Nobu Hospitality has signed an agreement with Thai real estate group Asset World Corp Public Company Limited (AWC) to open hotels in Bangkok and New York.
The deal will see the former Hotel Plaza Athenee New York – which closed during the Covid-19 pandemic – reopen in 2026 as the Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa New York.
The heritage building is located on the Upper East Side on 64th Street between Park Avenue and Madison Avenue, and following renovation will offer 145 keys, including suites with indoor and outdoor glassed terraces and gazebos, as well as a traditional Japanese Onsen, spa and wellness center, a rooftop events space, and a “Nobu omakase experience”.
Meanwhile the Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa Bangkok will also open in 2026, within the city’s historic East Asiatic Company building on the banks of Chao Phraya River in Bangkok’s Bang Rak district. The hotel will feature an F&B experience under an East meets West concept, and will also offer a Nobu cruise boat for bespoke private functions.
The agreement will see American firm Nobu Hospitality finally gain a foothold in the New York hotel market, having already opened US properties in Atlanta, Chicago, Las Vegas, Malibu and Miami Beach.
The first Nobu restaurant in Thailand is also set to open this year, on the top floor of the AWC-owned The Empire in Bangkok’s central business district.
Commenting on the news Trevor Horwell, chief executive officer, Nobu Hospitality, said:
“We are profoundly grateful that AWC has entrusted us with the development of two of their most valuable properties, in the most iconic buildings and historic areas of two exceptional cities. We are privileged to collaborate closely with the AWC team, led by visionary CEO, Khun Wallapa Traisorat, who is spearheading an exciting and innovative approach to the hospitality industry.
“The Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa Bangkok and the Plaza Athenee Nobu Hotel and Spa New York will redefine the standards of luxury and sophistication not only in Thailand but also in the US. This partnership allows us to embark upon an extraordinary journey together.”
Earlier this year Nobu Hospitality opened its first property in Morocco, with the unveiling of the 71-suite Nobu Hotel Marrakech.
