’m off to Lisbon in March, so I’ll go have a good look at the lounge on the way back if you like

  • Michael C says:

    Handy Le Meridien location (and price!), although the flexible rates makes me think “….just in case we’re not ready to open on time”!

  • Uri says:

    Just tried to book the Le Meridien and prices are showing around £2500 a night with only a few nights of availability in January.

  • NFH says:

    Which lounge could TAP’s business class passengers use during the closure if they didn’t have Priority Pass etc? I used the ANA lounge in Lisbon on Sunday night, and it was quite busy. There was no limit of three drinks per passenger, contrary to the Priority Pass web site.

  • Robert says:

    $400 per night at Easter, comparable with Kimpton where I have status, but from the website it doesn’t look as good as St Honore. First visit to NYC after a few years, will give it a go, hopefully easy to get to from EWR. So many hotels to choose from but this looks like a good location, just round the corner from St Regis.

    • Blair Waldorf Salad says:

      No, that’s the other Le Meridien. The one that used to be called Le Parker Meridien. This new one is south of the Empire State Building.

      • Robert says:

        It’s showing as Le Meridian Fifth Avenue, and on the map it’s close to St Regis. Hope I’ve got the right one! Might try Emyr and see if he can book me one of his nice packages.

        • Rob says:

          If it’s opposite Park Hyatt and in front of the Thompson, it’s the ‘old’ one. This would be 56/57th. New one is low 30s.

          • Robert says:

            Thanks Rob, it is on 31st, and round the corner from Ritz Carlton not St Regis.

  • Mike says:

    Might try the new Le Meridien out in April. Got the Virgin Hotel booked for March. I do like a new hotel!

  • ankomonkey says:

    I recently tried to buy a TAP Discount ticket and add the ‘Lounge’ option to try the new LIS lounge, but there was nowhere to click/tap to actually add it. Has anyone managed to add paid-for lounge access to a Discount ticket? I tried various browsers and the app, all without success 🙁

  • Loz says:

    Worth people knowing that, unless they have also opened a new extra-Schengen lounge as part of this refurb, the TAP lounge is in the intra-Schengen area only. This means if you are travelling from the UK to say Brazil or North America with a layover in Lisbon on TAP you will need to go through passport control if you want to use it.

    • NFH says:

      You also have to go through security to go from the non-Schengen area to the Schengen area, but not from the Schengen area to the non-Schengen area. At least this is what they told me at Schengen exit immigration controls when I enquired on Sunday.

This article is closed to new comments. Feel free to ask your question in the HfP forums.

The UK's biggest frequent flyer website uses cookies, which you can block via your browser settings. Continuing implies your consent to this policy. Our privacy policy is here.